The most feared lesson in the eyes of a child is the concept of "no". While most children eventually realize that not everything in the world is available to them, the select few who neglect to recognize their limitations inevitably grow up to be self-indulgent, immature adults and a burden to those around them. In the case of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the spoiled child is the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and it is his subjects who must bear the burden and suffer painfully under the tyranny of their king. Although Gilgamesh is a glorified and accomplished figure in Uruk, his successes are undeserved and his defining characteristic is not his physical strength but rather his enormous ignorance. This is perhaps most evident in the king's perilous quest to defeat Humbaba. Contrary to what the text implies, Gilgamesh's invasion of the Cedar Forest is not a powerful display of ambition or a right of passage illustrating his maturation; Despite the king's apparent reform, Gilgamesh remains an arrogant, entitled leader whose successes are simply the result of his privileged birth and praise-filled, unconstrained upbringing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the king as a powerful and heroic leader, and while it acknowledges Gilgamesh's flaws, the epic often overlooks his violent tendencies and emphasizes his unparalleled rigor and spirit. The high esteem in which the text holds Gilgamesh is evident in the lofty descriptions of the king as “Exceeding all other kings, heroic in stature, / brave scion of Uruk, wild bull on the rampage” (1:29-30). These grandiose depictions effectively imply that Gilgamesh's deplorable actions are merely symptomatic of his greatness; as a man of authority, the king unfairly uses his exalted status to excuse his many transgressions. However, from the perspective of the people of Uruk whom Gilgamesh “persecutes without warrant,” the king's exceptional abilities are trivial compared to his cruel authority (I.67). They do not see their king's abominable treatment of his people as a mere side effect of his extraordinary strength, but rather as a sign of Gilgamesh's immaturity and unbridled education. As a result of his unrivaled physical prowess, the king grows up receiving only praise and submission to his superhuman potential, never realizing his limitations. Gilgamesh's incessant need to satisfy his urges at the expense of his subjects arises from this lawless childhood, since no one ever deprives the king of what he desires; as a result, Gilgamesh develops a stern sense of entitlement and cannot understand how to behave appropriately as an important leader. Just like a child, all Gilgamesh knows in life is instant gratification. While the actual text of the Epic of Gilgamesh emphasizes Gilgamesh's exploits and ambitions, in reality, his successes are more a reflection of his birthright than of his actual perseverance. Unlike the common people of Uruk, Gilgamesh was born into a unique lineage, with "two-thirds of him god and one-third human" (I.48). In this sense, Gilgamesh is not literally a “man of the people.” It is not initiative and dedication that bring him success, but rather his genetics that provide him with a significant advantage in life. Given the unrivaled, divine abilities with which he is endowed at birth, Gilgamesh's vast successes are essentially meritless, for the king achieves his exalted status solely through his arbitrarily privileged circumstances, which give himthey allow you to conquer lands more effectively than any human ever could. In its generous depictions of Gilgamesh, the epic overlooks an important qualification of true heroism: being born does not make a man deserving of greatness; it just gives him the chance to be. In addition to giving him undeserved power, Gilgamesh's unique lineage also generates an unjustified sense of arrogance and superiority over his human subjects, which further contributes to his tyranny. While the text may imply that Gilgamesh is a powerful and ambitious ruler, the reality of the situation is that his many conquests are simply the result of a fortunate birth and contribute significantly to his conceit. In essence, Gilgamesh's greatest triumph is simply birth. Along with the lofty language the text adopts to justify Gilgamesh's atrocious behavior, the introduction of his companion Enkidu produces a convenient plot point where readers can resolve their concerns with the king, as Enkidu appears to parallel the strength of Gilgamesh and reform his barbaric tendencies. Contrary to this interpretation, Gilgamesh actually remains a relatively static character and his new partner actually has an effect opposite to his original purpose. While the wild and innocent Enkidu undoubtedly serves as an effective foil to the civilized and tyrannical Gilgamesh, his morality fails to change the king's contempt for others because he does not possess the power to significantly influence Gilgamesh's decisions or character. This is most evident in their wrestling match where Gilgamesh defeats Enkidu who then submits, stating "High above the warriors you are exalted, / to be king of the people Enlil has made it your destiny!" (P.239-240). Although Enkidu is portrayed as a character equal in physical ability to Gilgamesh, his defeat in the wrestling match confirms his inferiority and essentially negates this claim. With another victory, Gilgamesh only strengthens his sense of superiority and greatness, unable to meet anyone who can surpass his physical mastery. The fact that Enkidu emerges from the struggle secondary to Gilgamesh invalidates any possibility of reform or maturation. King so impervious, Gilgamesh does not give in to the admonitions of his inferiors; only a greater force can effect such a change. As a result, at his core, Gilgamesh remains a spoiled child who merely channels his entitlements towards different goals in response to Enkidu's introduction. The seemingly positive influence that Enkidu has on Gilgamesh is perhaps most evident in the two companions' journey into the Cedar Forest. Gilgamesh's invasion of the forbidden forest, at first glance, appears to be a manifestation of his relentless ambition and a symbol of his internal transformation from a ruthless king to a great leader, as reflected when he announces "Bold as I am, I will trample the distant path [to the house of Humbaba,] / I will face a battle I do not know” (II.262-263) Although Gilgamesh's intrepid decision to invade the Cedar Forest seems to be an effect of his new relationship with Enkidu, the His true intentions are not so much honorable as immature. Gilgamesh's bold pursuit of the cedar trees is not a manifestation of his lively ambition, but rather a symptom of his flawed upbringing and resulting psychological underdevelopment Strengthened by the defeat of the mighty Enkidu, the king further develops a heightened mentality of imperviousness and stubbornness against those who deny or challenge him. Accordingly, when Enkidu and his personal advisors warn the king, stating “This is a.