Arrogance vs. Humility

Texts from ancient times can reveal many things about humanity. They can show where they think alike, and where they differ. The biggest and most important difference between Gilgamesh and Genesis are their portrayal of humanity. Gilgamesh cares more about showing the faults of humanity, whereas Genesis cares more for showing where those faults originated from.

Gilgamesh shows the raw power of humans and what they can accomplish. Gilgamesh is himself, two thirds god. Yet the authors show his flaws: his hubris, his need for fame, his arrogance. The Gilgamesh story shows all these things and how it leads to is ultimate destruction. This prose shows a man who has no equal, whose life is boring, allowing this king to sleep with whomever he wants. This book demonstrates a man whose life needs a purpose.

On the other hand, Genesis wants to portray where all this began; where did humans first discover all this. This story shows the creation of mankind: where they came from, how they first learned about destruction, how they first felt defeat. This text shows the process of how humans slowly climbed the mountain they had fallen from. It shows how they struggled, in sweat and toil, slowly gaining ground back. Whereas Gilgamesh begins with a man at his prime, this book begins with a man and woman in humility.

Thus the most significant difference between these two opposite stories is how they depict the human race. They show two very different sides to human beings. These differences, for good or bad, paint a full picture of what mankind was. This allows us to learn, and not make the same mistakes.