Literary Archetyeps Gilgmesh

Literary Archetypes
Hero: Gilamesh
He is the hero in the story because he fought many battles. He fought Humbaba with his best friend. He also fought the battle of immortality. Even though some of his ways are not right. Like sleepign with the girls and having his people build those walls year after year. He is still strong. He knows what he is doing and is confident that he will come out on top. He isn't afraid of dying. He only goes after immortaility beause he wants to bring Enkidu back to life.
Antihero:Gilgamesh
He is also Gilgamesh because he loses faith and hope throughout the story. He is so sure that he could kill Humbaba until he realizes what could really happen. One of the could die. He also loses hope after he goes talk to Utnapishtim. He realizes that he can't do anything in life to bring back his life. He is a great hero, but sometimes he he lacks those qualites and steps into the antihero.
Wise fool:Utnapishtim
He is a great character for this role. He was the one man that didn't want to be immortal. But because of that he ended up getting to be. Him and his wife live alone and is lonely. So many people travel to him to see to be immortal, but he tells him that being immortal isn't the funnies thing and should just go back and live life.
Devil:Ishtar
Ishtar is the Goddess of love, but also war. She gets so angry all the time and because of that hurts people around her. She was angry and the men when she wanted to bring the great flood. She was also angry at Gilgamesh for not being his wife that she sent down the Bull of Heaven killing three hunderd men and Enkidu. Whoever angers her gets the wrath of her.
The Outcast: Enkidu
At first he is alineated because he is half man half animal. He goes out and lives with the animals. Does everything they do. Drink, eat, and sleep. But when the boy and the man see what he is doing to help the animals they send the prostitute out to him. When he sleeps with her the animals leave him because of what he did. "When he rose again looking for his friends whohad gone, he felts a strange exhaustion, as if life had left his body. He felt their absence."(18) He knows that they left him because of what he does. He is ashamed of it. Before his last days he thinks back on his life and wish he would have never met Gilgamesh. That he was better of as an animal.
Double: Immortality
Immortality can be seen in two ways. A good thing and a bad thing. Gilgamesh thought of it as a good thing because he was wanting to bring back his best friend to life. He thought because he is part god and if his friend is immortal too that they will never part. The good reason. The bad thought is from Utnapishtim. He didn't want to be immortal. He wanted to die one day. But because he built the boat and did what the Gods asked him to do, he was granted with being immortal. He didn't want that. And everyone that asks him to be immortal he tries to change their mind.
Scapegoat: Enkidu
Enkidu is a victim because the gods say that one of them must die. Gilgamesh can't die because he is part god. Enkidu is always the victim because he never wanted these things. He didn't want to fight Humbaba and he didn't want to sleep with the prostitute. He was lured in by other people. People can't expect who he is. They aren't ready for what he has to bring. Being half man and half animal.
Temptress: The Prostitute
She is very beautiful and seductive. Everyone loves her. Because she is so beautiful Enkidu goes to her and sleeps with her. But because he slept with her he became man and all the animals left him. Also because of that he died because he killed the Bull of Heaven. She lured him into the dark side.
Good Mother: Ninsun
She is a great mother. She stands by her child with all his problems. She translate his dreams to what they really are. She also adopts Enkidu hopes that what she did will protect him when they are fighting. At the same time Siduri is probably a better mother that she is. She is the one that helps him along his rode to see Utnapishtim. She clothes him and baths him and feeds him. Does what a real mother should do.