Mythology is full of individuals believed to have superhuman powers. While some of these people used their powers for the good of humanity, others abused them for their own selfish gains. Others, however, are documented to have displayed characteristics beneficial to both humanity and themselves, thus making it difficult to judge whether they are heroes or villains. One such mythology that may seem to offer contradictory views on the characteristics of a superhuman is The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem considered among the world's earliest literary works. The poem which dates back to the 2nd or 3rd millennium BC tells of Gilgamesh, a mythological king of Uruk. Gilgamesh, described as part human and part god, undertakes a series of quests and even tries to find the source of immortality after his friend's death. Studying The Epic of Gilgamesh is the only way to determine whether Gilgamesh was a hero or not, based on an interpretation of the text. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Epic of Gilgamesh consists of 12 tablets that detail the life and times of Gilgamesh, who is considered both a hero and a villain. The epic was originally a Sumerian poem in cuneiform script that was later compiled into Akkadian. Due to the numerous translations to which the poem has been subjected to date, it cannot be said with certainty that the text existing today is actually representative of the original events that occurred many years ago. However, some events could not have been lost in translation and these include Gilgamesh's exploits which border on audacity and antagonism. Perhaps the best way to determine Gilgamesh's heroism or wickedness is to consider a given passage of text. In one part of the poem the following passage stands out which explains why Gilgamesh could be considered a hero. Where is the strength? It is Gilgamesh who will venture into the Cedar Forest first, and you can follow him, shouting: "Go forward, go forward, go forward, embrace the danger!". You who have fought with lions and wolves, know what the danger is. Where is your courage? If I fall, my name will be safe." It was Gilgamesh who fought against Huwawa! It is Gilgamesh who will venture into the forest, cut down the cedar, and win glory. My fame will be assured to all my children. According to the passage, Gilgamesh is described as an individual who is not only brave but also strong enough to face any challenge that comes his way. Courage and strength are considered among the two most important virtues a hero should possess because, in their absence, even the smallest of challenges could be too daunting for him. Furthermore, a person who expresses any form of cowardice cannot, under any circumstances, be considered a hero because this is actually the antithesis of heroism. Secondly, Gilgamesh gets the title of hero because he is not afraid of danger. He is described in the passage above as brave enough to venture into the cedar forest and to accept danger by fighting with wild animals such as lions and wolves. Under normal circumstances, this would be a very difficult thing for a mere mortal to do, but being half god and half man, Gilgamesh seems to have handled the matter with ease. There has never been a story told about a hero where the hero is shown to be afraid of danger, and even if he is, he always overcomes his fear of facing an enemy, no matter how hostile he may be. This notion is reinforced in one of the verses of the passage where Gilgamesh states that he will fight against Huwawa and assert his name asglorious fighter among his sons. Of course, the mighty deeds of all the warriors before have been passed down from one generation to the next throughout history and since Gilgamesh's story is still talked about today, it would only mean that he too is a hero deserving of recognition centuries after his businesses. Evidence of Gilgamesh's heroism can also be found in many other passages of the text. After speaking with the Scorpion Dragon Being, Gilgamesh is said to have gone to Mount Mashu and entered the tunnels alone. According to the text, Gilgamesh: "... felt his blind path through the mountain tunnel, struggling for breath, through the third league, alone and companionless through the fourth... and struggling for every breath, until the end of the fifth, in absolute darkness, nothing behind or in front, the weight of the darkness pressing on him.' think about the dangers that might lurk in the shadows. Even the fact that he chooses to go without a companion shows that indeed Gilgamesh was a noteworthy hero. An individual must overcome several challenges to be called a hero. According to the monomyth introduced by Joseph Campbell, a hero's journey is made up of 12 stages which can be summarized into three parts namely departure, initiation and return. In the case of Gilgamesh, these three are evident when he is challenged by the death of his friend Enkidu to undertake a journey of quest. of immortality. After encountering several difficulties along the way, Gilgamesh finally finds Utnapishtim who should give him the answer to eternal life. Gilgamesh manages to retrieve the plant that Utnapishtim tells him has the power to restore youth, but as he washes himself, a serpent sneaks up on him and gets away with it forcing a dejected Gilgamesh to return to Uruk empty-handed. Despite the fact that he fails to complete the quest for immortality, Gilgamesh can still