1.) The first time Gilgamesh is written about in the text in the prologue, page 69, canto 1, lines 1-22.
2.) Gilgamesh is the king of all mighty Uruk. He is the tallest, most handsome, strongest mortal man in the world. He was "Surpassing all kings... violent...two-thirds divine and one third human"(71). He has been a successful king (excluding the endless sexual encounters with any woman he chooses), in keeping his people safe, providing for them, and being a brave solider and leader.
3.) Gilgamesh can be related to Enkidu's character in many ways. Both men were the tallest and strongest men in the world. They completed journey's in days, where it would have taken normal men multiple weeks to achieve. Both men go to fight Humbaba but for different reasons. Gilgamesh seems as if he only wants to defeat Humbaba for the fame and approval of his citizens, where Enkidu does not want to go, since his best friend is going, he will go to accompany and help defeat Humbaba.
4.) Again, I might be the only person in the class who thinks that Gilgamesh is a great leader and a hero. I believe that if I was a young boy and lived in Uruk under Gilgamesh, I would want to be him and he would be my hero. How could someone so accomplished not be admired by anyone else in the class as a hero.
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I am also a firm believer that Gilgamesh is a hero. I feel that his acts of bravery, courage, and fearlessness in the face of danger set him apart from most characters in the novel.
One instance of his heroic characteristics is in the passage where he tells the elders of Uruk, 'Dear friend, tell me, has your courage returned? Are you ready to leave? Or are you still afraid of dying a hero's death?' (97) This statement displays his confidence of his courage and bravery to be the only individual to stand up to such a fearsome foe.
When he reaches the Cedar Forest, he fortifies Enkidu with his passion to overcome Humbaba by saying, 'Courage, dear brother, this is no time to give in to fear.' (120)
When Gilgamesh is struck with fear, he is overwhelmed with courage as Enkidu reminds him 'A three-ply rope is not easily broken' (119)(122) and 'Two intimate friends cannot be defeated' (124).
I agree that Gilgamesh is a hero, but not in this way. Yes, it is a given that his strength and his indomitable will (at times) are awe-inspiring, but his tyrannical treatment of his city and its citizens greatly tarnish his reputation. Fact is, it isn't until the very end that he finally evolves into the hero figure, realizing all his mistakes and learning from them, I would assume. Gilgamesh's lines at the very end of the book are nearly identical to the sections of the prologue, perhaps implying that he is the author of his story. This would show an incredible self awareness, as major portions of the story focused greatly upon Gilgamesh's faults. Had he transcribed his own narrative, this candor and complete honesty is what reflects the hero's nature.
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