The Role of Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay - 799 Words

The story starts off with Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, who is one third man and two thirds god. This story is about a mans quest for immortality in addition to the importance of boundaries between the realms of animal, man and gods. Women symbolize the importance of locative boundaries in the text. These boundaries are set by the harlot Shamhat, Ishtar, Siduri, the tavern keeper, Ninsun and Utanapishtims wife. By giving women this role of wisdom and boundary enforcement, The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects how Mesopotamian society actually valued women. The harlot, Shamhat, serves to establish the boundary between animals and humans. Enkidu, a creature on the border between animal and man is selected by the gods to balance out Gilgameshs†¦show more content†¦This tragedy influences Gilgamesh to search for immortality. Then, Gilgamesh meets Siduri, the tavern keeper, in his search for immortality. Knowing that Gilgamesh will never be able to cross the boundary between man and god, Siduri gives Gilgamesh directions to Urshanabi, a boatman but not without some advice first. You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. Siduri told him â€Å"fill your belly with good things, dance and be merry for this too is the lot of man (102). Here, mans lot in life is shown as rather meaningless and a woman has been left to teach Gilgamesh this. Both women remind Gilgamesh of his place, in that Ishtar keeps Gilgamesh in check with Enkidus death and Siduri proves wise with knowledge of Gilgameshs fate. Furthermore, the boundary between men and the gods is separated by a thin line of mortality. Utanapishtim’s wife shows that Gilgamesh cannot cross that line. Also, Ninsuns wisdom keeps Gilgamesh in check and shows womens power of knowledge. When Gilgamesh dreams of meteors and axes, the goddess Ninsun, Gilgameshs mother knows exactly what is going on. Here, Nins un gives Gilgamesh the exact thing that will keep him in his place. Only a woman could do that. When Gilgamesh asks Utanapishtim how to get immortality he responds, You only must prevail against sleep for six days andShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Women In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1189 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh follows a tale of two brothers tasked with defeating an all-powerful beast, yet they aren’t the most important characters in this story. Without their wisdom and guidance, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s journey would have ended a lot sooner, and Gilgamesh would have still rampaged in Uruk, never bringing peace to those who were below him. 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