Essay The Act of Sacrifice from Achilles and Gilgamesh

The Act of Sacrifice from Achilles and Gilgamesh The act of sacrifice is a very important event in literature. Often, it can define and shape a character’s life and personality. The ancient texts discussed in class contain many diverse, yet equally meaningful examples of sacrifice. Even though these acts of sacrifice can occur for different reasons, each one has a similar purpose. The characters that perform such sacrifices are required to give up something they love, cherish or own in order to serve a greater purpose. Achilles from The Iliad must sacrifice his physical possessions to appease his gods. Gilgamesh is unwillingly forced to sacrifice his beloved brother. Cain from The Bible also forfeits material possessions, but he also†¦show more content†¦It is forced upon him by the gods. His beloved brother, Enkidu, is taken from him by death, and Gilgamesh is devastated. But Enkidu was not given up by Gilgamesh; he was punished to die by the gods for killing the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh was stricken by grief and regrets their killing of the Bull by saying, â€Å"If I had known that this was all the good that would come of it, I would have raised the ax and split you into little pieces†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Norton Anthology 27-28). Gilgamesh realizes that his passionate quest for glory and fame had actually caused the death of his brother. This sacrifice that he must make, by fault of his own and decision of the gods, seems to have no positive qualities. Gilgamesh is first devastated by Enkidu’s death. â€Å"Ten days he lay and his suffering increased, eleven and twelve days he lay on his bed of pain† (Norton Anthology 29). As time passed, Gilgamesh began to come to accept his brother’s death and decides to make an almost impossible journey to seek advice. After his trip, Gilgamesh reflected on his life since his brother’s demise and notices that he is a different person. No longer is he the arrogant, careless king that he was. He has transformed into a mature, wise le ader. The sacrifice of his brother caused him to change who he was so that Gilgamesh could come to terms with his grief. The culture in which Gilgamesh ruled was very conquest oriented, and the more challenges one overcame, the greater the man he was.Show MoreRelatedComparison of Gilgamesh and Achilles Essay example1574 Words   |  7 Pagesto me were Gilgamesh, and Achilles. Gilgamesh’s greatest fear was death, while Achilles feared his legacy being lost and forgotten. Technically their desires are different, but their journey share many similarities, and in the end, boils down to the same thing. Each man in his own way, both Gilgamesh and Achilles desired immortality above all else. 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