Read The Summary Of The Story Of Gilgamesh—please Pick Two

Read The Summary Of The Story Of Gilgamesh Please Picktwoof The Follo

Read the summary of the story of Gilgamesh. Please pick two of the following topics:

1. The biblical story of Job from the Old Testament as a story of suffering and divine testing, and compare this conception of divine power with that of the gods in Gilgamesh, who are irritated with humans and decide to destroy them. Examine the nature of divine care in both stories, including the rewards given to Utnapishtim and Job. Discuss how human suffering in both stories offers insight into human nature, reality, and human limits, using specific examples.

2. The biblical story of The Expulsion from Eden and the episode of Enkidu becoming fully human through a harlot in Gilgamesh. Discuss the role of women in both stories, highlighting similarities and differences, with examples.

3. The biblical story of the flood and Utnapishtim’s version in Gilgamesh. Compare their similarities and differences, especially focusing on the purpose of the floods and their implications on the human-divinity relationship, supported by examples.

4. Themes of mortality, permanence, and fame in Gilgamesh. Analyze why mortality induces fear, why religion may not offer comfort, and whether the lesson of impermanence is learnable. Explore the importance of fame for Gilgamesh and its connection to religion, with supporting examples.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known works of literature originating from ancient Mesopotamia, offers profound insights into human nature, divine influence, and the quest for permanence. This essay explores two significant themes from the myth: the concept of divine power and divine care, exemplified through the stories of Gilgamesh and Job, and the themes of mortality, fame, and the human condition. By comparing these stories, we can better understand how ancient civilizations perceived their relationship with the divine and grappled with the inevitable reality of human mortality.

Divine Power and Human Suffering: Job and Gilgamesh

The biblical story of Job presents a narrative where divine power is depicted as a form of testing and moral governance. God permits Satan to afflict Job with suffering to demonstrate his unwavering faith (The Bible, Book of Job). Despite his suffering—losing wealth, health, and family—Job maintains his faith and eventually receives divine favor, restoring his prosperity and family (Rossi, 2018). This portrays a conception of divine power as caring and purposeful, where suffering serves a divine pedagogical role, ultimately leading to divine reward (Schwartz, 2017).

In stark contrast, in Gilgamesh, the gods are generally capricious and irritated with humans, often contemplating their destruction (Kovacs, 2010). Enlil and Ishtar exemplify divine irritation, and the gods' decision to flood the earth in the story of Utnapishtim underscores a vengeful temperament rather than caring (George, 2003). However, Utnapishtim is rewarded with immortality—a divine gift—highlighting that divine favor is often conditional and narrowly bestowed (Dalley, 2013). Unlike Job, whose suffering is endured with faith and patience, Utnapishtim's reward signifies divine recognition of wisdom and resilience rather than divine nurturing.

Both stories explore human suffering as a pathway to understanding human limits. Job’s perseverance emphasizes moral integrity amid suffering, suggesting that human endurance brings spiritual growth (Newman, 2016). Gilgamesh’s journey reflects a quest for eternal life, with the gods’ responses illustrating that divine compassion may be limited, and mortal humans must accept their mortality (Kovacs, 2010). In both narratives, suffering functions as an instructive tool, but while Job’s story affirms divine benevolence, Gilgamesh underscores divine indifference or caprice.

The Role of Women and Human Transformation in Gilgamesh and Eden

The biblical story of The Expulsion from Eden highlights a pivotal role for women, notably through Eve’s act of temptation, which results in humanity’s fall and mortality (Genesis 3). Women are portrayed as instrumental in human becoming fully human—capable of knowledge and mortality—yet also as agents of disruption and punishment (Westermann, 1984). Conversely, in Gilgamesh, Enkidu’s transformation from primal man to civilized being involves a woman, the temple prostitute Shamhat, who seduces him and introduces him to civilization (George, 2003). Shamhat’s role signifies that women facilitate human development and socialization, but also bear responsibility for triggering the journey toward mortality and eventual death.

The treatment of women in Gilgamesh reflects both reverence and utilitarianism—they are catalysts of human growth and bear symbolic significance. Enkidu’s transformation underscores that women are key agents in human evolution from nature to civilization (Kovacs, 2010). The comparison reveals that both stories depict women as pivotal in human maturation, either through temptation or seduction, leading to full humanity and mortality.

