Human Nature

The Epic of Gilgamesh taps into many general human traits, one of which is the pursuit for a better life. Most people would agree that the main goal in life is to be successful – whether in love, money, or history. Gilgamesh goes in pursuit of the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba for this very reason. He wants to be famous, known through the ages, and have the power to defeat that which no one else could. He also builds great walls and statues and takes every virgin for his own to prove his success. It’s in human nature also to overestimate yourself, which is what Gilgamesh’s downfall was. He was so caught up in being a handsome and powerful king that when Enkidu, his equal, died by the hands of the gods, it was a rude awakening to his ego. He searches for eternal life – something that only one other person has accomplished. While Gilgamesh didn’t realize the brevity of his life, he still went out to make himself the best that he could be.