Endkidu`s Curse of the Harlot
There were many interesting events in this week's readings, but what really caught my attention was when Enkidu curses the harlot for introducing him to the ways of men. Enkidu was dying and when he was feeling bitter that she had taken him from the wild animals and in doing so led him to an early grave. So instead of thinking of all the good times he had because she had taken him from the wild Enkidu cursed her. Many other stories would have the character bemoan his predicament and them have someone around them help them find the courage to go on because it is going to get better, but there is no way for things to get better for Enkidu. Enkidu is dying and the belief in the story is that everyone goes to a place of torment after they die.There is no Deus ex Machina to find and save him at the last minute. He is going to die. With this laying heavily on his mind he lashes out to the people that brought him to this point starting with the trapper and moving onto the harlot until he is interrupted by Shamash. If Shamash did not interrupt Enkidu there he must have gone on to curse Gilgamesh because it was also Gilgamesh`s fault. Enkidu stated several times that it was unwise to continue but Gilgamesh went on and dragged Enkidu with him.
However Shamash does interrupt Enkidu after he curses the harlot. Shamash gets angry at him and tell Enkidu to look around at what he has. He has a best friend, a fine bed to die in, and everyone will miss him. Enkidu realizes that while the harlot did cause the animals to reject him and in doing so eventually caused his death, Enkidu would have died anyway in the wilderness. His death was inevitable. In the wilderness he would have died happy, but he would have died alone. Because the harlot removed him from the wilderness he was able befriend Gilgamesh and he had a good life surrounded by people who cared for him. It is a good moral to remember. Even though you are at a point where times are bad and are going to stay bad for awhile that does not mean that it was wrong for you to take this path. Sometimes God has us take a path that is rocky and will end sooner than you thought to lead you somewhere else.
P.S. I commented on Eliza`s and Spencer`s posts.
In the case of Enkidu, there is not as much hope. The goddess who created him didn't have his back when another goddess cursed him. Even though they command your destiny, the gods are not to be trusted. Enkidu was always meant to find Gilgamesh. After all, that was his created purpose. Whether by seduction or some other means, Enkidu would have eventually become Gilgamesh's brother. There is no stopping the destiny the gods have planned for you. Looking at you, Gilgamesh.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Enkidu forgets all the good things he had in his life and focused on the one bad thing. I saw a post one time about a teacher who began to write his multiples of 9 on the bored. He wrote "9x1=7, 9x2=18, 9x3=27, 9x4=36, ..."etc. The kids in his class began to laugh at him and criticize the fact he got "9x1" wrong. He began to tell them he did this on purpose. He said that all of the kids completely ignored that he got all the other facts write and only recognized the one he got wrong. He then said to let this serve as a life lesson. "Do not forget all of the good things going on in your life to focus on the few bad things." This reminded me of this part in the story. Enkidu was taken out of the wilderness, had a great friendship, a good house and life; but yet, was only able to see the bad thing that was happening rather than appreciating the fact he had a good life before his death.
ReplyDeleteI think Enkidu's blame on the harlot doesn't come from any kind of genuine hatred for her, just that he had reached a point where despair and hopelessness was all he had. He needed someone to place blame on, and the harlot was an easy choice, since she was the one who took him first from nature and into civilization. Shamash's interruption is like that of a parent scolding a child for blaming their sibling for a chain of events the sibling was responsible for indirectly, because the harlot had no way of knowing the fate that would befall Enkidu in the end. This speaks to the idea that other men and women may leave impacts on your life, but ultimately they are not the ones responsible for indirect effects of their cause.
ReplyDeleteSee in this situation I was really kind of torn on which I thought was better for Enkidu. Yes for one death is inevitable and he would have died in either place, but the wilderness was his innocence and that was taken away. so I understand why he starts to blame people. Also, I am torn because if it was for him losing that innocence then he would not have the things he had like a nice bed or friends which is something we all long for.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, after Enkidu's interrupted, he blessed the harlot, realizing that his life was made better now that he is in this world of men, as he now has a friend and people to remember him when he's gone.
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