Co, Timothy Patrick T. Lit 126.1: Western Literature I Edward David Ruiz, Ph.D.

Essay Question #2 (On Gilgamesh & Achilles)

The Illiad comes comfortably close to both the subject matter and themes of Gilgamesh. The subject matter of the Illiad is Achilles, as the Illiad mainly talks about the wrath of Achilles while Gilgamesh talks about Gilgamesh. Both Achilles and Gilgamesh have a lot of similarities, as well as themes that are emphasized throughout their story.

For one, both Achilles and Gilgamesh are known to be great warriors. Achilles is known to be the greatest warrior of the Greeks, while Gilgamesh is known to be the warrior-king of Uruk. Their skill as warriors are shown all throughout their stories. Another thing similar about both Achilles and Gilgamesh is that they both have mothers that are Gods. Achilles is the son of the sea-nymph Thetis, while Gilgamesh is the son of the wise goddess Ninsun. Another similarity between the two of them is that they both have a companion that they really care about. Achilles has Patroclus, who is always seen at the side of Achilles (even until their deaths, where they are buried together,) while Gilgamesh has Enkidu, who is known to be the alter-ego of Gilgamesh, who later on becomes Gilgameshs faithful companion as well. These are the similarities between the two in terms of subject matter.

Achilles and Gilgamesh are also similar in terms of the underlying themes that are emphasized throughout their story. An example of that is their hubris (or pride.) Achilles, in his pride, refuses to fight for the Greeks because his war-prize was taken from him by Agamemnon, which his pride cannot allow. Gilgamesh is the same, as his pride makes him a warrior-king who knows that he could abuse his power (an example of this, is how he would rape women that are about to be wed.) Another similarity between the

two would be their grief for their companions. In the Illiad, Achilles companion, Patroclus, dies while he is fighting for the Greeks in Achilles armour, while Gilgameshs companion, Enkidu dies because he gets struck by a disease. Both of which, are because of the Hubris of Achilles and Gilgamesh. In Achilles case, Patroclus dies because he still refuses to fight alongside the Greeks. And for Gilgameshs case, it was because he angered the Goddess, Ishtar, the goddess of love and sexuality (in his pride.)

Both Achilles and Gilgamesh mourn for the deaths of their respective companions for quite a long time, and this later on, changes their actions. For Achilles, this is when he decides to fight in order to avenge the death of Patroclus, while Gilgamesh tries to seek immortality. This is one notable difference between the two (As Achilles chooses a short, but heroic life, while Gilgamesh chooses to seek out immortality.) But the similarity there, lies in the fact that they both think that they can control their fate. Later on, however, both learn that nobody could escape their fate. Achilles does die a short, but heroic death, and Gilgamesh fails to achieve immortality (because he failed his tests when he fell asleep with Utnapishtim and when the plant was taken from him by the serpent.) Despite this, both Achilles and Gilgamesh deal with mortality in their epics. They may be a heroic figure, but in the end, they are still human. They are still mortal, and they will still die in the end.

Lastly, there is also the theme of both epics wherein both Achilles and Gilgamesh achieve immortality. However, this is not the physical immortality anymore, but a sort of immortality through the glory of their heroic deeds. Achilles is known all-throughout that he is the best of the Greek warriors, while Gilgameshs story is in the stone walls of Uruk. These are what will be passed on from generation to generation. This is the part of them that becomes immortal; their stories. Therefore, both the Illiad and Gilgamesh are similar in its subject matter and themes.