Many of us are aware that death exists but we don`t see that we are as close to death as any other. People are dying all over the world, and we understand that it can happen to anyone, even to us, but we sometimes don`t really believe it. This continues only until someone close to us or even us suffers from a deadly experience, like the case of Gilgamesh in tablets VIII and IX. As his companion dies, the strongest and most perfect of all, finally starts to value Enkidu's role and is decided to keep him in the memory of all. "On the dangerous errand, in the confusions of noises, he was the shield that went before in the battle; he was the weapon at hand to attack and defend."(pg. 44) He also reacts in a pretty interesting and confusing way, which I found hard to understand: "and Gilgamesh will wear the skins of beasts and wander hairy-bodied grieving in the wilderness for you."(pg. 47) I think he is doing this to fill the space that Enkidu left and somehow soften his grief.
Enkidu finally died and Gilgamesh suddenly awakens and lands in the reality where he is as vulnerable as any other mortal. "Enkidu has died. Must I die too? Must Gilgamesh be like that?" (pg. 48) The idea that death was close to him and had overcome the greatness of Enkidu, equal to his, made Gilgamesh start a Journey to avoid it. Gilgamesh traveled 12 leagues in darkness, alone and blind, with fear. “After he struggled, blind, his companionless way through eleven leagues of darkness …” (pg. 52) Maybe in this journey he was blind and fearful because he didn`t have his companion, and his guide, with him. Gilgamesh finally passes the mountain Mashu and the two peaks and arrives to a garden.
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