Bruises and Bruises and BlessingsBlessingsFeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

13 September 201113 September 2011

Before he goes on the journey to the Before he goes on the journey to the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh doesn’t seem to Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh doesn’t seem to value the life he grows terrified of losing. value the life he grows terrified of losing.

Think about how he spends his time! Think about how he spends his time! He’s overwhelmed by the shallowness of He’s overwhelmed by the shallowness of

his existence, acts on base desires his existence, acts on base desires without heed for their impact on others, without heed for their impact on others, and does nothing to change his ways even and does nothing to change his ways even though they’re contributing to his misery. though they’re contributing to his misery.

He’s selfish, inconsistent, and crude; his He’s selfish, inconsistent, and crude; his mother, Ninsun, believes Shamash cursed mother, Ninsun, believes Shamash cursed her son with a “restless heart.” her son with a “restless heart.”

Wasting LifeWasting Life

Counterpart/OutletCounterpart/Outlet What Gilgamesh needs is a counterpart, What Gilgamesh needs is a counterpart,

an equal, someone to serve as an outlet an equal, someone to serve as an outlet for whatever uncontrollable urges seize for whatever uncontrollable urges seize him at any given moment. him at any given moment.

He has none. He has none. Gilgamesh is isolated – from his people, Gilgamesh is isolated – from his people,

from his gods, from himself. from his gods, from himself. The only companion he has (save the The only companion he has (save the

women he takes advantage of) is Ninsun. women he takes advantage of) is Ninsun. He doesn’t naturally reach out to othersHe doesn’t naturally reach out to others

We see this reflected in his behavior during his We see this reflected in his behavior during his search for Utnapishtim in the epic’s second search for Utnapishtim in the epic’s second half. half.

The story seems to equate loneliness with The story seems to equate loneliness with weakness, isolation with instability – and weakness, isolation with instability – and togetherness with peacetogetherness with peace

The lonely king essentially tears at his The lonely king essentially tears at his world instead of tending to its world instead of tending to its foundations, repeating the binge-purge-foundations, repeating the binge-purge-suffer cycle, never demonstrating any sort suffer cycle, never demonstrating any sort of growth nor knowing any peace. of growth nor knowing any peace.

While Gilgamesh hungers for more, a While Gilgamesh hungers for more, a desire that manifests itself violently in his desire that manifests itself violently in his actions, he doesn’t seem to know how to actions, he doesn’t seem to know how to break free or reach out. break free or reach out.

Instability vs. PeaceInstability vs. Peace

Meanwhile, it’s easy to miss, but the beginning Meanwhile, it’s easy to miss, but the beginning of the story features a loss for Enkidu. of the story features a loss for Enkidu.

While it’s different from the one Gilgamesh While it’s different from the one Gilgamesh eventually suffers, it’s just as profound. eventually suffers, it’s just as profound.

After the wild man’s encounter with the After the wild man’s encounter with the prostitute, Shamhat – whose surprisingly prostitute, Shamhat – whose surprisingly complicated role in the epic will be explored later complicated role in the epic will be explored later – the animals shun him, and he loses his ability to – the animals shun him, and he loses his ability to communicate with the only beings he’s ever communicate with the only beings he’s ever known. known.

Thus Enkidu is essentially cast out of Eden, Thus Enkidu is essentially cast out of Eden, provided the Steppe counts as Paradise: his new provided the Steppe counts as Paradise: his new knowledge of Man (specifically, Man from the knowledge of Man (specifically, Man from the Walled City) pollutes him in the eyes of his Walled City) pollutes him in the eyes of his former friends. former friends.

All I’m Losing is MeAll I’m Losing is Me

Resigning himself to his new life, Enkidu Resigning himself to his new life, Enkidu then sides with the humans against the then sides with the humans against the animals, helping the shepherds by driving animals, helping the shepherds by driving the lions away and capturing the wolves. the lions away and capturing the wolves.

This betrayal forever isolates him from This betrayal forever isolates him from them; there is no going back. them; there is no going back.

While this transformation reflects ancient While this transformation reflects ancient attitudes regarding man’s relationship attitudes regarding man’s relationship with the natural world – Enkidu was seen with the natural world – Enkidu was seen as automatically better off now that he’s as automatically better off now that he’s encountered civilizing influences – it’s encountered civilizing influences – it’s worth noting that he’s now suddenly and worth noting that he’s now suddenly and fundamentally alone. fundamentally alone.

Alone…Alone…

The gift Gilgamesh and Enkidu gives The gift Gilgamesh and Enkidu gives each other, then, is one of each other, then, is one of connection – the thing that breaks connection – the thing that breaks the former’s cycle of suffering while the former’s cycle of suffering while relieving the latter’s newfound pain. relieving the latter’s newfound pain.

When they first meet, both men are When they first meet, both men are a bit unbalanced, needing to a bit unbalanced, needing to reconcile their wildness with their reconcile their wildness with their humanity. humanity.

……TogetherTogether

Enkidu becomes the archetypal Enkidu becomes the archetypal Young Man from the Provinces, Young Man from the Provinces, coming in from the outside to coming in from the outside to revitalize Uruk by “curing” the king revitalize Uruk by “curing” the king of his melancholy. of his melancholy.

