Gilgamesh as a leader

In Gilgamesh, the readers are presented with a great variety of characters who hold a

leadership position in the world. One clear example is the character of Ishtar. Ishtar is a goddess

in the poem. The readers recognize her powers and she is also able to demonstrate her use of

power onto other characters in the poem. Throughout the poem, the readers are exposed to

various leaders, but there is one, in particular, who stands out the most. Not because of who he is

but because of what he represents. Gilgamesh represents a vulnerable leader who exposes his

emotions to the world, and eventually, after hard work, finds his place in society.

Gilgamesh is definitely not the most stable leader there is. Although in the beginning of

the poem there are innumerable descriptions of him being the most handsome, the strongest and

precious man there was created by the gods, he is not the most stable. When Gilgamesh and

Enkidu travel to Cedar Forest to destroy Humbaba, Gilgamesh is filled with fear. He has at least

five different dreams in which he allows terror to take over control of his mind and thoughts.

Enkidu serves as Gilgamesh’s tranquilizer. It is not until Enkidu repeats himself over and over

again that Gilgamesh calms downs. In this scene, Gilgamesh would have never been able to keep

his mind stable, his emotion calm and his fear in control if it were not for Enkidu. This is one

aspect in which Gilgamesh, being in his leadership position exposes his vulnerability.

Another aspect in which Gilgamesh exposes his sentiments to the world is when Enkidu

dies. Gilgamesh mentions he wants to die as his beloved friend did. As he continues to speak,

Gilgamesh also mentions that he is afraid of death. Not only is he distraught but he also

contradicts himself. Next the reader witnesses Gilgamesh’s fear leading him once more as he

begins a new journey in search of Utanapishti, another god. Under these circumstances,
Gilgamesh should have stayed at home instead of going into the wild. His first responsibility as a

king is his people. A king never abandons nor leaves his people alone, especially for a long

amount of time. If a king does leave his people, it should be for the benefit of his own people,

not in search of his own pleasure. Gilgamesh leaves his people and leaves in search of his own

immortality. It is in this act that Gilgamesh is seen as a selfish leader.

Even after Gilgamesh suffers the loss of his only friend, Enkidu, after he selfishly leaves

his kingdom in search for immortality, at the end of his journey Gilgamesh finally finds his place

in society. In order for Gilgamesh to have become the great leader he was, he had to have

suffered what any other human may have suffered. It is through his suffering and search that he

transforms into one hundred percent human. Even though he is two thirds god and one third

human, Gilgamesh realizes that all his hard work and labor were in vain. At the end of his

journey, all his suffering and time spent was taken in a blink of an eye by a snake who was

attracted to the scent of the “Old Man Grown Young” plant. It is also because of this act that

Gilgamesh returns home to govern his people once more. Gilgamesh realizes he can not avoid

death. After the snake stole his plant, he realizes all his hard work did not pay off. Finally,

Gilgamesh discovers that the best thing he can do to keep living to his full potential is to govern

his people in Uruk. It’s here where Gilgamesh strives and uses his vulnerability to sympathize

with the citizens of Uruk to become the greatest leader there ever was.

I pledge to have acted honorably.

Jessica Bamaca