Mortality is defined by “being subject or opposed” to death. Most people value immortality. It is considered a privilege to live a healthy and long life. Others have a different goal. They want to leave a lasting legacy. Individuals who fail to leave a lasting legacy feel that they are not contributing to the society. Society is not a single standard. It is constantly changing. People would be proud of you even if your contribution was not significant. But for how long? It’s fine to live without having a name. Not everyone will remember you. Although many people would love to leave a lasting legacy for their children’s future, they won’t be able to do so if the parents don’t put in the work. In many ways, either mortality or immortality is better than the others. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about a man who wants to live forever. He fears that he might die before he is finished. Gilgamesh considers himself a hero and feels entitled to worship and be liked by everyone. Gilgamesh’s noble qualities would make him a more optimistic person. Gilgamesh may want to live forever but he is aware that he will eventually die. My opinion is that immortality seems unrealistic.
Gilgamesh thinks that he is better than others. Gilgamesh thinks he is superior to everyone else. It is very difficult to change his mind. “The Onslaught of His Weapons has No Equal” Enkidu had to die in order for Gilgamesh, who was on a high pedestal, to rise from it. Gilgamesh thought it was impossible until it happened for him, but it did. Enkidu was an example of this life cycle. He panicked and said, “I’m going to die!” Aren’t I like Enkidu? Deep sadness permeates my core. I fear the end. It is important to enjoy every moment of life because you cannot be certain what the future holds. It is said that if everything ends in death, we must face it head-on. This means we have to work for the things we value and not be satisfied. Gilgamesh was arrogant, vain and unable to comprehend dying. He is a king and has a poor outlook. Gilgamesh wouldn’t be as big-headed as Endiku and the other characters. His perspective would be different. Gilgamesh is unable to see why he can’t live forever. He asks Utanapishtim for help. He didn’t have to face his death. Now he wants to find out by asking these questions. It is impossible to imagine immortality. The life cycle does not include immortality. Many people confuse longevity with eternal life. You can do things to prolong your life, such as eating right and exercising, but your body is limited in its ability to do the same. There are multiple opportunities in life. However, eternal life does not exist. The ideal way people imagine living is immortality. Gilgamesh repeatedly hears that his time is not yet. “The eternal happiness you seek, you won’t find.” Gilgamesh knows that he will die someday, but he also wastes his time contemplating it. There are many ways to approach personal immortality. There is no good or evil in death. We all want eternal life, but it will eventually end. Because we will all soon die, death is used to help us get through life. Most modern scholars interpret it as a sign of the futility in seeking immortality and the necessity of accepting one’s mortal destiny and enjoying the world’s pleasures. Doing something to make a difference and living up to our hopes and dreams before it’s too late. A desire to live in perpetuity is something different. Individuals will do whatever it takes to escape death. Because death surrounds life, it gives meaning to life. “It is said that those who oppose death have often made the mistake to try to imagine what it is like being dead.”
The Epic shows Gilgamesh tied down to himself and what will benefit him. He wants everyone who knows him to remember that he faced Humbaba. Before Gilgamesh fought Humbaba on the battlefield, he was asking himself questions. The city of Uruk would not have been pleased if Gilgamesh didn’t fight Humbaba. This could be described as dying in a world where no one knows who you are. He didn’t care about his safety and concentrated all his energy on the pursuit of victory, duty, honor, and battle. These circumstances may require that one either returns to a peaceful occupation or lives a normal, fulfilling the requirements of the state. Before they talk about the good, people will often bring up what you’ve done. It would be a disappointment for the people of Uruk if Gilgamesh loses the fight. This would be a bad way to live your daily life. Tablet 1 Line 49 reads, “Gilgamesh is singled out starting at the day his birth,” which means that he’ll always be looked upon, judged and criticised as he’s unique.
Some may see immortality simply as an opportunity to make a difference in the world. People will be more open to learning and sharing their knowledge if they think about their mortality instead of whether or not they will ever live forever. Ur-Shanbani is told by Gilgamesh to’study foundation terrace and examine brickwork’. This quote refers to his quest for immortality. Given his situation, he sees that it’s okay not to take all the credit. Gilgamesh tries to be present and to focus on the important things. “Many people are capable of making any sacrifice necessary for mortality, but they believe death is the end all”. He is able to accept the fact that it is inevitable that he will eventually die. It is good to want to live a natural, long life. But it is not healthy to try to extend your life.
It is possible to be immortal, but this is not something that is desirable or undesirable. It’s something people shouldn’t want because it’s false hope. As it is what life is, mortality would be accepted as normal. People may not wish to live a long time. Every person has a purpose. Some choose to ignore it. Some people want to live forever. Gilgamesh now knows that he will not be able to live forever. He learned a lot from his journey and he no longer worries about the future. Gilgamesh is ready to do whatever it takes to improve his image. He will do his best to make his city proud. He cannot focus on the future. He will die faster if he does not worry about the future. ‘Life and Death are illusions. We are always changing.