Enkidu: from wilderness to civilization

p. 40 (10 verses): “Because of her you eat the food and drink… Gilgamesh the king will build a statue / to celebrate the fame of Enkidu.”

In these verses, Shamash questions why Enkidu would want to curse Shamhat the harlot for she is the one that brought him to the luxury of civilization. He tells Enkidu that if it weren’t for Shamhat, he would never had had the “food and drink the palace affords” or the “garments suitable for a prince to wear.” Enkidu, who used to roam with the wild animals, has become civilized and come to love the comfort of human creations. He now seeks the comfort of true human life in which he does not need to search or hunt for food as he had to in the wilderness; he is instead treated like a prince next to Gilgamesh and dressed properly as well. His life after meeting Shamhat differs greatly from the past in that he did not have clothes to wear in the past nor did he feel the need to be well-clothed; however, now that he has become civilized, he cherishes the qualities of life in the city and cannot readjust to life in the wilderness anymore. Shamash’s comments suggest that civilization is better than nature and that Enkidu’s position now is more preferable than his past one with the animals. In accordance to his new higher position, Shamash also adds that Gilgamesh will have the people “build a statue to celebrate the fame of Enkidu.” The purpose of this statue is to show a sense of immortality for Enkidu based on the idea that he will always have a statue of him around that people will remember him by even after his death. When he used to live in nature in the past, he did not seek this need for fame or immortality; however, his life in a civilized city has revealed to him the pride that people take in honor, power, and respect. He has become adjusted to a lifestyle in which hierarchy plays a large role and immortality is equivalent to admiration and respect from the rest of the common people. The statue that is to be made for Enkidu is a symbol of his immortality to the people of Uruk and their undying respect for his companionship and adventures with Gilgamesh in which, together, they were able to overcome their fears. However, when Enkidu faces death, he is alone and incapable of fending off this fate. Likewise, Gilgamesh will soon be alone as well as the mortal side of him overcomes his divine side and he will ultimately have to face his biggest fear—death.