Odysseus Vs. Gilgamesh

The author describes Odysseus as a strong-bodied man and attractive in appearance. Odysseus was a strong-willed man that put love before all else. He was very selfless when it came to the endangerment of others. Not only was his safety always in check but so was his crew. He was a guy who loved to push boundaries and take extremes to the next level. Call it luck or skill but, he always managed to get out of every tough situation.

"Next I told the rest of the men to cast lots, to find out which of them must endure with me to take up the great beam and spin it in the Cyclops' eye when sweet sleep had come over him."Odysseus was very skillful when it came to plans to defeat his enemies. He never ran in without having a strategy or without assessing the situation. Wether it was defeating a Cyclopes monster or defeating a bunch of suitors he always had a plan that made him be on top. 

"Leave blows alone, do not press me too hard, or you may make me angry so that, old as I am, I may give you a bloody chest and mouth."Odysseus was very cunning and almost like a trickster when it came to over-coming his enemies. To sneak past the suitors that had taken over his house he disguised himself as an old beggar. Odysseus came to violence when his smooth talking skills didn't seem to work.

"But now I shall go to our estate with its many orchards, to see my noble father who has grieved for me constantly."This example is one of the first to show his caring nature that he has for his family. Odysseus is known for being loving only because of his family. He has something to fight for and something to live for. Family devotion is a strong characteristic to have and Odysseus does indeed have it. He saves his wife and ends up running away from everything with her alone. Even the toughest warriors have a soft side.   

Odysseus is the protagonist in this story because he is the struggling main character pushing through complications trying to reach home. His complications rang from selfish witches to suitors trying to steal his life. The many obstacles that he faces help refocus him on his main reason of anything, family. In the end he gives everything up for the safety of his family.

"Pity me then, my lord. I call myself your supplicant."Odysseus is a dynamic character because throughout his journey he starts to mature by ask for more and more help. He does get lost along the way and side tracked but, his final destination never changes. He wants to return home to his wife especially when he finds out that she needs saving. This long journey reminded him the true importances in his life. The need for adventure doesn't not last forever but, family sure does. "You dogs, you never thought I would any more come back from the land of Troy, and because of that you despoiled my household, and forcibly took my serving women to sleep beside you, and sought to win my wife while I was still alive, fearing neither the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven, nor any resentment sprung from men to be yours in the future. Now upon you all the terms of destruction are fastened."

Odysseus has a external struggle because he has suitors trying to steal his life while he is away on travel. He struggles with every monster and witch he comes across but, he does learn a lesson from them. All of his physical struggles he gets help from the Gods with. He is never alone when trying to save his wife. His motivation to return home never changes and his ideals never leave they just get reinstated throughout his journey.

The author describes Gilgamesh as extremely strong and cunning. He is strongly built but, beautiful when it comes to physical appearance. Gilgamesh is very strong willed when it came to proving his strength and domince over men. He is a very hard headed man and seems to only focus on the physical hardships in life. His mind seems to lack in strength where his physical body excels. 

"It was Gilgamesh who fought with Humbaba, the Fierce!"Gilgamesh was head strong because once he had his mind set to something their was absolutely no changing it. Even when his advisors didn't agree with his decisions Gilgamesh still fought and did what he wanted. No one could stand in the way og Gilgamesh and his desires.

“Gilgamesh is the most glorious among the heroes, Gilgamesh shines among the men!”Gilgamesh defeats many monsters throughout his adventures with Enkidu. He is a hero because he does what seems impossible to mortal men. In his dreams he is called to fight leading him to believe that his main purpose is to be a warrior and defeat all that are a threat.

"Six days and seven nights I mourned over him and would not allow him to be buried until a maggot fell out of his nose."Even with Gilgamesh's tough appearance and attitude. Enkidu touched him in a way no one else could. His partner and comrade had to die without Gilgamesh. His whirlwind journey demonstrated the love he had for his friend. He was so worried about what happened to Enkidu after death that he went on a mission to find the answer.

Gilgamesh is the Protagonist in this Epic because he is fighting against the evil monsters and death. A protagonist is the hero that learns a lesson in the end of the story. Gilgamesh learns to live his life to the fullest and to never let his pride get in the way.

"Deep sadness penetrates my core, I fear death, and now roam the wilderness."For once in his life Gilgamesh was scared to die. At the beginning of the story he felt so immortal that the thought of death never phased him. His whole outlook on life changed right after his beloved friend passed away. Fighting beasts and risking mortality always excited Gilgamesh but now he had to face the risk of this type of lifestyle. "You are young, Gilgamesh, your heart carries you off—you do not know what you are talking about!" 

Gilgamesh has a internal struggle that was brought out by an external thing. He didn't know that he struggled with death until a physical death of someone he cared for occurred. The question of death troubled him so much that he wondered the desert looking for the answer behind death. Before Enkidu died, Gilgamesh never cared nor thought much on death. Enkidu brought out all the good sides in Gilgamesh, including the insecurities.