be seen as a hero because he fulfills the three main stages of a hero's journey as laid out in Campbell's monomyth. Conversely, a person may be tempted to conclude that Gilgamesh is not a hero. The Epic of Gilgamesh might contain several instances where one would be inclined to believe that Gilgamesh was just a lucky human being who happened to be given supernatural powers by virtue of his birth from a goddess. According to Joseph Campbell's 12 stages of a hero's journey, a hero should undergo all, if not most, of the outlined stages, but this is not so clear in the case of Gilgamesh. For example, there is no point in the Epic of Gilgamesh where the protagonist is called to adventure. In this second phase, of a hero's journey, a hero is supposed to answer an emergency call in response to a threatening situation. In the case of Gilgamesh, however, this is not evident because, instead of answering a call to adventure due to a problem facing an entire community, Gilgamesh embarks on a journey because he is afraid of death. Based on this assessment, one would have no choice but to assume that Gilgamesh is not a hero but a self-centered mythological being who is actually afraid of dying. Secondly, Gilgamesh cannot be identified as a hero because he was more interested in death. fame more than anything. As is commonly known, heroes are supposed to be selfless individuals who undertake missions that might even risk their lives to protect the human race. As a result, a hero would be expected to undertake a dangerous mission, not to gain fame but to prove that they truly are the defenders of the human race. Gilgamesh, according to Larsen, does not display thischaracteristic in the struggle with Humbaba and in the travail across Mount Mashu. In fact, before engaging in battle with Humbaba, Gilgamesh states, according to the passage considered in this essay, that he would remain famous among his children if he managed to win the fight. This is in complete contradiction to the actions required of heroes and so one would be forgiven for believing that Gilgamesh is not a true hero but a supposed hero. As mentioned above, a hero should protect his people at all costs and not turn on them. Gilgamesh, however, claims the exact opposite. At one point in the essay questions are raised regarding the way Gilgamesh behaves. The poem emphasizes, according to Ferry, that: “No son remains with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all; and this is the king, the shepherd of his people? His lust leaves no virgin for his lover, neither the warrior's daughter nor the nobleman's wife." The implication of this passage is that neither the sons of the inhabitants of Uruk nor the wives of men are spared from fury and lust of Gilgamesh. They even wonder why the gods had to give them Gilgamesh as their king because instead of protecting them and ensuring that no harm comes to them, Gilgamesh is busy oppressing his subjects due to the knowledge that they are weak creatures and therefore cannot do anything in retaliation. It is also important to note that, to the extent that Gilgamesh seemed to portray behavior unusual for heroes, he was partly human and probably not immune to the human behavior that a can sometimes be errant. The point here is that even heroes can sometimes behave in a way that might not be considered pleasant, but this should not be used as an excuse to demonize them. At the beginning of this essay, Gilgamesh is described as a self-centered individual who seeks nothing more than fame. It is also noted that Gilgamesh embarked on a journey to solve an individual problem rather than a communal one. However, an inspection of the text in the poem's later stages would suggest otherwise. At one point in the poem, Gilgamesh explains his plan to a boatman named Urshanabi and says that: Urshanabi, this plant is a wonderful plant. Through it new life can be obtained. I will bring the thorny plant back to my city. I will give some of the plant to the local elders to share among them, telling them that it is called How-the-Old-Becomes-Young-Again.” From this passage it becomes clear that Gilgamesh is not all that selfish as he intends to use the powers of immortality with his subjects in Uruk. Furthermore, the Ultimate Test is the obstacle that the heroes were waiting to overcome during their adventure. Everything the hero has done comes down to this test. For Gilgamesh it meant obtaining the magical plant that restores youth. This is the moment that decides whether or not he will achieve the goal he has worked so hard for. Although he has failed to achieve immortality, the tension eases as he accepts the fact that living forever is not his destiny. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist is presented as an individual who has a penchant for fame and all recognition. this comes from it. Ferry notes that Gilgamesh's fame will be secured through his heroic deeds. Under normal circumstances, this might just pass for another case of being hit in the chest, but when you consider the context in which this occurs, you may have to reconsider your position. Naturally, the heroes would have to face various challenges, some of which were fraught with difficulties. danger, with some requiring the hero to go alone. And so the question arises: who should tell about the exploits of the heroes after a successful adventure rather than the heroes themselves? And so, it remains.35.2 (2017): 178-185.