Archetypes In The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 926 Words

An archetype is defined as an image, story-pattern, character, setting, symbol, or situation that recurs frequently in literature and in life. It demonstrates universal human experiences and associates strongly with readers through a subconscious understanding. In the Epic of Gilgamesh the main character, Gilgamesh, is an example of a superheroic archetypal hero. He took on an epic quest for everlasting life by following the archetypal steps of a hero’s journey. Through suffering due to tragedy, realizing the nature of his quest, seeking help from a mentor, experiencing failure, and returning home with a companion, Gilgamesh’s story followed the situational archetype of a hero’s journey. A hero is characterized by bravery, strength,†¦show more content†¦11). By announcing this, Gilgamesh realized that he too one day would be dead like Enkidu. In refusal to accept such a future, Gilgamesh began his quest for eternal life. To achieve it, he journey ed to find Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim and his family were the only survivors of a great flood wrought by the gods to destroy humanity. As a reward for their survival, the gods gave the family eternal life and sent them to live â€Å"...in a remote island paradise beyond the waters of death† (p. 12). Utnapishtim’s island corresponds to the situational archetype of a garden where death does not exist. In such a garden, beauty and innocence are unspoiled. When Gilgamesh finally met Utnapishtim, Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh the story of the great flood, and then he revealed to him the secret of eternal life by saying, â€Å"...it is a mystery of the gods that I am telling you. There is a plant which grows under the water†¦ which restores†¦ lost youth to a man† (p. 14). In telling Gilgamesh this information vital to his quest for everlasting life, Utnapishtim became a mentor. He also became a secondary form of divine help to Gilgamesh because Utnapisht im received his knowledge from the gods. Once Gilgamesh learned of the flower, he dove into the water to obtain it. Diving into water represented Gilgamesh’s rebirth to a new life, and because of the flower’s effects, hisShow MoreRelatedReview Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1301 Words   |  6 Pagespattern and have the same archetypes. The first stage in a quest is the call to adventure or the protagonist s separation from his or her daily life. The next stage is the , threshold stage. After threshold is initiation or loss and the final stages are, the ultimate boon and return. Within every quest, there is also some lesson to be learned by the protagonist. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a story written thousands of years ago by the ancient Sumerians, follows the same archetypes as any modern day questRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by N.K. Sandars and Braveheart, directed by Mel Gibson1248 Words   |  5 Pagesheros story. 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