Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It

Gilgamesh’s character is the representation of humans, and their civilization. A cross his actions we can recognize our evolution, and way of thinking. Also, he has many characteristics that are common within us, and with them we can explain why we arrived to where we are.

By tablets X and XI, Gilgamesh’s representation of our society already covered, the evolution from Leavers to Takers, and he’s interaction with nature. Know he is demonstrating our greatest defects, such as dishonesty, laziness, arrogance and rebellion. From these, we can easily identify ourselves with Gilgamesh.

When Gilgamesh approaches to Urshanabi, he breaks essential pieces of stone, “When Gilgamesh heard this he raised the axe in his hand, drew the dagger from his belt, and slipped stealthily away after them. Like an arrow he fell among them ("the stone things"). From the middle of the woods their noise could be heard. Urshanabi, the sharp-eyed, saw.”(Tablet X). This shows our arrogance and the urgency of having objectives done fast, and for this we are messy. Later when Utanapishtim tells Gilgamesh the task he must accomplish in order to be immortal, Gilgamesh promises to do so. Nevertheless, Gilgamesh fails to do, and denies he’s mistake to Utanapishtim, with this Gilgamesh reveals the dishonest and lazy aspect of humans.

As Gilgamesh designs humans through out history, we recognize characteristics that have separate us from Leavers, and animals. Also, it can explain why we turned out to be in the place we arrived, and aspects we have grown with, that are stopping us from becoming Leavers, but aspects we can’t live without.