True Love Conquers All – Love and Heroes in the Epic of Gilgamesh

The first quirk that made an impression on me was Gilgamesh’s arrogance and selfishness. Even his description conjures brutish images. Note how often he is depicted as a “wild boar,” a creature known for being strong and wild, but also savage and not terribly well-liked. Here’s a guy born with every advantage over an average human-unbeatably strong, beautiful, powerful, and wise-and he isn’t using it to do anything brave or heroic. He just rules over his people, protecting them, yes; but also looking out for his own interests and gain. In fact, he rules in such a way that he upsets them, and they cry to the gods. While his incredible strength, beauty, and relationship to the gods made me want to compare him to Hercules, he really didn’t seem like a nice guy. But maybe I just have a thing for heroes.

However, I’m a forgiving person, so I patiently waited for him to grow as a character. He didn’t disappoint me. Enkidu, more savage and wild than Gilgamesh, tamed our protagonist into a somewhat likable guy. They are described as loving each other as a man loves a woman, which immediately made me think of David and Jonathon in the Bible: A relationship of true brotherhood, a love made of more than the desires of the flesh. Together, they became heroes. They became legendary. They became the Hercules that I was hoping for. The relationship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu shows a very important part of human nature: No matter how selfish you are as a person, love softens you and makes you achieve new heights.

When Gilgamesh began to love Enkidu, I began to love Gilgamesh.

Even when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh remains a likable character. His love for his brother does not die. Interestingly, when Gilgamesh covers his brother’s body with the veil, it is described as like the veil of a bride. Using that image, one could compare Enkidu’s death to a wedding day. Perhaps that is the day he and his brother truly became one soul.

Afterwards, Gilgamesh continues on crazy adventures, claiming to be in search of immortality. It is clear from the beginning, however, that he does not truly want to live forever. Why would he? His face is twisted with pain. He describes life as not worth living. Yet he fears death and wants to live forever? No. This is his excuse; perhaps an excuse he even tells himself. He does not want the prize he claims to seek. This is proven twice, as he carelessly lets eternal life slip through his hands. A legendary hero, fall asleep while seeking what he craves most of all? No, nothing about his adventure makes sense if you approach it believing he truly wants to live forever.

What does he want then? I believe Gilgamesh really just wants to relive the glory days he spent with Enkidu, when they went on adventures and created legends together. His love for Enkidu, even beyond the grave, drives him to do something with his life, rather than spend it at home being the kind of King people complain about.

When he returns home again, he realizes, as we suspected while reading of his adventure, that he really doesn’t want to live forever. Rather, he recognizes the true glory of having “eternal life” through the deeds one accomplishes-a lesson, if you recall, he learned long ago while seeking to kill the Humbaba with Enkidu at his side.