Zoe Wiener
9/18/13
English 101
Gilgamesh vs. Oedipus What does being powerful mean? Some may say that being powerful means knowing all things; that you do not make mistakes. Some may say that when you are great and wise you have no weaknesses. However, in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and “Oedipus the king” this is not true. Both all mighty kings seek the very advice that they once gave. Neither one of them are perfect and do not seek help. Their stories are very different but are similar in the struggle they face. The thought of someone being powerful is complicated in the aspect that people do not go through the same things that normal other people do. Although they are portrayed as powerful, both characters share the normal weakness with all human beings. Therefore, the two stories demonstrate the weaknesses of even the most dominate humans.
Gilgamesh is an almighty, half-god and half-human. In the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, Benjamin Walker starts off stating how flawless he is. The text says, “He knew the ways, was wise in all things” (p. 38). Which exemplifies his power and prudent ways. It continues on about Gilgamesh and his supremeness. Later on Gilgamesh makes a friend named Enkidu. Enkidu was, “shaggy with hair was his whole body, he was made lush with head hair, like a woman, the locks of his hair grew thick as a grain field” (p. 40). The quote shows how Enkidu was portrayed in the beginning before showing how Gilgamesh fell in love with him. Gilgamesh becomes great friends with Enkidu and builds an emotional tie with him in the story. Although Gilgamesh is portrayed as absolute king he also has flaws. Power is complicated in how it is portrayed is his position. He is known as the guy with wealth, women, and arrogance. The towns people think of him as the perfect guy. They believe he is everything in one, that he has no flaws no emotions. This, however, is not