“The Epic of Gilgamesh” Blog
Due March 2nd
World Literature
Megan Braine •••
•• Nature vs. Civilization ••
There is no doubt that The Epic of Gilgamesh is ahead if it’s time. The city within this story, is completely civilized and has remarkable buildings and manmade structures. With this we can see that Nature vs. Civilization is one of the major themes represented throughout this story. Many characters in this story have to do with nature for example, Enkidu. Other aspects throughout the story regarding nature vs. civilization are actions of Gilgamesh and Enkidu leaving civilization to live in the nature, and Gilgamesh looking to seek immortality and the journey he has to take to get there, among many other things. Gilgamesh shows us throughout the story that many of his struggles have to do with nature because of his upbringing in civilization, in the city.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh we are told of all the beautiful buildings and structures within the city. These represent how it’s ahead of its time and how civilized the city of Uruk was. For example, through the city there were many thick walls which were described as "which gleam like copper" (Kovacs 3). Now, on the outside of this city is pure nature. When Gilgamesh comes across Enkidu and they become allies, they decided to leave civilization and go off into the natural world. This decision is made because of the wanting to kill Humbaba. “In order to protect the Cedar Forest Enlil assigned (Humbaba) as a terror to human beings--Humbaba's roar is a Flood, his mouth is Fire, and his breath is Death!” (Kovacs 19). With the doing of killing Humbaba, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are at risk for wrecking the Cedar Forest Finery. That’s ironic since they’re trying to help the natural world. Once the two descended to the natural world, Gilgamesh started to doubt himself. Was it for because he was about to do an impossible task or because of his unfamiliarity environment? "My friend, did you not call out to me? Why did I wake up?--Did you not touch me?--Why am I so disturbed?--Did a god pass by?--Why are my muscles trembling?--Enkidu, my friend, I have had a dream--and the dream I had was deeply disturbing!--In the mountain gorges . . .the mountain fell down on me (us ?) . . .We(?) . . . like flies(?) . . ." (Kovacs 31).
Besides the actions of Gilgamesh and Enkidu which revolve around nature and civilization. Toward the end of the story is when we see how civilization is greatly represented and acknoleged by the people in this city and time era. Gilgamesh at the end of The Epic of Gilgamesh, praises the civilized city and all it has to offer. “Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly--is not (even the core of) the brick structure of kiln-fired brick, and did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan?” (Kovacs 107). Gilgamesh comes to realize that he can’t be immotal and accepts death. This story overall shows a great realization of both nature and civilization. Although in the city, civilization was made by accomplishment and honor, but the natural world is still outside of it and the wilderness still exist.
Hey Megan,
ReplyDeleteI liked your analysis of the theme of nature vs civilization throughout "The Epic of Gilgamesh". I feel as if this theme within this epic isn't very hard to misconstrue. I basically came to the same conclusions as you, citing examples of civilization as the infrastructure of the city Gilgamesh built and examples of nature would be the forests and natural world outside of the city. One thing I would like to bring up is how I believe Gilgamesh could personify civilization while Enkidu personifies nature. There is a clear struggle between the two in the beginning of the epic, but after their fight within the city walls they attain a sacred bond. Gilgamesh and Enkidu both improve each other's worldview on things, as Gilgamesh becomes less violent and "rapey" while Enkidu becomes more domesticated and civilized. After their initial fight, They can represent civilization and nature working in unison instead of against each other.
-Mike Paskitti
Megan, your analysis of nature vs. civilization, is very similar to my own. I took it more as a interpretation between the two individuals themselves, rather than the city Gilgamesh built. I feel as though nature was being represented by Enkidu, who was ultimately raised within the wild until he was brought into civilization and groomed to be a fully functional adult of that society. Although he was groomed to do so, he still remained with a wild side, and actually came into a brawl with Gilgamesh, who I felt was the epitome of what civilization was metaphorically speaking during that time period. Once the two were befriended after coming to blows, they decided to do something that would disrupt the rhythm of nature, and come to find repercussions of this by being punished with a seven month famine, eventually resulting in death, and shortly after the death of Enkidu. This I feel relates to nature always having the upper hand because it is what gives us life as a civilization, as well as being unpredictable in its own right. I feel that we as a society take nature for granted, and eventually it will come back to haunt us in the future.
ReplyDelete