From an uncivilized mess of life, man slowly developed into a very civilized and
organized being. Societies began to develop and form, and this struggle towards sophisticated
lives became an integral part of daily life. The struggle between civilized and uncivilized
behaviors is displayed throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh. Although there are some confusions
over what is more glorified, the Mesopotamian people tend to commend the civilized and
cultured people, as the uncivilized barbaric actions tend to lead to one's own demise.
Typically, characters from any story who are made by the gods possess a heavenly and
desirable quality in their lives. While much of Gilgamesh and Enkidu is revered and viewed as
civilized, there are also aspects of them which appear to be greatly untamed by society. At the
beginning of the Gilgamesh epic, Gilgamesh himself is a very uncivilized man, even though he is
glorified. For one thing, he built walls in Uruk, which is certainly promotes civilization.1
However, his first mentioned characteristic is in fact not very civilized in itself. Because of
Gilgamesh, “no son is left with his father, for [he] takes them all... His lust leaves no virgin to her
lover … the gods heard [the people's] lament”.2 The people pleaded to the gods because he was
acting so barbaric. They asked the gods to provide some sort of means for him to become a
tamed man. This is likely the part of his human nature rather than godly nature, yet all other
people frown upon this quality within him. In this way, one might presume that his behavior
might be somewhat expectant of any Mesopotamian ruler, but not to the degree in which
Gilgamesh carries it. While his friend, Enkidu, will eventually tame and be tamed by their
relationship, he is initially an image of the uncivilized man.
The creation and being of Enkidu appears to represent the “uncivilized man” who is
quickly brought forth to civilization. Part of what categorizes Enkidu as being uncivilized is his
choice of food. He “ate grass in the hills with the gazelle” and is never known to eat anything
else.3 One can determine this is considered uncivilized because he is “innocent of mankind; he
knew nothing of the cultivated land.”4 If Mesopotamian ideals criticize Enkidu's lack of
knowledge in cultivation, then one may presume they prized farming and gardening. If they were
hunters, then Enkidu's wild behavior may have been more esteemed. However there is little
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Sandars, N. K.. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Revised ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977. 62.
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Sandars, N. K.. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Revised ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977. 63.
indication that hunting was an integral part of the Mesopotamian society. Beyond Enkidu's eating
patterns, his behaviors also are noted as undesired and barbaric. When a boy who sets traps
views the wild Enkidu, he does not watch with reverence, but with fear. Enkidu evokes unease
and fright, as the boy is “benumbed with terror” by his strength and savagery.5 What does lead
Enkidu into the civilized world is the prostitute from the temple. She is asked to “teach the
savage man [her] woman's art” so that the beasts begin to reject him.6 This also likens him to the
beasts he shares his life with. However, this relationship is eventually one that will lead him to
the civilized life and Gilgamesh.
As Enkidu enters civilization, his world and socialization shift directions. The first step of
this process is sleeping with the harlot. “Enkidu was grown weak, for wisdom was in him, and
the thoughts of a man were in his heart.”7 He no longer is free to roam with the beasts, as they in
fact reject him. This would show that this era held esteem for sexual relations and found it to be a
beneficial act. The harlot persuades Enkidu to enter into her society by appealing to his new
found wisdom. She speaks of the people, who are “dressed in their gorgeous robes,” smell
sweetly, and how the “great ones are roused from their beds.”8 While the harlot understands his
desire to stay in his bed, she reminds him that great people are active in social engagements and
convinces him to join them. She makes this appeal by referring to him as one “who loves life” –
as if socializing is to enhance his life. One can observe the importance of a social life to the
Mesopotamians by the items she emphasizes to Enkidu. So to be socially accepted, she clothes
him, and suggests what food he should partake in. She pushes for him to consume bread and
wine, to which he complies, and is noted to “become a man” by doing so.9 The importance
placed on what food Enkidu consumes may also direct one's attention to the culture of his time.
Food is most often associated with community and fellowship, especially in the form of stories.
By specifying what food is consumed, one may see how the community spent time together and
valued eating. If eating was not a communal activity, then it might not matter what Enkidu ate.
However, it is described and made important. Eating is typically seen as an intimate act – one
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Sandars, N. K.. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Revised ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977. 67.
eats with people who are of equal stature. In order for Enkidu to be welcomed into society, he
had to change his dietary habits. This simply adds to the importance of socialization which
correlates with civilization.
One of the largest discrepancies of civilized versus uncivilized is the role of the harlot.
She is the figure who brings the barbaric Enkidu into civilization, yet she herself could be
considered an uncivilized person. The harlot is referred to as “a wanton from the temple of love”
– and a wanton is a lascivious person who provokes lust.10 Lust is generally seen as a trait
associated with nature – not civilization. So the question lies in what she represents. Prostitution
most often occurs in civilized and urban areas, yet it may not be considered a civilized act in
itself. So while she can represent the urban area, her job is one of manipulation that plays into the
nature of man. Her sexual appeal is also not something that can necessarily be trained or made by
a “civilized person.” Sex in itself is not typically seen as an act of civilization, but an act of
nature. Beings of nature perform this act, so it certainly could not come from an urbanized
society. Yet, after Enkidu sleeps with the harlot, he is no longer able to roam with the wild beasts,
but is referred to as more tamed and weakened.11 He has the thoughts of man which he did not
have before. In this case, would civilization simply mean to be more like man and think more
like man than animal? If such is the case, then having sex would have made him more civilized.
