Tablets II and III, The Importance of Balance

Enkidu moves away from his life with the animals of the grasslands and learns some ways of civilization, he later on arouse against the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, to stop him from laying with the temple prostitute that brought him into a different life. “…Full of anger said: “take me to Uruk, the city of Gilgamesh, whose aura and power cannot be withstood. I will cry out in Uruk, challenging him: ‘it is I Enkidu. The strength of the wild man cannot be withstood.’” (pg.14) He stands up and demonstrates there is one who can overpower the king that seemed so supreme and unbeatable to the rest of society, and withstand his desire. After this, both fall into a weak sentimental demonstration and embrace and kiss each other openly, indicating that they have a feeling in common and that they find a friendship or important relationship of mutual understanding. It was interesting to see how this culture was more open to physical contact between men as well as how the prostitute was viewed.
“He is like Gilgamesh, twice the size of ordinary men, stronger and taller than a battlement.”(pg.12) Enkidu and Gilgamesh share the same shape and are physically similar, but it is not that, but their different and unique characteristics combined that will take role in the quest they are to start. The king, aware of his power and force, declares to his mother and the sons and daughters of his city that it will be him who will kill Huwawa and bring the glory to all men and women of Uruk. On the other hand, the wise remark the significance of the participation of Enkidu and the importance of his knowledge. “Let Enkidu, who knows the way to the forest, who knows the wilderness, let him go first.” (pg.18) As I have said in previous posts, Enkidu represents the wild side of man, the one many Indian cultures of today still treasure, and Gilgamesh represents civilization and the image of prosperity and perfection society has about it. I interpret Gilgamesh`s declarations as our belief and need to always be forcing our teachings and our knowledge into everyone’s mind and how our society sometimes ignores the fact that we have multiple values to learn and follow from Indian cultures all over the world. The qualities of both different ways of thinking and being shall be put together in balance, as a team, to face Huwawa, the fear of all humankind.