He removes the king’s isolation and He removes the king’s isolation and stands steadfastly by his side – a stands steadfastly by his side – a marked contrast from the citizens of marked contrast from the citizens of Uruk, who only defend Gilgamesh Uruk, who only defend Gilgamesh because they must. because they must.

The Young Man from the ProvincesThe Young Man from the Provinces

And just as Enkidu relieves And just as Enkidu relieves Gilgamesh of his loneliness, the king Gilgamesh of his loneliness, the king confers a new purpose upon his confers a new purpose upon his friend.friend.

Each gives the other his missing Each gives the other his missing piece of humanity. piece of humanity.

One could argue that each brings out One could argue that each brings out the best in his counterpart, for they the best in his counterpart, for they aren’t wild in the same way. aren’t wild in the same way.

Gifted PurposeGifted Purpose

In some ways, Gilgamesh proves more “savage” In some ways, Gilgamesh proves more “savage” than his new friend; while the king seemingly than his new friend; while the king seemingly lives to ravage and consume, Enkidu lives to lives to ravage and consume, Enkidu lives to preserve and support. preserve and support.

Everything we know about him, save his Everything we know about him, save his wildness, reflects a quality we wish we could see wildness, reflects a quality we wish we could see in ourselves – whereas very little of what in ourselves – whereas very little of what Gilgamesh does seems worth doing. Gilgamesh does seems worth doing.

Enkidu understands compassion and Enkidu understands compassion and brotherhood, shows both courage and caution, brotherhood, shows both courage and caution, and ultimately pays the price – unwillingly, but and ultimately pays the price – unwillingly, but still – that spares his friend’s life. still – that spares his friend’s life.

Gilgamesh only rediscovers his human values Gilgamesh only rediscovers his human values through Enkidu, and the story lionizes him in through Enkidu, and the story lionizes him in turn. turn.

Relative SavageryRelative Savagery

When we first meet him, Gilgamesh won’t When we first meet him, Gilgamesh won’t engage with the world, refusing to engage with the world, refusing to acknowledge the unity of things and living acknowledge the unity of things and living out a pale shadow of life behind his out a pale shadow of life behind his towering walls. towering walls.

So the world goes to him in the form of So the world goes to him in the form of Enkidu, breaching the old defenses, Enkidu, breaching the old defenses, leaving Gilgamesh both more alive and leaving Gilgamesh both more alive and more vulnerable than ever before. more vulnerable than ever before.

With his new friend, the king comes to With his new friend, the king comes to know triumph, but also learns of despair. know triumph, but also learns of despair.

Triumph and DespairTriumph and Despair

If Gilgamesh never meets Enkidu, If Gilgamesh never meets Enkidu, never makes a friend, he’ll never never makes a friend, he’ll never feel the pain of loss…but he’ll never feel the pain of loss…but he’ll never know the happiness he finds once his know the happiness he finds once his loneliness shatters. loneliness shatters.

Is it a worthwhile trade? Is it really Is it a worthwhile trade? Is it really better to have loved and lost than to better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all…in never have loved at all…in Gilgamesh’s case?Gilgamesh’s case?

Moreover, is Gilgamesh’s grief Moreover, is Gilgamesh’s grief selfish – does he mourn Enkidu’s loss selfish – does he mourn Enkidu’s loss simply because he feels reduced simply because he feels reduced without him? without him?

The Big QuestionsThe Big Questions

At first blush, it seems odd that a man At first blush, it seems odd that a man who lived as brutally as Gilgamesh did who lived as brutally as Gilgamesh did would grieve a lost life so heavily. would grieve a lost life so heavily.

Perhaps it’s a matter of meaning; his life Perhaps it’s a matter of meaning; his life was meaningless before Enkidu arrived, was meaningless before Enkidu arrived, and Gilgamesh has no desire to return to and Gilgamesh has no desire to return to the way things were. the way things were.

Or perhaps it’s a larger metaphysical / Or perhaps it’s a larger metaphysical / thematic concern: Thorkild Jacobsen says thematic concern: Thorkild Jacobsen says that that GilgameshGilgamesh is a “revolt against is a “revolt against death,” that the story essentially posits death,” that the story essentially posits that a just and good universe would allow that a just and good universe would allow man’s glories to continue uninterrupted man’s glories to continue uninterrupted (whereas death merely prevents us from (whereas death merely prevents us from reaching our potential and discovering our reaching our potential and discovering our true meaning). true meaning).

Interrupted PotentialInterrupted Potential

Thus we ask ourselves questions Thus we ask ourselves questions about the nature of death. about the nature of death.

Is it simply a termination? Is it simply a termination? A snuffing out of possibility and A snuffing out of possibility and

potential? potential? A gateway to something greater? A gateway to something greater? Is there meaning in death, or is Is there meaning in death, or is

death meaningless? death meaningless?

Questions About DeathQuestions About Death

Does some of life’s urgency come from Does some of life’s urgency come from that final consequence – the that final consequence – the knowledge, however acknowledged, knowledge, however acknowledged, that life ends no matter what we do?that life ends no matter what we do?

And can one find meaning in life And can one find meaning in life without enduring terrible pain? Can one without enduring terrible pain? Can one find meaning without risk?find meaning without risk?

You need bruises to know blessings, and You need bruises to know blessings, and I have known both.I have known both.

Frances Shand KyddFrances Shand Kydd More to follow…More to follow…

The Last Big QuestionsThe Last Big Questions