The Hero Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1759 Words

In the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh†, it is easy to conclude that Gilgamesh, the protagonist of the story, is the hero. In â€Å"Like Mayflies in a Stream†, Gilgamesh is merely a scary person who appears in the story here or there rather than being the protagonist. Instead, Shamhat is the main person that the story focuses on, but the book is imprecise on one hero of the entire story. There are numerous characters that could reflect hero aspects such as going on a quest, having another to help guide them, or facing trials. Personally, I believe that there is no true hero in this story due to the nature that Shamhat is a woman, who were represented badly during this time, and that Shauna Roberts did not want to misrepresent the epic due to extreme†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, â€Å"Like Mayflies in a Stream† is unclear on who the hero is throughout the book. There is Shamhat, a priestess who must face a difficult journey to find Enkidu, who also has some traits of a hero. His birth and journey are some characteristics that may make him a hero. At the same time, women are not viewed well in this story, which may be a reason that Roberts decided to not have one specific hero. During the time in Mesopotamia, where â€Å"Like Mayflies In A Stream† takes place, women are merely seen as unimportant. Not only do the men see the women this way, the women continue to believe it when they have nothing to define them. For example, when Shamhat had to travel with Zaidu earlier in the book, she was stripped away from the objects that made her a priestess. Her sandals were taken, her seal and face paints were gone, and her beaded sash was destroyed. Once Shamhat realizes this, she says â€Å"I am a woman without rank or identity. I am no one.† (Roberts 66). Women were constantly put down unless they were there for sexual pleasure for their husbands or if they were a priestess of one of the God’s, and it would reflect on their own self-esteem and worthiness. There were numerous instances throughout the book in which the men had demeaning opinions towards the women. â€Å"She was only a woman. She didn’t understand the needs of a man likeSh ow MoreRelatedEpic Of Gilgamesh : The Epic Hero1641 Words   |  7 PagesGilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian hero, featured in the famous tale of â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh†, who embarks on a perilous quest for immortality. This idea, â€Å"†¦touches on the most fundamental questions of what it actually means to be human†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Homer 33), and gives us light into the minds of the people during the era. Gilgamesh’s tale gives us a glimpse at how the people of that day viewed a â€Å"hero†, and allows us to reflect upon what we consider a â€Å"hero† today. Using the Epic Hero Cycle, I will analyzeRead MoreThe Hero Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh911 Words   |  4 Pagesstereotypical, sympathetic hero; the Batmans and Supermans who lose their parents in tragic circumstances and devote their lives to vanquishing evil. 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