Odysseus vs. Gilgamesh Essay Example For Students

Odysseus vs. Gilgamesh Essay Character is built in several different ways. Some may view character as how one handles a certain hectic situation or how well one person treats another. A true definition character contains these elements, but ones character is built and developed mainly on how one picks and chooses his time to act and his time to wait. This definition refers to restraint and discipline. Gilgamesh and Homers The Odyssey uses many instances in which the main characters must use incredible restraint to protect not only themselves, but also the ones they care for and love. Although both stories use this theme of self-control and discipline to develop certain personalities, each one tells a different account of how these characters are viewed by their fellow men and women and the rewards that come from showing the traits of restraint and self-will. In Gilgamesh, the character that holds back and exhibits patience is viewed as a coward, as Gilgamesh believes, and is a sign of a lack of bravery and confidence. The way that patience is portrayed in Gilgamesh reflects how the society of the time feels about everything in their lives. The author of this story wants the reader to believe that one must not hesitate and must act decisively and quickly. Opposing this belief, Odysseus holds back emotions of rage and homesickness in order to complete the task at hand. Homer, living in Greek society, understood that his people thought more about the problem before coming to a quick conclusion and then acting on it impulsively. So, although both stories repeat the concepts of self-restraint and discipline as character building qualities, they differ in the way that these attributes build or weaken a personality. The story of Gilgamesh begins in the ancient Middle East, a land that was mainly war-faring and used take by force tactics to gain leadership, power, and fame. Since this was the prevailing opinions, the authors, few may it be, tended to define their heroes as men of quick, vicious action. Those who hesitated were run over by those who didnt. Character was built based on ones ability to act quickly and without uncertainty. Gilgamesh was involved in several situations in which he could choose to wait and act later or push forward and complete the task at hand. Gilgameshs brother, Enkidu, also did not use restraint in several of his performances. The very first instance of Enkidu doing such is when he is tempted by the harlot. Enkidu is half man and half beast when this happens. There he is. Now, woman, make your breasts bare, have no shame, do not delay, but welcome his love She was not ashamed to take him, she made herself naked and welcomed his eagerness (Gilgamesh 20). Enkidu did not refrain in the least from leaving his animal ways to go to the tempting woman. When he tried to return to the beast after his six days of passion, they rejected him, for he was now fully human. Because of his lack of will-power, Enkidu lost his life in the wild, but he also gained his life in the manly world. His character as a human was reinforced and was now stronger and wiser than before. A second example of a lack of patience comes from Gilgamesh in his decision to travel into the Cedar Forest and fight the terrible Humbaba. One day, he decides to fulfill his destiny and make a name for himself, and the next day, he is on his way. Gilgamesh does not think of the recourses of his actions and does not plan his adventure carefully and wisely. Even the elders tell him, you are young, your courage carries you too far, you cannot know what this enterprise means which you plan (Gilgamesh 25). As they continued to warn him of Humbabas strength, Gilgamesh paid no attention. Gilgamesh continues on with his plans, and Enkidu and Gilgamesh slay Humbaba. They are welcomed home with great appreciation by the people of Uruk, and all know that there character cannot be topped. Homeless in America EssayAfter this scare, Odysseus would never use such reckless abandon again. His character had been developed after this situation, but not because he succeeded, but because he had escaped with his life. Several more instances occur threw his telling of his journey, where Odysseus shows great will-power in making decisions, but some of the most important character-building occurrences happen as he re-enters his home city of Ithaka. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus must first take a verbal and physical assault from one of his own workers, Melanthios. He is cussed for being a dirty beggar and then kicked in the hip. It takes Odysseus all of his strength to hold back from killing Melanthios in one blow, but he does hold back, and he keeps the secret of his arrival safe. After he has arrived at his own palace, Odysseus has been informed by Athena that he must beg the suitors for bread. He uses his experiences with each suitor to determine their capability and if they will be a problem. Once again, Odysseus must beg from the men who are taking house and home from him, and he does this with great cunning and discipline. The most difficult occurrence of Odysseus holding back happens when Antinoos becomes enraged with a comment that Odysseus had made. Antinoos responded, You think youll shuffle off and get away after that impudence? Oh, no you dont! The stool he let fly hit the mans (Odysseus) right shoulder Odysseus only shook his head, containing thoughts of bloody work (The Odyssey 426). The man that Odysseus was about to kill had physically struck him, refused to give him food and told him to get his filthy rags out of the room. As the reader of The Odyssey view this happening, they can only gain great respect for Odysseus great determination to wait for the right time. Normal people could not stand what he was going through without lashing out, but Odysseus held strong, and his character is shown to be even stronger than before. Homer builds Odysseus character slowly through the story and allows Odysseus to learn from his mistakes. Homer allowed his characters to develop through experience, thought and rationale. The ancient epics of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both use many instances of restraint and discipline to help further develop the character of Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and Odysseus. This similarity is only true in that the heroes were developed through these qualities, but the stories differ in how each hero uses self-restraint to their advantage. Gilgamesh shows little or no rational thought before he tackled a challenge. He moved forward regardless, and he succeeded. His lack of self-discipline did not hurt his character, for he won each battle, and his people viewed him as a hero. In contrast, Odysseus at times did not show restraint and was punished for his actions. He only succeeded when he was able to hold back his raging emotions and wait for the time to strike. For this, Odysseus was praised as a leader and hero. Homer and the author of Gilgamesh both tell wonderful stories of adventure and conquest, but their stories also reflect the societies in which each lived. Regardless of the fact that Gilgamesh and Odysseus gained character in opposite ways, both societies in which they lived recognized their accomplishments and how they were achieved. Both societies accepted Odysseus and Gilgamesh as great heroes, and Homer and the author of Gilgamesh were successful in creating such developed characters.