We are all human and naturally crave interaction with others. These two concepts lead eventually to friendship, which is something we all cherish, including the main characters of The Epic of Gilgamesh: Enkidu, Gilgamesh and Gilgamesh. Through many instances, these characters show the theme friendship through their interactions: travelling together, helping each other to improve, grieving, and empathizing. The unique relationship between Gilgamesh, Enkidu and their companion is a great example of true friendship.
The Epic of Gilgamesh begins with a rocky relationship between Gilgamesh & Enkidu. His people feared Gilgamesh, leader of Uruk. He was feared by his own people for one of his lesser-than-admirable actions. This eventually led to him meeting the man who would become his best friend, and his brother. The first encounter was not what most would expect to lead to friendship. Gilgamesh decided to have an affair before he met his new wife. Enkidu is furious when Enkidu finds out about the plans. He blocks Uruk’s bed from his wife to keep Gilgamesh away. The two men begin to fight and drag each other onto the floor. They hug and then they become best friends. While they grow together as characters, Enkidu is more responsible than the other, since he helped Gilgamesh to become a more compassionate and understanding leader, man, and man, and Gilgamesh made Enkidu a noble man. Their friendship is a great example of the concept that opposites attract. Because their complementary personalities balance each other like yin/yang, it’s easy to see how they are attracted. Enkidu broke down, saying that it was the journey that would take away their lives. Gilgamesh encouraged them to be confident. They are together their friendship grew stronger than they could ever be apart. They were able to conquer Humbaba, the undead monster who guards the Cedar Forest, which is forbidden for mortals. This shows their strength of harmony. Gilgamesh, Enkidu and their companions travel for several days together, encountering obstacles they can help each other overcome. They defeated Humbaba together and brought his head back to Uruk, where it was displayed as a trophy. Their friendship is built on the pull and push of their different personalities.
Enkidu’s passing had a profound effect on Gilgamesh’s friendship with Gilgamesh. Ishtar the goddess of love, falls for Gilgamesh and is then rejected. Ishtar becomes angry at the rejection and calls upon Bullof Heaven. The bull curses Gilgamesh. Enkidu is enraged and decides to kill Enkidu again. This time, they direct their deadly prowess toward the bull. Enkidu’s death is slow and painful as a result of this killing. Gilgamesh sees his brother and best friend die. This is a common trait of epic heroes. Because Enkidu and Gilgamesh were so close, Enkidu’s passing has dramatic consequences for Gilgamesh. He has conceptually lost an element of himself. The quote “A constant flood washed Gilgamesh’s face” accurately portrays this loss and pain. Gilgamesh embarks on an illogical quest to become immortality, but his soul couldn’t find any place to rest. Enkidu, Gilgamesh who is more rational, was absent. Gilgamesh is also triggered by the loss Enkidu, which causes him to display a characteristic that he had never displayed before: fear. Gilgamesh is now able to face death. He knows that one day he will die, which causes him extreme discomfort. He will do everything to avoid it. This shift is reflected in today’s friendships. While Gilgamesh may grieve for his friend but eventually starts to see himself as a person. Powerful people such as Gilgamesh have no choice but to be selfish.
If he hadn’t lost his best friend, Gilgamesh wouldn’t have searched far and wide to find immortality answers. These searches are a key part of Gilgamesh’s character, and prove that Enkidu was truly a life-changing friend. Gilgamesh could not have become the man he is without Enkidu’s companionship. Enkidu wouldn’t have the same knowledge and strength he gained by the end his life if he hadn’t decided to challenge Gilgamesh. Even though the story is an ancient one, it holds strong morals and is similar to many twenty-first-century friendships.
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