Although I expected the Epic of Gilgamesh to be confusing and boring, I must say that I enjoyed reading it. One topic we slightly touched in class and that I was interested in blogging about, was the idea that Gilgamesh and Enkidu had a homosexual relationship. I would have to disagree and I will mention only a few pieces of evidence from the text that contradict the idea.
At the beginning of the poem, it is explained that Enkidu was mesmerized by a prostitute, which clearly explains that he is attracted to women. Also , before Enkidu and Gilgamesh went off to a battle with Humbaba, they visited Gilgamesh’s mother and asked for her blessing. In that scene his mother technically “adopts” Enkidu or recognizes him as her son, by gifting him sacred jewelry. Another part of the text that caught my attention was when goddess Ishtar asked Gilgamesh to be her husband and he refused. Many would say that he refused because he is in love with Enkidu, but the way I see it is that Gilgamesh is very vulnerable and afraid of getting hurt by the goddess.
In the text Gilgamesh also refers to his love for Enkidu as love for a wife. I find nothing homosexual about this because you can choose to take this in two ways. One way to take it is that Gilgamesh thought of Enkidu as his wife and was in love with him. However, the way I see it is that Gilgamesh was using somewhat of a metaphor to explain the bond him and Enkidu had and that he cared about his friend as much as he would have cared for his wife or someone as close to him as a wife. The way I look upon Gilgamesh’s and Enkidu’s relationship is that it’s a strong brotherly bond. They spend all of their time together, fight their battles together and keep each other strong and motivated. After they met for the first time and finished fighting each other, the text explains that they became friends and kissed. There are two waysyou can think of them kissing. There is one way which is a passionate kiss that a couple would share or a kiss of forgiveness and a start of a new friendship. Many cultures back then and still to this day have a way of greeting or showing affection by giving a kiss on the cheek, as in France for example and throughout the rest of Europe. I saw this kiss as a gesture of compassion and a start of a new brotherly bond.
I guess this controversy depends on how people interpret the text and the context of the poem. Some people may see them as really good friends with a strong brotherly bond, and others may pick up the mysterious clues within the text and see them as homosexuals. However, to me, Gilgamesh and Enkidu were nothing but best of friends and shared a brotherly relationship throughout the poem.
I want to start by saying, and I think I tipped my hand on this in class, that I agree. i don't see a homosexual relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
ReplyDeleteAnother element worth considering is the batman assigned to be a personal servant to an officer (yes, I said batman). You can read more about that at wikipedia if you're interested.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(military)
and what about bi and pansexuality, maybe they were lovers of any kind of humans, or in case of enkidu, any kind? :/
ReplyDeleteThis is like the David and Jonathan argument in the Bible. Have you read that story? Some argue that they were lovers while others argue that they were really good friends. When Jonathan is killed in battle, David says in his lament that Jonathan's love for him passed the love of women.
ReplyDeleteIt also says that the two kissed and hugged each other. I see similarities in the two stories of intimate affection between two men.
So when you say you love your husband/wife, would you say that as a metaphor to mean your bond is that of sibling level only? He could have used brother instead of a wife, but then why would he use wife?
ReplyDeleteEnkidu is an 'it' not 'HE'. They love humanity and therefore was enthralled by the appearance of a HUMAN, not necessarily a because she was female, and was REQUIRED to copulate with her to gain a level of human physique and intelligence which they did not already have, and were required to achieve in order to conquer Gilgamesh in whatever way they were meant to, which if you still haven't realized, they DID.
ReplyDeleteThe jewelry from Gilgamesh's mother is considered a dowry which would be given from the parents/mother of a WIFE seeing as Enkidu had no family of their own, Gilgamesh's mother provided it to accept and bless their union. She accepted Enkidu because Enkidu was made for him specifically, as Eve was made for Adam 'by his rib', which could be metaphor for 'heart/love', which was indeed what they shared with each other either way you look at it.
Gilgamesh could have said 'brother', 'family', 'comrade', or even 'life partner', instead he said 'WIFE', because that was Enkidu's most personal role in his life, and WHY he stopped his ravenous ways. Gilgamesh was repulsed by the goddess Ishtar (didn't you STUDY this in class?) and felt nothing for her apart from disgust. He realized that she wanted to take Enkidu's place, and while ancient kings had many lovers, Gilgamesh was no longer interested in anyone else because Enkidu was with him.
Kissing friendily is also a huge leap based entirely on prejudice. They say that Zeref 'kissed' Mavis with a kiss which killed her, yet how did she fall pregnant? The kiss is a metaphor. More than a kiss happened, especially since that was how Enkidu was TAUGHT to bond to another person.
You are entitled to believe whatever you like. They were rivals, brothers, friends, and lovers too. Do more research, then come back with something more educated to say.