Gilgamesh:Gilgamesh: You Are a Thing You Are a Thing That Carries That Carries

So Much TirednessSo Much Tiredness

FeracoFeraco

SDAIESDAIE

4 October 20134 October 2013

While the first half of the epic is While the first half of the epic is about losing the things you care about losing the things you care about, the second is about what T.S. about, the second is about what T.S. Eliot wrote about in Eliot wrote about in The Waste Land:The Waste Land: shoring up fragments against the shoring up fragments against the ruins of the past.ruins of the past.

But that’s not to say that there But that’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of ruination and woe to isn’t plenty of ruination and woe to go around in the second half. go around in the second half.

From Gilgamesh’s all-consuming From Gilgamesh’s all-consuming grief to Utnapishtim’s devastating grief to Utnapishtim’s devastating survivor’s tale, from Ishtar’s Flood to survivor’s tale, from Ishtar’s Flood to the needless loss of the plant, we’re the needless loss of the plant, we’re never allowed to forget that nothing never allowed to forget that nothing in life comes free of consequences. in life comes free of consequences.

Indeed, we’re left with the Indeed, we’re left with the distinct impression that nothing – distinct impression that nothing – not our hearts, not our cities, not the not our hearts, not our cities, not the legacy we leave behind – can be legacy we leave behind – can be protected from the whims of the protected from the whims of the universe forever.           universe forever.          

But all is not lost. But all is not lost.

In the persons of Siduri, In the persons of Siduri, Urshanabi, and Utnapishtim himself, Urshanabi, and Utnapishtim himself, we find something different – we find something different – something that can penetrate the something that can penetrate the gloom to offer us a chance, however gloom to offer us a chance, however uncertain, to heal. uncertain, to heal.

And in Gilgamesh’s final And in Gilgamesh’s final discovery, we, too, discover discovery, we, too, discover something more.something more.

Although the hero myth is the most popular Although the hero myth is the most popular story, many myths involve healing. In these story, many myths involve healing. In these stories, some character is “broken” and must stories, some character is “broken” and must leave home to become whole again.leave home to become whole again.

The universal experience behind these The universal experience behind these healing stories is our psychological need for healing stories is our psychological need for rejuvenation, for balance…Something is out of rejuvenation, for balance…Something is out of balance, and the mythic journey moves toward balance, and the mythic journey moves toward wholeness. wholeness.

Being broken can take several forms. It can Being broken can take several forms. It can be physical, emotional, or psychological. Usually, be physical, emotional, or psychological. Usually, it's all three. In the process of being exiled or it's all three. In the process of being exiled or hiding out in the forest, the desert, or even [an] hiding out in the forest, the desert, or even [an] Amish farm, the person becomes whole, Amish farm, the person becomes whole, balanced, and receptive to love. Love in these balanced, and receptive to love. Love in these stories is both a healing force and a reward.stories is both a healing force and a reward.

Linda SegerLinda Seger

Once he sets out on his journey to Once he sets out on his journey to find Utnapishtim – the only human who find Utnapishtim – the only human who can live forever, the only one who knows can live forever, the only one who knows “the secret” of how one overcomes death “the secret” of how one overcomes death – Gilgamesh begins to experience things – Gilgamesh begins to experience things he’s never (or rarely) known before. he’s never (or rarely) known before.

When he hears the sounds of animals When he hears the sounds of animals moving towards him in the night, he fears moving towards him in the night, he fears them for the first time.them for the first time.

Now that he’s known how it feels to Now that he’s known how it feels to be protected by someone else, he’s be protected by someone else, he’s painfully aware of that protection’s painfully aware of that protection’s absence.absence.

(The argument that favors “never (The argument that favors “never loving” over “loving and losing” can point loving” over “loving and losing” can point to this for support: if you don’t take a to this for support: if you don’t take a shot, you never have to feel pain you shot, you never have to feel pain you wouldn’t otherwise know about.)wouldn’t otherwise know about.)

Next, he encounters the Scorpion Next, he encounters the Scorpion people – monsters whose glances kill, and people – monsters whose glances kill, and who guard the passage Gilgamesh must who guard the passage Gilgamesh must take to meet Utnapishtim. take to meet Utnapishtim.

Mortal men do not pass them; it’s Mortal men do not pass them; it’s rare that someone even attempts to do rare that someone even attempts to do so. so.

But Gilgamesh survives, for he bows – But Gilgamesh survives, for he bows – something that must have seemed foreign something that must have seemed foreign to him, appearing as someone’s to him, appearing as someone’s subordinate, demonstrating respect subordinate, demonstrating respect rather than making demands. rather than making demands.

