The Human End

One thing that really stood out to me in this reading was the use of repetition. After Gilgamesh decides to travel to Mashu, the author repeats after every league that "he could see nothing ahead and nothing behind him". I think the author does this to emphasize him reaching the final league. Gilgamesh is finally able to see and the picture is painted of going through darkness until you find the light. Gilgamesh then repeats himself to Siduri, maker of wine, Urshanabi, the ferryman of the Utnapishtim the Faraway, and  Utnapishtim himself. He is constantly asked the state of his appearance and how, if he was so closely related to the gods, his "cheeks so starved and face drawn". He explains by saying that after his brother's death he wept for him for a week so why shouldn't he look the way he does?

I think we definitely start to see the more human side of Gilgamesh in this reading. We can empathize with him for the loss of his brother and also the physical toll it has taken on him. Where at first we saw Gilgamesh as this high and mighty godly being, we now see as a broken human with pain in his heart.

I commented on Gray's and Joshua's.