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 at their disposal, the privileged few who neglect to recognize their limitations inevitably grow up to become indulgent, immature adults and a burden to those around them . In the case of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the spoiled brat 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 achievements are undeserved and his defining characteristic is not his physical power but rather his blatant ignorance. This is perhaps most evident in the king's perilous quest to defeat Humbaba. Contrary to what the text suggests, Gilgamesh's invasion of the cedar forest is not a powerful demonstration of ambition or a right of passage that illustrates his maturation; Despite the king's apparent reformation, Gilgamesh remains an arrogant and entitled ruler whose successes are simply the result of his privileged birth and his praise-filled, restraint-free upbringing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts the king as a powerful and heroic leader, and although it acknowledges Gilgamesh's faults, the he epic often overlooks his abusive tendencies and emphasizes his unrivaled rigor and wit. The high esteem in which the text holds Gilgamesh is evident in the lofty descriptions of the king as "Surpassing all other kings, of heroic stature, / brave descendant of Uruk, raging wild bull" (1.29-30). These grand depictions effectively imply that Gilgamesh's deplorable actions are merely symptomatic of his greatness; as an authoritarian man, the king wrongly exploits his high status to excuse his many transgressions. However, from the perspective of the people of Uruk whom Gilgamesh "harassed without warrant," the king's exceptional abilities pale in comparison to his cruel authority (I.67). They do not view their king's abhorrent treatment of his people as a mere byproduct of his extraordinary strength, but rather as a sign of Gilgamesh's immaturity and unbridled upbringing. Due to his unparalleled physical prowess, the king grew up receiving only praise and submission to his superhuman potential, never realizing his own limitations. Gilgamesh's incessant need to satisfy his impulses at the expense of his subjects stems from this lawless childhood, for no one ever deprives the king of what he wants; as a result, Gilgamesh develops a deep sense of entitlement and fails to understand how to behave appropriately as an important leader. Just like a child, all Gilgamesh knows in life is instant gratification. While the very text of the Epic of Gilgamesh emphasizes Gilgamesh's exploits and ambition, in reality his accomplishments reflect more of his birthright than his actual perseverance. Unlike the common people of Uruk, Gilgamesh was born under a unique lineage, with "two-thirds god and one-third human" (I.48). In this sense, Gilgamesh is literally not a “man of the people.” It is not initiative and dedication that bring him success, but rather his genetics that give him a significant advantage in life. Given the divine and unparalleled abilities he is endowed with at birth, Gilgamesh's vast accomplishments are essentially without merit as the king achieves his statusraised only by his arbitrarily privileged circumstances, which allow him to conquer lands more efficiently 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 worthy of greatness; it only gives him the chance to be. In addition to providing him with undeserved power, Gilgameshengendre's unique bloodline also gives him an unwarranted sense of arrogance and superiority over his human subjects, further contributing to his tyranny. Although the text may imply that Gilgamesh is a powerful and ambitious ruler, the reality is that his many conquests are simply the result of lucky birth and contribute significantly to his vanity. In essence, Gilgamesh's greatest triumph is simply being born. In conjunction with the elevated language the text adopts to excuse Gilgamesh's atrocious behavior, the introduction of his companion Enkidu produces a convenient plot point in which readers can settle their qualms with the king, as Enkidu appears to match the force of Gilgamesh and reforms his barbaric tendencies. Contrary to this interpretation, Gilgamesh actually remains a relatively static character and his new partner actually has an opposite effect to his initial objective. While the savage 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 as he does not possess the power to significantly influence decisions or the character of Gilgamesh. This is particularly evident in their wrestling match in which Gilgamesh defeats Enkidu who then submits, declaring: "You are exalted above warriors, / To be the king of the people, Enlil has made it your destiny!" » (P.239-240). Although Enkidu is depicted 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, failing to meet anyone capable of overcoming his physical mastery. The fact that Enkidu emerges from the battle secondarily to Gilgamesh invalidates any possibility of reform or maturation. A king so impervious, Gilgamesh does not give in to the remonstrances of his inferiors; only a greater force can bring about such a change. Therefore, Gilgamesh basically remains a spoiled brat who simply channels his entitlement toward 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 evidenced when he announces "Bold as I am, I will tread the distance. path [towards Humbaba's house,] / I will face a battle that I do not know” (II.262-263). Although Gilgamesh's intrepid decision to invade the Cedar Forest appears to be an effect of his new relationship with Enkidu, his true intentions are far from honorable and immature. Gilgamesh's daring pursuit of the cedars is not a manifestation of his fiery ambition but rather a symptom of his spoiled upbringing and resulting psychological underdevelopment. With a heightened superiority complex after defeating the mighty Enkidu, the king further develops a heightened mentality of imperviousness and stubbornness against those who deny or challenge him. Therefore, when Enkidu and his..