His partially divine origins also offer His partially divine origins also offer him some protection. him some protection.

David Eng’s (2012) “Scorpion Man”David Eng’s (2012) “Scorpion Man”

Gilgamesh makes a simple request for Gilgamesh makes a simple request for safe passage through Mashu, the gigantic safe passage through Mashu, the gigantic mountain separating the realm that leads mountain separating the realm that leads to Utnapishtim from the king’s own. to Utnapishtim from the king’s own.

But the Scorpion Man laughs at him, But the Scorpion Man laughs at him, telling him to turn back: nothing can bring telling him to turn back: nothing can bring his friend back to life. his friend back to life.

Gilgamesh is so enraged by this Gilgamesh is so enraged by this trivialization of his grief that he begins trivialization of his grief that he begins screaming at the guard, and rather than screaming at the guard, and rather than match his tone, the Scorpion Man’s wife match his tone, the Scorpion Man’s wife urges her husband to let him go (whereas urges her husband to let him go (whereas in the Mason translation, he simply in the Mason translation, he simply placates him): “This brave man, driven by placates him): “This brave man, driven by despair, his body frost-chilled, exhausted, despair, his body frost-chilled, exhausted, and burnt by the desert sun – show him and burnt by the desert sun – show him the way to Utnapishtim.” the way to Utnapishtim.”

The Scorpion Man opens the The Scorpion Man opens the gate to the sun’s tunnel through gate to the sun’s tunnel through Mashu, which is the only way to the Mashu, which is the only way to the realm on the other side. realm on the other side.

The sun moves through the The sun moves through the tunnel at night, traveling through tunnel at night, traveling through the earth for twelve hours until it the earth for twelve hours until it rises again on the other side. rises again on the other side.

If Gilgamesh enters the tunnel, If Gilgamesh enters the tunnel, he must do so just after sunrise, he must do so just after sunrise, plunging into total darkness just as plunging into total darkness just as the rest of his realm enjoys the the rest of his realm enjoys the brightest light of day. brightest light of day.

If he can outrace the sun, he’ll make If he can outrace the sun, he’ll make it; if he can’t, there’s no escape, and he’ll it; if he can’t, there’s no escape, and he’ll be scorched alive. be scorched alive.

Gilgamesh realizes in the Mason Gilgamesh realizes in the Mason translation that the Scorpion people translation that the Scorpion people indeed fear his journey; it’s unclear indeed fear his journey; it’s unclear whether they fear his loss or his success.whether they fear his loss or his success.

The Mason version doesn’t The Mason version doesn’t feature much in terms of Gilgamesh’s feature much in terms of Gilgamesh’s journey through Mashu; the Mitchell journey through Mashu; the Mitchell version turns it into one of the epic’s version turns it into one of the epic’s tensest passages.tensest passages.

As Gilgamesh races against time, As Gilgamesh races against time, the poet uses a refrain (just as it did the poet uses a refrain (just as it did as Gilgamesh approached the Cedar as Gilgamesh approached the Cedar Forest) to mark the countdown to his Forest) to mark the countdown to his impending doomimpending doom

““For the _______ and _______ hour For the _______ and _______ hour Gilgamesh ran, / deep was the Gilgamesh ran, / deep was the darkness, with no light at all / before darkness, with no light at all / before and behind him and to either side.”and behind him and to either side.”

He has no way to mark time He has no way to mark time himself, no way to be sure that he’s himself, no way to be sure that he’s running the right way; he’s just racing running the right way; he’s just racing and racing and racing.and racing and racing.

After seven hours have passed, After seven hours have passed, Gilgamesh still sees nothing but darkness, Gilgamesh still sees nothing but darkness, and he cries out in fear. and he cries out in fear.

But at the start of the ninth hour, he But at the start of the ninth hour, he feels a breeze on his face. feels a breeze on his face.

He still can’t see, but he keeps going. He still can’t see, but he keeps going.

Nine hours pass. Nine hours pass.

Ten hours pass. Ten hours pass.

Eleven. Eleven.

At the end of the twelfth hour, At the end of the twelfth hour, Gilgamesh bursts from the tunnel, just Gilgamesh bursts from the tunnel, just ahead of the sun as it “was hurtling ahead of the sun as it “was hurtling toward the entrance; he had barely toward the entrance; he had barely escaped.” escaped.”

Regardless of the translation, Regardless of the translation, Gilgamesh must go through literal Gilgamesh must go through literal blackness for hours, utterly alone – a blackness for hours, utterly alone – a simple but effective metaphor for the simple but effective metaphor for the initial stage of deep grief. initial stage of deep grief.

