In class we ran out of time before discussing the majority of the god figures in Gilgamesh, but I found that my understanding of the the story as a whole deepened due to my considerations of this topic, so I thought I would bring the conversation to the blog for all of our benefit. I believe we left the discussion at the death of Humbaba, just before Ishtar made an appearance in the story. I thought I might try to encourage the same style of Socratic dialog that we were having in class, so I'll lay out a few questions on the remaining gods in the story, without much of my interpretation. Over the next few days, we can flesh out the conversation.
1. Ishtar- Story Summary : Comes to visit Enkidu and Gilgamesh after they kill Humbaba, tries to extort marriage from Gilgamesh. When he refuses, she sends the Bull of Heaven to destroy Uruk (the city) and kill Gilgamesh. Enkidu kills the Bull, but is mortally wounded in the battle, and eventually goes mad with fever and dies.
Question: This section of the story is a major part of the story arc, and is just chock full of symbolism within symbolism, symboliception. When Michael and I discussed this, we went in many different directions and all of them seemed to be pertinent to the story. Without leading in our direction/s then, we decided that it would be interesting to hear your interpretations of Ishtar in the context of the "landscape of the journey of the self?"
2. Siduri- The Barmaid who nurses Gilgamesh back to health when he arrives at the valley, after an extended journey across the Road of the Sun, where there is no light. Gilgamesh is said to have arrived at Siduri's emaciated and half-crazed. For whatever reason, the valley of Siduri once again posses light, signifying that the Gilgamesh successfully crossed through the engulfing darkness of the Road of the Sun.
Question: Why is the story of Gilgamesh set up in such a way that he finds a place to rest and recuperate just as it seems that he is being overcome by his grieving of Enkidu's death? It could have been that he just continued on to Urshanabi the Boatman, in his emaciated and half crazed state, so there must be some symbolic significance to the rest and nursing back to health that occurs at Siduri's. Any insight as to what this might be symbolic of in the journey of the self?
3. Urshanabi- The boatman who assists Gilgamesh in crossing the sea of death.
Question: What are the implications for Gilgamesh's journey when he smashes the magical portal rocks that would have been able to assist him across the sea of death if only he were to have asked nicely?
Additionally, at this key moment in the story, just before Gilgamesh is to once again "conquer death," by crossing the sea of death, what archetypal role does Urshanabi serve?
4. Utnapishtim- The immortal man on the other side of the sea of death, a.k.a Noah. Gilgamesh seeks him out for he has supposedly conquered death, a man become god, and Gilgy seeks to bring back his friend from the dead.
Question- Why is the resolution, when Gilgamesh makes it to the end of the rainbow/sea of death, just a beat down, depressed old man. He has achieved one of Gilgamesh's goals, eternal life, true victory over death, yet he seems to be bereft of satisfaction. Is eternal life truly victory?
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Alright well, y'all have a few hours to contribute to this socratic dialog, or Im going to comment on my own comment.
ReplyDeleteOk well, here it goes, since I got toonnnnnsss of participation....:
ReplyDelete1. Ishtar- We, as in Micheal and I, thought it was interesting that after Gilgy and Enkidu conquer death, they are then confronted by temptation, which ends up resulting in true death for one of them. It is as if temptation results in an inner death, or something poetic like that....
2. Dark night of the soul= Road of the Sun = a time of deep despair on the inner journey
Siduri= the light at the end of the tunnel=there is an end to the suffering before the journey is over= its not all chaos and suffering.
3. This symbolizes how we tend to make our inner journey harder for ourselves that it has to be, often by impatience and rage. With humility and humor we can confront the inner regions more fluidly. Urshanabi is a foil to Gilgy's rage and distress.
4. Eternal life would be depressing. Death is what makes life worth living. You can't have beauty without horror. Black without white. One without... negative one? You get the point.
Hey Jordan. I just wanted to jump in and add some of my perspectives to the questions you asked.
ReplyDelete1. Ishtar - In terms of the "landscape of the journey of the self?, I find that this could be interpreted in a couple of ways but I think I'll just focus on the one i find most interesting. In the story, shes a goddess and her father is one too. Basically, when the gods find out that Gilgamesh and Enkidu go "against the grain" essentially, refusing to do their will by marrying her, they punished them. This can be related to this concept of control. Are we in control of our actions and consequences or is there a higher order that deals out an unfathomable justice? I know at times it feels like my live is falling apart but who do I blame? Should I even blame anyone? This may be harder to apply in reality though.
2. This one I hadn't really thought about until now. I would say that although Gilgamesh is going through a rough time he was able to find the silver linings in his situation. Or maybe it symbolizes the idea that we have to take "breaks" and reorganize ourselves before resuming suffering.
3. I agree with your thinking on this one. Sometimes we can lose control of both our feelings and our bodies and that puts us in situations where we just make things worse. I definitely can personally relate, being a teenager once.
4. I think this one is a combination of two things, eternal life isn't all its made to be like you mentioned, and that this man survived a mass extinction essentially. He talks about the flood but I don't think I could imagine seeing all that I once knew get swept away. That probably had some serious impact on him. And i just want to add that I really do like how you worded your response. Opposites exist for each other. I mean if you literally had all the time in world what would you do?