The Hero's Journey: The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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The underworld is where the dead go. Throughout many have travel to the underworld to find answers to their questions. Gilgamesh, Inanna and Odysseus all travel to a different type of Underworld in their own journeys. Gilgamesh’s best friend, Enkidu, dies and Gilgamesh becomes lost and hurt by the loss of Enkidu. He starts to become afraid of death and leaves out on a journey to find immortality. Gilgamesh finds Urshanabi, a boatman, to take him over the waters of death to Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim and his wife are the only humans the gods made immoral. Gilgamesh is put to the test of staying awake for six days and seven nights, but falls asleep nearly right away. “What shall I do, O Utnapishtim, where shall I go? Already the thief in the night has hold of my limbs, death inhabits my room; whereever my foot rests, there I find death.” (page 89). Gilgamesh fears death coming for him faster now that he has fails the test. Utnapishtim informs Gilgamesh of a plant that restores youth, however on his way home Gilgamesh sets the plant down by a pond and a serpent is drawn to it and eats it. Back home in Urk,…show more content…
“O Gilgamesh, this was the meaning of your dream. You were given the kingship, such was your destiny, everlasting life was not your destiny. Because of this do not be sad at heart, do not be grieved or

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