When he emerges from the passage, When he emerges from the passage, however, he gazes upon a beautiful valley however, he gazes upon a beautiful valley – lush, verdant, overflowing with life. – lush, verdant, overflowing with life.

It’s one of the loveliest images in the It’s one of the loveliest images in the entire epic. entire epic.

As with the passage through Mashu, As with the passage through Mashu, this sight serves as a metaphor for part of this sight serves as a metaphor for part of the grieving process – namely that life, in the grieving process – namely that life, in all its mixed splendor, its pleasures and all its mixed splendor, its pleasures and pains, awaits those who wish to continue pains, awaits those who wish to continue in the face of devastation. in the face of devastation.

But Gilgamesh is not yet ready But Gilgamesh is not yet ready to rejoin the living world.to rejoin the living world.

In fact, this reminder of glory In fact, this reminder of glory only makes him ache for what he’s only makes him ache for what he’s lost even more deeply. lost even more deeply.

Instead, he repeats Enkidu’s Instead, he repeats Enkidu’s name and their exploits together for name and their exploits together for an extended period of time, an extended period of time, explaining the depths of his sorrow explaining the depths of his sorrow to no one but himself – evoking to no one but himself – evoking nothing so much as a scratched nothing so much as a scratched record skipping in an empty room. record skipping in an empty room.

This does nothing to promote This does nothing to promote healing, obviously, because he’s healing, obviously, because he’s incapable of healing himself incapable of healing himself

He’s reverted to his pre-Enkidu He’s reverted to his pre-Enkidu self, back to tearing at himself and self, back to tearing at himself and the world, oblivious to what’s the world, oblivious to what’s around him except to acknowledge around him except to acknowledge that the valley has no way to that the valley has no way to understand his pain. understand his pain.

After all, it’s a private pain; we After all, it’s a private pain; we can never really feel that which we can never really feel that which we wish to heal in others.           wish to heal in others.          

Moving through his new land, Moving through his new land, Gilgamesh approaches the water Gilgamesh approaches the water line, complete with a tavern/inn by line, complete with a tavern/inn by the sea. the sea.

As to As to whywhy there’s a tavern/inn by there’s a tavern/inn by a sea that, in theory, nobody should a sea that, in theory, nobody should visit – the Scorpion Man insists that visit – the Scorpion Man insists that no one save Utnapishtim and his no one save Utnapishtim and his family has ever gone to the other family has ever gone to the other side – I have no explanation. side – I have no explanation.

(We do odd things for cheap real (We do odd things for cheap real estate, I suppose.)estate, I suppose.)

Ordinarily meant to evoke both Ordinarily meant to evoke both endless possibility with its scope and the endless possibility with its scope and the cyclical nature of life with its tides, the cyclical nature of life with its tides, the water here is instead the Sea of Death water here is instead the Sea of Death (alternately called the Waters of Death; (alternately called the Waters of Death; the two terms will be used the two terms will be used interchangeably from here on out, interchangeably from here on out, including on the exam). including on the exam).

Furthermore, we remember that most Furthermore, we remember that most life perished in Ishtar’s great flood. life perished in Ishtar’s great flood.

Just as we saw in the epic’s beginning Just as we saw in the epic’s beginning that the Tigris and Euphrates can bring that the Tigris and Euphrates can bring life – could even embody it – we’re life – could even embody it – we’re reminded that water, like love and life reminded that water, like love and life itself, has a dual nature, and that it can itself, has a dual nature, and that it can bring pain and death just as easily as bring pain and death just as easily as salvation. salvation.

We get a better look at Gilgamesh We get a better look at Gilgamesh here, and see that he’s allowed grief to here, and see that he’s allowed grief to transform him into something monstrous, transform him into something monstrous, both violent and weakened; he’s lost both violent and weakened; he’s lost weight, clothed himself in the skins of weight, clothed himself in the skins of beasts, and looks barely human. beasts, and looks barely human.

His rage spills in every direction, and His rage spills in every direction, and Siduri – the barmaid and innkeeper by the Siduri – the barmaid and innkeeper by the sea, the first mortal he encounters – sea, the first mortal he encounters – shrinks from him as one shrinks from an shrinks from him as one shrinks from an inferno. inferno.

She hides behind a locked door, She hides behind a locked door, frightened of what Gilgamesh brings; frightened of what Gilgamesh brings; when he comes inside, she rejects his when he comes inside, she rejects his claims and minimizes his grief (just as, in claims and minimizes his grief (just as, in Mason’s translation, Gilgamesh himself Mason’s translation, Gilgamesh himself minimized Enkidu’s initial pain at minimized Enkidu’s initial pain at Humbaba’s gate). Humbaba’s gate).

