Dominant Theme in Gilgamesh

In The Epic of Gilgamesh the main character, Gilgamesh, is searching for immortality. He is in a constant struggle with accepting his humanity. He is in denial. He was so fixated on the part of him that was godly that he didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that he was 1/3 human. “Me! Will I too not die like Enkidu? Sorrow was coming into my belly. I fear death; I roam over the hills. I will seize the road; quickly I will go to the house of Utnapishtim, offsp

Gilgamesh comes to a mountain where he first encounters Shamash who tells him that he will never find the immortality that he is looking for. This upsets Gilgamesh but instead he keeps trying. He continues to search for Utanpishtim, the only person to receive immortality by the gods. “There is no permanence.” In spite of the words of the king Gilgamesh is determined to find what he is looking for. He pleads for a chance to receive the gift of eternal life. Utnapishtim offers Gilgamesh a chance at immortality. If Gilgamesh can stay awake for six days and seven nights, he, too, will become immortal. Gilgamesh accepts these conditions and sits down on the shore; the instant he sits down he falls asleep. When Gilgamesh awakes, he deigns that he had fallen asleep. Utnapishtim points to the loaves of bread that his wife laid at his side to count the number of days he slept. Utnapishtim's wife convinces the old man to have mercy on him; he o

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