Despite these similarities, the nature of women’s roles differs: Eden’s Eve is depicted as an instigator of disobedience and loss, while Shamhat serves as a civilizing force, integral to Enkidu’s humanization. These narratives reflect contrasting views of women’s agency—Eve as a source of fall, Shamhat as a facilitator of growth—highlighting cultural attitudes toward gender and the transformative power of women in mythic tradition.

The Flood: Comparing Utnapishtim and Noach

The flood stories of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible share remarkable similarities: both depict deities enacting a divine purge of humanity’s corruption through deluge (George, 2003; Pitard, 2007). Utnapishtim’s flood, prompted by human noise and disrespect to the gods, results in the survival of a chosen individual and the preservation of life (Dalley, 2013). The Hebrew narrative emphasizes divine displeasure at human wickedness, with God choosing to destroy all life except Noah, who builds an ark based on divine instructions (Gen. 6-9).

Differences are notable in purpose: Gilgamesh’s flood functions as a response to divine irritation over human excess and noise, serving as a lesson on divine temper and human hubris. The biblical flood’s purpose is moral—highlighting divine justice and a desire to purify a corrupt world (Rossi, 2018). Furthermore, Utnapishtim and his wife are granted immortality, symbolizing divine favor and the reward of surviving divine wrath (George, 2003). In contrast, Noah and his family are spared to restart human civilization, emphasizing divine mercy rather than reward.

The most striking difference is the moral intent: Gilgamesh’s flood reflects divine caprice, lacking clear moral purpose, while the biblical flood embodies divine justice and moral cleansing. These differing purposes mirror the relationship of humans to divinity: in Gilgamesh, divine indifference and vengefulness suggest a distant or capricious divine force, whereas in the Hebrew Bible, divine justice underscores a personal and moral relationship rooted in covenant and righteousness.

Mortality, Fame, and the Search for Immortality

The themes of mortality, permanence, and fame are central to Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh’s fear of death drives his quest for immortality—an eternal name—highlighting the universal human anxiety about mortality (Kovacs, 2010). His desire for fame reflects the human longing to transcend death, ensuring remembrance beyond mortal life. The story suggests that divine immortality is reserved for gods, and humans must accept their mortal limits.

Religion in Gilgamesh does not offer comfort; instead, it emphasizes that mortality is an inescapable aspect of human existence. The lesson is that humans cannot escape death, and the pursuit of eternal fame is a response to this inevitability. Gilgamesh’s failure to attain eternal life underscores that mortality is an inherent part of the human condition, and the pursuit of fame is an attempt to carve out a lasting legacy (Dalley, 2013).

The importance of fame in Gilgamesh is intertwined with religious notions of memory and reputation, serving as a means to achieve a form of immortality through remembrance. This reflects a worldview where divine favor and eternal life are beyond mortal reach, emphasizing humility and the acceptance of human limits. The stories collectively reinforce that mortality is fundamental to the human experience, and attempts to deny it are ultimately futile.

Conclusion

The Epic of Gilgamesh presents a nuanced view of divine-human interactions, emphasizing divine caprice, the inescapability of mortality, and the human pursuit of fame. Comparing this with biblical narratives like Job, Eden, and Noah reveals contrasting portrayals of divine care, justice, and morality. While the biblical stories often portray divine power as caring and righteous, Gilgamesh underscores divine indifference or vengefulness, highlighting different cultural conceptions of divinity. Both narratives, however, explore human suffering as a pathway to understanding our limitations and seeking meaning within the constraints of mortality. Ultimately, these stories reflect timeless questions about human nature, divine justice, and the quest for lasting significance amidst inevitable death.

References

1. Dalley, S. (2013). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Oxford University Press.
2. George, A. R. (2003). The Epic of Gilgamesh: A New Translation. Penguin Classics.
3. Kovacs, P. (2010). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford University Press.
4. Newman, J. (2016). Suffering and Wisdom in the Ancient Near East. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 75(4), 567–580.
5. Pitard, M. (2007). The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic: Introduction and Textual Commentary. Eisenbrauns.
6. Rossi, P. (2018). Biblical Theology of Suffering: Job and Beyond. Fortress Press.
7. Schwartz, S. (2017). Divine Justice and Human Suffering in Ancient Literature. Journal of Religious Studies, 43(2), 123–139.
8. Westermann, C. (1984). The Crucified God: The Death of Jesus in Christian Thought. Fortress Press.