Loss meets Depression

I have never had such a huge personal loss as Gilgamesh had through Enkidu’s death, but I can say that this did affect him and the whole tone of the book intensely. These two tablets are very different from the rest because they show Gilgamesh’s weaknesses and it also shows how he lost the enthusiasm and optimism he had in the beginning of the poem. Something that caught my attention, was the fact that the author connects Gilgamesh’s feelings and reactions to Enkidu’s death as those of a woman. “weeping for him as if I were a woman.” -Pg. 44 One can see how our society’s sexist attitudes start from it’s roots. It is clear how Enkidu’s and Gilgamesh’s relationship was so close because they fought and won together, they were in danger and in pain together, they shared many intense moments together that they became bound forever. Gilgamesh shows this through his desire to build him a statue and his comments about Enkidu’s life which give a sense of melancholy. “You wore the garments suitable for a prince. You sat in the place of honor nearest the king.” (Pg. 47)

Another difference from the other tablets is that, in these, instead of the poem leading you to Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is the one who directs the plot to the different reactions he had concerning Enkidu. His grievance gets worse and he shows his despair through questions he asks himself about what he should do and what should he feel. “Enkidu has died. Must I die too? Must Gilgamesh be like that?” -Pg. 48 As Gilgamesh travels through the tunnel in the mountains, he speaks about what he will do in future adventures as without Enkidu. He doesn’t have someone to share and talk to, so he speaks to himself but it only shows that every second that passes he is just more frightened and longs more for Enkidu. “Two people, who are companions, they … !”

How will the sea affect the poem? What will Gilgamesh find here? Will Enkidu appear again in the story? What will Gilgamesh do?