The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad - 1546 Words

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad are two extremely different stories, The Iliad being a tale of war (specifically the Trojan War) while the Epic of Gilgamesh is a true Epic in the sense that it is a journey, all about the development of the characters. While there are many different themes throughout both books, one of the most important themes is the way that friendship develops both of the people involved and the way that it ties into the story overall. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Gilgamesh start off as polar opposites while in the Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus are great friends from the very beginning. In each of the stories, one of the friends dies and it leaves a permanent mark on the other that changes his behavior in a way that sets the stage for the rest of the story. However, I think that the greater change of the two happens in Achilles since the death of his friend leads him to completely change character, from the man who allows his friend to take his place wh ile he cowers in fear to the man who leads the charge that wins the war. Gilgamesh on the other hand, continues the journey that he and Enkidu started but even until the end he struggles with his selfish nature. Prior to Enkidu and Patroclus their deaths, the friendships in each of the stories already have a profound effect on Gilgamesh and Achilles. At the beginning of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is a tyrannical ruler in the land of Uruk. At the beginning of the story, we learn that he twoShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad1183 Words   |  5 PagesIn the epics The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad, heroes Achilles and Gilgamesh have important relationships with characters that directly and indirectly give readers a look at the character we might not normally see. For the mighty demi-god Achilles, this is the warrior Patroclus, whom he has a great respect for. For the tyrannical King Gilgamesh, this was Enkidu, the hairy man sent by the gods. The relationships t hat these characters have with their companions open these characters up for readersRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad2165 Words   |  9 PagesInstructors’ Name Course Name Date Gilgamesh and Achilles as Portrayed in the Writings â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† and â€Å"The Iliad† â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† and â€Å"The Iliad† presented conflict between the ancient kings, the gods, and finest warriors with other ordinary community members. Throughout the writings Gilgamesh, the king of Uru Community, and Achilles, one of the greatest Greek warriors, struggled to resolve the conflicts between the gods and their community members. However, Gilgamesh misused his powers to a pointRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad1412 Words   |  6 Pagesaccordingly. 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