Topic > Theme of Friendship in Gilgamesh - 1477

This particular journey was difficult for Gilgamesh, not only because he was without his best friend, but because it was simply a physically demanding journey in and of itself. At several points in the journey it is easy to understand that Gilgamesh becomes increasingly afraid of death and desperately seeks immortality. He faces many trials along the way, but eventually reaches Utanapishtim, the survivor of the flood, and is on the verge of finding immortality. However, things simply aren't going right. Utanapishtim challenges Gilgamesh to go a week without sleep to gain the coveted virtue of immortality, but Gilgamesh fails almost instantly. Gilgamesh will not become immortal this way, but there is another way. There is a plant that Gilgamesh can find and gain immortality from if he is stung by it. However, after Gilgamesh finds the plant, he goes for a swim and a snake steals the plant from him and gains immortality in Gilgamesh's place. Gilgamesh simply isn't cut out for immortality like he thought he was. Gilgamesh is heartbroken over not gaining immortality and disappointing his best friend, so he returns to him