The nature of this situation is tricky and hard to determine. However, it mostly appears to be that
even the untamed parts of the uncivilized man can lead him to become in fact more civilized.
There remains a question of what civilization truly does to Enkidu. In a way, Enkidu is
weakened by this “enlightened” state as the thoughts of man entered his heart.12 If the thoughts
of man are weakening, then one might argue this view of civilizing someone is negative. For if
his wisdom has made him weak, then weak must carry either a positive connotation in the
Mesopotamian society or refining someone is made to become a negative item. By the time he
fought Gilgamesh, this weakening had taken place. While Enkidu proves to be a worthy match of
Gilgamesh, he just barely loses, yet his strength is still described as that which “surpasses the
strength of man”.13 Had he not been weakened by the woman, he might have proved to be
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Sandars, N. K.. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Revised ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977. 69.
stronger or equal to Gilgamesh. In this situation, the uncivilized Enkidu would be stronger and
more powerful than the civilized Enkidu. This seems to disprove the support for civilized
humans as being more glorified. Yet this section also praises the civilized Gilgamesh as he wins
the battle.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu's journey into the forest begins as an internal struggle against the
uncivilized behavior. The process begins by Enkidu proclaiming he felt weak, as he was
oppressed by idleness.14 This is what motivates them to take action and go into the forest. Enkidu
has been living in the land of the civilized, yet he finds himself bored by the inactivity, as he
once roamed the hills. Gilgamesh says that in the city, “man dies oppressed at heart, man
perishes with despair in his heart.”15 So while the civilized life is certainly valued, a sense of
adventure and liveliness is also important. Without these things, man may feel unfulfilled.
Gilgamesh is soon moved to fight Humbaba, the guardian of the forest. While Gilgamesh was
once the more civilized man, Enkidu takes on this role as he is hesitant about this plan, warning
against killing Humbaba.16 One can tell that this view is of the civilized view because the people
of the city also found it unwise for Gilgamesh to fight Humbaba.17 Their journey into the forest
is certainly one filled with barbaric activities that ultimately lead to an undesired outcome.
As Gilgamesh and Enkidu enter into the forest, Gilgamesh unnecessarily chops down a
tree, which enrages Humbaba.18 However, a voice from heaven appears encourage Gilgamesh to
advance, as it calls “Go forward, do not be afraid.”19 His act of chopping down a tree signifies
the civilized coming to crush the uncivilized, and it is something heaven ordained. This supports
the glorification of man over nature. Gilgamesh and Enkidu move forward to fight the great
Humbaba, and Gilgamesh calls for Enkidu to be roused to battle by his courage, as though death
should be forgotten.20 The two end up overcoming Humbaba, but rather than holding on to his
savage ways, Humbaba is willing to change for Gilgamesh. He claims he has never once been
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reared by any father or mother.21 He claims for the mountain to have raised him, and if he is
freed, he will act as Gilgamesh's servant. Because such an uncivilized character makes it a point
to mention never having a father or mother, one can see the role parents play in society. From
this, they can be assumed to have the utmost importance in child rearing and care. Parents should
teach their children how to act in society and be accustomed to its ways. Humbaba had no such
parent, however he is willing to turn this role over to Gilgamesh in exchange for life. While
Gilgamesh is becoming more in touch with his civilized self however, Enkidu is reverting back
to his uncivilized ways.
Gilgamesh is willing to show mercy to Humbaba. He went on to promise Humbaba by
the heavenly, earthly, and underworld lives that he may show compassion.22 After this, Enkidu
reprimands his friend for such words. He claims that “the strongest of men will fall to fate if he
has no judgment”.23 Ironically, by listening to Enkidu's words, he does not take into account his
previous promise and the potential judgment that will come upon him for doing such. As
Gilgamesh and Enkidu decide to kill Humbaba, one can see the barbaric tendencies slipping in.
The civilized punish the uncivilized, becoming uncivilized themselves. While justice is certainly
a prominent theme throughout this text, it is also possible to foresee the justice that will come to
Gilgamesh and Enkidu for their rash actions. This judgment does in fact come. Their actions
simply lead into other barbaric actions, such as killing the Bull of Heaven.24 Because of this,
Enkidu is prophesied to die and does soon thereafter. Their barbaric behavior ultimately leads to
their demise, as Enkidu's death is of nearly equal punishment to Gilgamesh. This is to say that a
main theme of Gilgamesh is how the uncivilized man may live an adventurous life, but it will
ultimately lead to his demise. Their uncontrolled behavior caused them to lose sight of who they
once were, and because of that they suffered the consequences.
Although there are some discrepancies between the civilized and uncivilized being
respected, the Mesopotamians tend to glorify the higher society and critique the uncultured,
barbaric people. The Mesopotamians certainly saw the values of both sides, yet they tended to
show how being uncivilized can break down many social and personal values. The strive for
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Sandars, N. K.. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Revised ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977. 88.
perfection in civilization is a constant battle for Gilgamesh and Enkidu. However, in many cases
their barbaric behaviors are also freeing and produce growth. The reason one can infer much
about Mesopotamian society from The Epic of Gilgamesh is because societal values change with
every group. What may seem civilized to Mesopotamians could appear barbaric to an American,
and vice versa, and a fair balance between the two is a constant struggle for any human being.
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