The Role Of Women In The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1189 Words

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. Aruru, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, Siduri, and Utanapishtim’s wife all contribute to Gilgamesh’s journey, and in the end, provide Gilgamesh with the necessary tools in order to transform his character. These women in The Epic of Gilgamesh are essential to the plot, and provide both wisdom and perfection, but can also bring temptation and destruction if given the power to do so. In the Epic,†¦show more content†¦Aruru’s skill is recognized and respected, and by tasking her with the creation of Enkidu, it proves that the gods trust her skills even though she is a woman. Aruru is not the only women in the play who is a respectable character, as the harlot Shamhat was also entrusted with a great task. Once Enkidu was created, he was regarded as a beast, and Shamhat was the one Gilgamesh trusted to tame him. When the hunter is instructing his son to ask for Gilgamesh’s help, he tells him that â€Å"[Gilgamesh] will give you Shamhat the harlot, take her with you, / Let her prevail over him, instead of the mighty man† (I. 132-133). The important word to note here is â€Å"prevail:† Gilgamesh is not asking for Shamhat’s help because he thinks it will be easier with her; he thinks it will be impossible without her. Gilgamesh sees Shamhat as the only one who is capable of taming Enkidu, something a mere man would not be able to do. But Shamhat was also the one who civilized and guided Enkidu, helping him understand the life of a civilized being. After Enkidu is rejected by the beasts he was once kin-like with, Shamhat begins to act like a mother figure to wards him, guiding him to Uruk (I. 199-204), bringing him to a feast where he eats bread and drinks beer for the first time, where he is â€Å"†¦turned into a man† (II. 43). However, it isShow MoreRelatedThe role of women in The Epic of Gilgamesh1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe role of women is a very important topic in The Epic of Gilgamesh, and various women are chosen to represent various aspects of the mesopotamian conception of women. In the ancient times males were inessential to the preservation of life. The Epic of Gilgamesh shows how the inability of males to give birth causes a sense of despair and alienation. 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