Todd's close reading

In this passage Gilgamesh is proclaiming to Enkidu that he will vanquish Huwawa and cut down the tallest Cedar in the Forest. This is significant because it represents humanity’s struggle against nature. Gilgamesh tells Enkidu that Huwawa must be destroyed and that Gilgamesh and Enkidu must go together. This emphasizes the importance of the male-to-male bond in this tale. Male-to-male bonding is representative of an attainment of full humanity and a transition of Gilgamesh and Enkidu to becoming more civilized. Enkidu says that he is afraid of battling Huwawa who is described as a beast of nature. I believe that Huwawa is representative of the literal forces of nature. His “mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death. This symbolizes the destructive power of fire, flooding, and the death and despair that accompanies them. Therefore, when Gilgamesh says that he will go and fight Huwawa, he is really saying that he will venture out to fight against nature. This ties into the theme of nature versus civilization. Gilgamesh and Enkidu will set out to vanquish nature with civilized tools, which are weapons and knowledge. This is told to us in the lines following the passage. The two heroes go to the armor makers for weapons and Enkidu uses his knowledge to guide Gilgamesh. After Huwawa has been destroyed, Gilgamesh exclaims that he will cut down the tallest Cedar tree, which will bring him glory. I see the Cedar as a trophy that Gilgamesh desires. The Cedar represents the epitome of nature: a massive, strong, and stable entity that will most likely last for hundreds of years if it is not destroyed by humanity. Eventually Gilgamesh will make this Cedar into a gate for his city. This symbolizes the ultimate triumph of Gilgamesh over nature. He has taken civilization and all of its tools to vanquish the forces of nature. Now, that which once stood for the epitome of nature will represent the epitome of civilization. As a gate, the Cedar will stand as a monument to humanity. As a human passes through the gate, they will enter the city and become civilized. It will also serve as a mechanism to keep nature out of the city. Gilgamesh intends for the gate to stand as a monument to his conquest of nature for a long time as he proclaims that his fame will be secure to all his sons.