Essay on The Role of Women in the Epic of Gilgamesh

The Role of the Women in the Epic of Gilgamesh Stories reflect and mirror culture. Some writers write about how things currently are in their own society and the position that certain people hold in that society. It is because of that kind of thought and style of writing that a reader can learn and in some ways better understand the hierarchical position of peoples in a society at a particular time in history. In ancient Mesopotamia, women had fewer privileges and rights then the men. Despite their lack of rights and privileges, women in high position were viewed as temptresses, tamers, and a essential part of Mesopotamian culture. The harlot plays a very important role in the development of this story. It was because of†¦show more content†¦The harlots duty was to tell Enkidu about civilization and lead him out of the wilderness and into civilization. The woman describes the power of the king of Uruk to the beast Enkidu, and Enkidu desires to encounter this king and test his strength against the kings. For six days and seven nights they lay together, for Enkidu had forgotten his home in the hills (65). Thus, it was the woman who led Enkidu to Gilgamesh and allowed them to clash and then become friends. Without the role of the harlot and her power to lure men, the two gentlemen would have never met and in a sense Gilgamesh probably would have never gone on his quests for immortality. Gilgamesh recognizes the strength of the harlots charm, however while he recognizes that, he fails to recognize anything else regarding women. He sleeps with all the women in his land and takes them out of their home to be his brides. His lust leaves no virgin to their lover, neither the warriors daughter or the wife of the noble (62). It is because of this that Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh by saying, I have come to challenge the old order, for I am the strongest here (68). Enkidu recognizes the importance of women and their right to be with their families. The role of women in ancient Mesopotamia was that of a homemaker, and to destroy or corrupt the homemaker one can destroy and/orShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Women In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1189 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh follows a tale of two brothers tasked with defeating an all-powerful beast, yet they aren’t the most important characters in this story. Without their wisdom and guidance, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s journey would have ended a lot sooner, and Gilgamesh would have still rampaged in Uruk, never bringing peace to those who were below him. Aruru, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, Siduri, and Utanapishtim’s wife all contribute to Gilgamesh’s journey, and in the end, provide Gilgamesh with theRead MoreThe role of women in The Epic of Gilgamesh1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe role of women is a very important topic in The Epic of Gilgamesh, and various women are chosen to represent various aspects of the mesopotamian conception of women. In the ancient times males were inessential to the preservation of life. The Epic of Gilgamesh shows how the inability of males to give birth causes a sense of despair and alienation. While the representation of women might seem confusing at first with its wide range of traits, the epic tries to demonstrate all aspects of womenRead More The Role of Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay799 Words   |  4 Pagesstarts off with Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, who is one third man and two thirds god. This story is about a mans quest for immortality in addition to the importance of boundaries between the realms of animal, man and gods. Women symbolize the importance of locative boundaries in the text. These boundaries are set by the harlot Shamhat, Ishtar, Siduri, the tavern keeper, Ninsun and Utanapishtims wife. By giving women this role of wisdom and boundary enforcement, The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects how MesopotamianRead MoreEssay about The Role of Women in the Epic of Gilgamesh1125 Word s   |  5 PagesWhat if women ruled the world? The question does not seem so strange today as it may have back in 2500 B.C.E., an age when people tell stories of the Great King of Uruk--Gilgamesh. Although the story of â€Å"Gilgamesh† revolves around themes of masculinity and brotherhood--with its male prerogative, its composers develop several strong female characters which suggest women have great influence in a male-dominated, Mesopotamian society. The first female character that influences a man is the prostituteRead More Role of Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay959 Words   |  4 Pages2700 years ago there lived a king by the name of Gilgamesh who ruled the city of Uruk in Mesopotamia now known to us as modern day Iraq. Parts of his life are written on clay tablets believed to be the oldest existing written story of a man’s life. (XI). â€Å"The epic of Gilgamesh†, is the story of his quest for eternal life. In this paper I will be writing about the influence that the women in his life have played in his quest. The women are, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, and, â€Å"The tavernRead MoreRoles Of Gilegosh And The Power Of Women In Gilgamesh1440 Words   |  6 Pagesmen over women varied greatly, with women typically being in the position of less power and influence. Although women seem to play a less apparent role, women are essential for both the continuation of life and the nurturing of the future, signifying that the power of women is very potent. The women of Gilgamesh are goddesses, priestesses and a variety of other roles, each with their own set of skills, guide Gilgamesh throughout the epic. Despite the perception of some scholars that the women of GilgameshRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : The Struggle For Women1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe struggle for women to play a significant role in history can be traced from the ancient Mesopotamians to the 1900’s. There has been a continuous battle for women to gain equal rights legally and to be treated equally in all aspects of life. The Epic of Gilgamesh contains some of the oldest recorded accounts of the roles of women and their importance in a functional society. Women have been viewed as anything from goddesses to unwanted servants throughout history, regardless of a variety of changesRead MoreGender Inequality In Gilgamesh Essay1339 Words   |  6 Pageshas always been a gender inequality separating the roles and power of men from women. Most societies were patriarchal, emphasizing male dominance in society and directing women towards a more idle role so that they were more ornamental than influential. Through this gender division, women would take on the less powerful role as a nurturing mother, or caring wife over and over again in several ancient societies up to modern day societies. In Gilgamesh, male characters are emphasized much more thanRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh By William Shakespeare876 Words   |  4 Pagesstory, known as the world’s oldest written tale, is The Epic of Gil gamesh. This poem happens to be from that very time period in Mesopotamia and it clearly exhibits the values and views of the people from that era. It achieves this through Gilgamesh’s behavior at the beginning of the tale, the way in which women are perceived, and the heavy role played by the gods throughout the entirety of the epic. The first way in which The Epic of Gilgamesh succeeds in portraying the ideals and principles ofRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh By Andrew George And Monkey Essay1380 Words   |  6 Pagesexasperating. Women who express their sexual sides are viewed as loose, disrespectful to themselves, or despicable. People often forget that women can be powerful and sexual beings. Women in society, nowadays and even three thousand years ago have always dealt with these problems simply because they are not male. A woman could show complete class, intelligence, and ambition and portray herself to be a powerful or even sexual being and she would still be given a hard time. The Epic of Gilgamesh translated