Underworld Journey-Experiences of Both Gilgamesh and Odysseus

Question: Create a short essay that examines the underworld journey-experiences of both Gilgamesh and Odysseus.Who does the hero meet; what does each hero learn from his experience in the underworld; and how does this information affect the hero after he departs this strange place? Answer: The essay provides a deep insight into the literary works of The epic of Gilgamesh and that of The Odyssey. It examines the experience of underworld journey of the lead characters of both the literary works. There has been a reflection of deep search for destiny in both the works. From each of the mentioned stories, the hero travels to the land of dead for satisfying personal needs. Though each of the characters had different intention of travelling, two things were common in them. Firstly, both the heroes came to know something about the destiny, and secondly their search was not something they were looking for. In the The Epic of Gilgamesh soon after the death of his beloved friend Enkidu, it was a realization of Gilgamesh that death is imminent even for him being a part human. So in a state of being terrible, he journeys into the underworld to seek immortality (Ceil, n.d.). However, instead he identifies emptiness(Johns-Putra, 2013). It was his belief that Utnapishtim who resided in the underworld knows the secret of avoiding death as he himself was immortal as given by the gods. Gilgamesh found thorough emptiness in the underworld. He was even warned by Shamash that he would not find any life after death. It implied that Gilgamesh should learn to seize the day. Despite, Gilgamesh continued with his voyage. This courage makes him a hero (Azhderian, 2009). He spent few days at the residence of Utnapistim. After his sleep he identifies the link between his dreamless sleep and that of death. Finally, Gilgamesh realizes that there is no life after death. The realization he had was that nothing can be done about death and no one can be immortal, yet one can achieve a different kind of immortality by living life to the fullest and be remembered by all for some good deeds(Peradotto, 2002). He even wished to go back to his people and share this rebirthing experience with them. He realizes that life is meaningless without the presence of death. On the other hand, in The Odyssey the hero Odyssey had travelled to the underworld in search of happiness but he finds grief there instead. For him, happiness meant his wife, child and his kingdom. He felt Utnapistim could help him find his way home (McClymont, 2012). Odyssey knew it well that he is journeying into a land wherefrom no mortal returns. Yet he continues with his voyage with lot of courage. He perceived the place as really a sad one as he encountered the several deaths that were known to him (Louden, 2011). He wept when he found his mother dead, and becomes even sadder when he tried to embrace her. He met Teiresias who tells him the way home and also informs him that there would be more distress on his journey. It is seen that Odyssey also leaves the place with a better understanding of a perfect life just like Gilgamesh. He searched for home and happiness for around twenty years, but failed to realize that it was right in front of him. From both the literary works, it has been learnt that the two heroes, Gilgamesh and Odyssey had different experiences from the same place of underworld. Both of them met Utnapistim and the information that each of them received from the place had affected both of them in different ways once they left the strange place. Gilgamesh had realized that no one can be immortal in life. if there is life there has to be an end in the form of death. Despite every human being immortal, immortality can be achieved by doing greater deeds during the lifetime. This would make one remembered by people as long as they survive. This is the greatest achievement for every human being. On the other hand, Odyssey realized that the underworld is a very sad place. Whatever happiness exist in the world it is right in front of every human being. Happiness consists in the life that a human being sustains (Sherman, 2008). Odyssey leaves the place with a better understanding of a perfect life just like Gilgamesh. He searched for home and happiness for around twenty years, but failed to realize that it was right in front of him. References Azhderian, C. (2009). Journey Toward Spirit: Examining Moments of SpiritualGrowth Through Story.Journal of College and Character, 10(7). Johns-Putra, A. (2013). Gilgamesh among Us: Modern Encounters with the Ancient Epic.English, 62(237), pp.218-220. McClymont, J. (2012). THE CHARACTER OF CIRCE IN THE ODYSSEY.AKR, 53(0). Peradotto, J. (2002). Prophecy and Persons: Reading Character in the Odyssey.Arethusa, 35(1), pp.3-15. Ceil, C. (n.d.). Epic of Gilgamesh.SSRN Journal. Louden, B. (2011).Homer's Odyssey and the Near East. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Nardo, D. (2002).Quests and journeys. San Diego, Calif.: Lucent Books. Sherman, J. (2008).Storytelling. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.