Many of us consider ourselves Many of us consider ourselves compassionate people. compassionate people.

If asked, most will say that we If asked, most will say that we reach out to and comfort those who reach out to and comfort those who suffer, those who endure moments suffer, those who endure moments of weakness, those who need human of weakness, those who need human connection. connection.

And indeed, most people can And indeed, most people can point to specific incidents where point to specific incidents where they did, in fact, provide solace and they did, in fact, provide solace and consolation to someone else. consolation to someone else.

But our instinct is to retreat from But our instinct is to retreat from fresh pain – not just our own misery, fresh pain – not just our own misery, but from others as well – for but from others as well – for suffering and misery transfer much suffering and misery transfer much more easily than joy. more easily than joy.

We’re reluctant to make We’re reluctant to make ourselves unnecessarily unhappy, ourselves unnecessarily unhappy, and it is a special person who and it is a special person who willingly walks closer to that blaze.willingly walks closer to that blaze.

In this matter, Siduri is no In this matter, Siduri is no different.different.

But she does eventually comfort him – But she does eventually comfort him – the first of two parallels the epic draws the first of two parallels the epic draws with the harlot’s encounter with Enkidu. with the harlot’s encounter with Enkidu.

In an interesting reversal, Mason In an interesting reversal, Mason actually stresses this encounter, allowing actually stresses this encounter, allowing for something approaching broken for something approaching broken romance; in the Mitchell translation, this romance; in the Mitchell translation, this stop is a mere bump in the road stop is a mere bump in the road Gilgamesh travels. Gilgamesh travels.

Mason allows Siduri to rehabilitate Mason allows Siduri to rehabilitate him, or at least try to do so; she cares for him, or at least try to do so; she cares for his broken body while trying to reach his his broken body while trying to reach his troubled soul.troubled soul.

And, most importantly, she offers And, most importantly, she offers Gilgamesh a bit of advice:Gilgamesh a bit of advice:

You will never find the eternal life You will never find the eternal life That you seek. When the gods created mankind,That you seek. When the gods created mankind,They also created death, and they held backThey also created death, and they held backEternal life for themselves alone.Eternal life for themselves alone.Humans are born, they live, then they die,Humans are born, they live, then they die,This is the order that the gods have decreed.This is the order that the gods have decreed.But until the end comes, enjoy your life,But until the end comes, enjoy your life,Spend it in happiness, not despair.Spend it in happiness, not despair.Savor your food, make each of your daysSavor your food, make each of your daysA delight, bathe and anoint yourself,A delight, bathe and anoint yourself,Wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean,Wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean,Let music and dancing fill your house,Let music and dancing fill your house,Love the child who holds you by the hand,Love the child who holds you by the hand,And give your wife pleasure in your embrace.And give your wife pleasure in your embrace.That is the best way for a man to live.That is the best way for a man to live.

It’s good advice: don’t spend your It’s good advice: don’t spend your time dreaming of impossibilities when our time dreaming of impossibilities when our possibilities are so beautiful. possibilities are so beautiful.

But by trying to make him think of But by trying to make him think of something else – by trying to make him something else – by trying to make him forget – Siduri dooms her own efforts: her forget – Siduri dooms her own efforts: her best intentions aren’t worth much, best intentions aren’t worth much, considering how grief-stricken Gilgamesh considering how grief-stricken Gilgamesh remains. remains.

He can only speak of standing by He can only speak of standing by Enkidu for six days and seven nights, Enkidu for six days and seven nights, refusing to accept his friend’s departure refusing to accept his friend’s departure until a maggot falls from the fallen man’s until a maggot falls from the fallen man’s decaying nose…decaying nose…

……in other words, not someone who’s in other words, not someone who’s ready to agree that life can be beautiful ready to agree that life can be beautiful even if it’s temporary.even if it’s temporary.

Instead, Gilgamesh rejects her – just Instead, Gilgamesh rejects her – just as she counsels him not to do – and treats as she counsels him not to do – and treats her compassion as a burden to be thrown her compassion as a burden to be thrown off. off.

Siduri angrily tells him to seek Siduri angrily tells him to seek Urshanabi, who can show him the way Urshanabi, who can show him the way across the water – but also tells him that across the water – but also tells him that he will fail, because he’s too absorbed in he will fail, because he’s too absorbed in himself to be wise enough to make it.himself to be wise enough to make it.

He screams, “I am not blind with self-He screams, “I am not blind with self-love, but with loss!”love, but with loss!”

And as he makes his way toward the And as he makes his way toward the Waters of Death, we wonder again for Waters of Death, we wonder again for whom, and for what, we mourn when we whom, and for what, we mourn when we grieve. grieve.