Superman Only One-Third Mortal, Gilgamesh

¶ … superman only one-third mortal, Gilgamesh becomes the unwitting hero of a tragic tale. Being two-thirds a god, the King of Uruk leads his people with an iron fist, letting his divine nature turn him into an arrogant and oppressive leader. The Epic of Gilgamesh explores Gilgamesh's relationship with himself and his own hubris extensively throughout the twelve tablets upon which the Sumerian text was written. However, Gilgamesh needed a major catharsis to initiate his personal transformation. The gods are the primary force responsible for Gilgamesh's changing from a brutal ruler to an altruistic one. Creating Enkidu as Gilgamesh's only viable nemesis turns out to be the catalyst for the title character. Enkidu, unlike Gilgamesh, is entirely mortal. His death is what makes Gilgamesh accept his own mortality. Ironically, it is Enkidu's humanity that makes Gilgamesh a truly godlike figure.

Although Gilgamesh is two-thirds part god and Enkidu is introduced as being animalistic, Enkidu appears the more emotionally intelligent and spiritually strong of the two. Enkidu is created entirely by the gods, even though he is a wholly earthy character. Like an animal, Enkidu lives in the woods and has little contact with humanity before encountering Gilgamesh and before that, a prostitute. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu are initially shown to be animals even though Gilgamesh is two-thirds part god. Interestingly, Enkidu is more emotionally intelligent than Gilgamesh at the beginning of the story. Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh on the grounds that his behavior as king is out of hand and inhumane. In fact, the gods created Enkidu as a rival for Gilgamesh, one who could challenge, threaten, and undermine the arrogant king's power. Enkidu is first described as a sort of monster, when oddly it is Gilgamesh who is the real monster at the start of the epic based on his legacy in Uruk.

Nevertheless, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are depicted as physically equal. When the gods first create Enkidu, he challenges Gilgamesh and the two men fight. Gilgamesh prevails, leading to their mutual respect and friendship. Immediately, the beast Enkidu tames the god-man Gilgamesh. The two men embark on a journey of friendship that transforms both characters. Enkidu becomes more civilized and knowledgeable about the ways of human beings, and Gilgamesh likewise becomes tamer and more compassionate toward others. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh's humanity emerges fully as the King of Uruk mourns.

The death of Enkidu is the climax of the Epic of Gilgamesh, forcing the title character to ponder the natures of life, death, and love. Whereas Enkidu remained an entirely simple character until his death, Gilgamesh is intense and complex. The main feature distinguishing Enkidu from Gilgamesh is the latter's greater intellectual capacity. Gilgamesh's godlike features emerge in his eventual ability to initiate personal change, whereas Enkidu is a more one-dimensional figure, one who exists solely on the level of survival and emotion. His emotional love is, however, a godlike quality that helps Gilgamesh become a better human being.