Teamwork Shemework

Joel argued that the authors strove to prove that teamwork helps people to achieve what they could never have done otherwise. Although this may be a true sentiment, I do not believe that this is a message that the writers tried to convey. Although Gilgamesh and Enkindu have some marvelous adventures together, and Enkindu helps to tame the destructive impulsivity Gilgamesh constantly plagues his citizens with, I believe that the authors wanted to show that it was Gilgamesh’s love and friendship towards Enkindu that helped him strive to achieve greater feats. When Gilgamesh first encounters Enkindu and recognizes him as his equal, his tyrannical and belligerent behavior come to a quick end. He quits rape cold turkey, and stops his bad habit of ripping families apart to strengthen his military forces. Gilgamesh and Enkindu balance each other out, which helps keep Gilgamesh in line. Another point disproving teamwork as a primary theme is that after Enkindu dies, Gilgamesh’s grief propels him to go on the quest for eternal life, which in turn leads to his voyage to find Utnapishtim. Through that Enkindu-free quest Gilgamesh acquires more wisdom and enlightenment than any quest he went on with his beloved buddy. Although the dynamic duo does complete some heroic feats, it is Gilgamesh’s loyalty and friendship that propel him to greater levels.