Flashbacks 1

So this is the beginning of a series of retrospective blog posts I think. I have been the definition of not keeping up to date with this blog thing so hopefully blogs about past events will be okay. And regardless of whether it's okay or not, I'll be doing it.

This post is gonna be about Gilgamesh. Remember it? I was thinking recently about the topic of the paper we wrote a while ago, everlasting life in Gilgamesh. Since we'll be revisiting this paper soon, I'll try to collect my thoughts about what I wrote. Gilgamesh's view of death is the main character trait that changes through the epic. In his youth, he accepts that death is inevitable and is mainly concerned with leaving a lasting impression through the deeds he accomplishes in life. This is why he kills Humbaba, the bull of heaven, spurns that sexy lady god and all the other stuff. However, with the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh starts to worry about the idea of death itself. He resolves that he should not have to die and stop doing such crazy awesome deeds.

This idea of everlasting life becomes Gilgamesh's dream, his one desire. However, in my paper I argue that it is just an illusion. This is beacause Utnapishtim the Faraway is the only other mortal to obtain everlasting life, and rather than a warrior posed for battle, he is just constantly relaxing and doing nothing in particular. This is the reality of everlasting life: a loss of the meaning that mortality gives life.

Now I feel more prepared.