In Gilgamesh by Herbert Mason, Gilgamesh went on a journey to achieve a supernatural power. He traveled from place to place talking to people about how to achieve the power of immortality. Like a true hero, Gilgamesh went on a journey to achieve something and ended up where he started. However, he failed. Gilgamesh’s chance to gather the power of eternal life had been lost. Gilgamesh returned home to Uruk along with his achievement of grief, sadness, and failure. Gilgamesh came to the realization that life is not what he thought it was.
From his journey, Gilgamesh learned that death is inescapable, humankind is limited because there are always problems, and humanity comes with responsibilities such as emotions and the ability to move on, causing the person to become more human-like. Gilgamesh learned that death is inescapable because he now knows that immortality is unachievable and that life cannot be controlled by ungodly people. By learning that immortality is unable to be achieved, Gilgamesh understands how death is inescapable because no one lives forever.
As a result of him learning that life must end, Gilgamesh realize that he could not successfully retrieve immortality for Enkidu. Proving that immortality is unattainable the text declares, “The plant was gone; the discarded skin [o]f a serpent was all he saw” (Mason 87). This proves how death is inescapable because Gilgamesh finally found the flower after his long journey, but it was taken away from him in such a short time. As a result of the serpent taking the flower Gilgamesh learned that immortality is extremely hard to achieve.
In the book, a situation where this occurred was when Gilgamesh tried to achieve immortality by retrieving the flower but, he failed. By learning that life cannot be controlled by regular people, Gilgamesh understands that death cannot be escaped. As a result of Gilgamesh learning that life cannot be controlled by regular humans, he understands how death is inescapable. Explaining that life cannot be controlled by regular people the text exclaims, “[Gilgamesh] reached out to touch the friend whom he had lost” (Mason 50). As a result, Gilgamesh learned that life cannot be controlled by regular people, instead it is controlled by death.
Life cannot be controlled by someone, their life is not in their hands. They do not chose to die, feel pain, or be sad. Once Enkidu was wounded, his life could not be controlled by himself or Gilgamesh, instead the closeness to death did. By including this in the book it shows how Gilgamesh learned that death cannot be controlled by regular humans. Gilgamesh learned that death is inescapable because he now knows that immortality is near to impossible and that life cannot cannot be controlled by regular people. Gilgamesh learned that humankind is limited because he now knows that success is not guaranteed and that emotions cloud judgement.
Gilgamesh learns humans have limits because he noticed how success is not guaranteed. Revealing what happened to Gilgamesh to make him notice that success is not guaranteed the text announces, “The plant was gone” (Mason 87). This shows how success is not guaranteed because Gilgamesh tried but was not able to retrieve the flower. By losing the flower, Gilgamesh learns that humans have limits because he was not able to successfully retrieve the flower that would grant him immortality. Gilgamesh also learns that humans have limits because he now knows that judgement is clouded by personal thoughts.
Revealing that Gilgamesh learns that personal thoughts cloud judgement the text expresses, “slip in [t]he water quietly until he [Gilgamesh] was refreshed, [l]eaving the plant unguarded” (Mason 86). This explains how Gilgamesh was distracted by his wanting of relaxation that he did not protect the plant. By Gilgamesh not protecting the plant it exhibits the idea that he was distracted because the plant was particularly important to him. Gilgamesh learned that humankind is limited because he now knows that success is not guaranteed and that emotions cloud judgement.
Gilgamesh learned that humanity comes with responsibilities because he now knows that emotions are mandatory and that moving on is necessary. Gilgamesh learns that being human comes with responsibilities because he now knows that it is necessary to have emotions. Expressing that emotions are mandatory the text states, “the heart has changed and the soul has been converted” (Mason 53). This suggests how it is needed to have emotions because they are part of being a human. Gilgamesh learns that being human comes with responsibilities because he now knows that moving on is necessary.
Displaying Gilgamesh’s knowledge of moving on the text expresses, “His [Gilgamesh’s] life became a quest” (Mason 55). This exhibits how Gilgamesh learns that moving on is necessary because he continues on. Gilgamesh learns that he must move on because he goes on a journey right after the death of his best and only friend. Gilgamesh learned that humanity comes with responsibilities because he now knows that emotions are necessary and that moving on is mandatory. From his journey, Gilgamesh learns that death is inescapable, humankind is limited, and humanity comes with responsibilities.
Gilgamesh learns that death is inescapable because he now knows that immortality is near to impossible and life cannot be controlled by regular people. He learned that humankind is limited because he now knows that success is not guaranteed and that emotions cloud judgement. Finally, Gilgamesh learned that humanity comes with responsibilities because he now knows that emotions are mandatory and that moving on is necessary. Gilgamesh went on a journey to achieve immortality and along the way he learned that death is inescapable, humankind is limited, and humanity comes with responsibilities.
