Monday, February 22, 2010

Happy Ending - Tablet XII

This tablet started off from a completely different point of the story since it begins by talking about how Gilgamesh lost his drumstick that somehow fell to Nether World. He begs to everyone around for help so he can recuperate his stick, and for some reason, Enkidu hears him. Enkidu pledges Gilgamesh that he will assist him and recover his drumstick from Nether World.

Gilgamesh gives Enkidu many instructions that will make his help successful. However, Enkidu decides not to follow any of these and in consequence, he is held by the Cry of the Dead. Once again, Gilgamesh mourns for his companion's death. He tells the story to many gods and supplicates for their help, yet, most denied to interfere. He then talked to the god Ea, who asked the god of the Nether World to open a hole in the top in order to allow Enkidu to rise into the standard world. Enkidu then rises like vapor to the Upper World where he meets with Gilgamesh, his old but true companion.

Enkidu tells him about his experience in Nether World, and how life was for people in there. Gilgamesh asks him many questions even though his companion didn't want him to know the answers. Happy ending, no need to say.

After reading this book I realize how things can be interpreted in many different ways without having one specific signification. For example, the meaning of life can be seen in various ways depending on that persons point of view. I liked how I could guess and identify the meaning of something referring to the book and then compare it with the actual one. I also enjoyed reading this old piece of writing because of the way in which it is written. This epic is narrated in poetic language which makes it much more interesting and easier to read. The whole story makes me think on how things have evolved to be what they are today, and how our culture and beliefs have expanded and changed. It helped me understand the historical concept during that time and the type of literature that was present.

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