You Are a Thing That You Are a Thing That Carries So Much Tiredness Carries So Much Tiredness

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

12 October 201112 October 2011

While the first half of the epic is about losing the While the first half of the epic is about losing the things you care about, the second is about what things you care about, the second is about what T.S. Eliot wrote about in T.S. Eliot wrote about in The Waste Land:The Waste Land: shoring shoring up fragments against the ruins of the past.up fragments against the ruins of the past.

To be sure, there’s plenty of ruination and woe to To be sure, there’s plenty of ruination and woe to go around in the second half. go around in the second half.

From Gilgamesh’s all-consuming grief to From Gilgamesh’s all-consuming grief to Utnapishtim’s devastating survivor’s tale, from Utnapishtim’s devastating survivor’s tale, from Ishtar’s Flood to the needless loss of the plant, Ishtar’s Flood to the needless loss of the plant, we’re never allowed to forget that nothing in life we’re never allowed to forget that nothing in life comes free of consequences. comes free of consequences.

Indeed, we’re left with the distinct impression Indeed, we’re left with the distinct impression that nothing – not our hearts, not our cities, not that nothing – not our hearts, not our cities, not the legacy we leave behind – can be protected the legacy we leave behind – can be protected from the whims of the universe forever.           from the whims of the universe forever.          

No Hearts, No CitiesNo Hearts, No Cities

Something MoreSomething More But all is not lost. But all is not lost. In the forms of Siduri, Urshanabi, In the forms of Siduri, Urshanabi,

and Utnapishtim himself, we find and Utnapishtim himself, we find something different – something something different – something penetrating the gloom to offer us a penetrating the gloom to offer us a chance, however uncertain, to heal. chance, however uncertain, to heal.

And in Gilgamesh’s final discovery, And in Gilgamesh’s final discovery, we, too, discover something more. we, too, discover something more.

Although the hero myth is the most popular Although the hero myth is the most popular story, many myths involve healing. In these story, many myths involve healing. In these stories, some character is "broken" and must stories, some character is "broken" and must leave home to become whole again.leave home to become whole again.The universal experience behind these healing The universal experience behind these healing stories is our psychological need for stories is our psychological need for rejuvenation, for balance…Something is out of rejuvenation, for balance…Something is out of balance, and the mythic journey moves toward balance, and the mythic journey moves toward wholeness. wholeness.

Being broken can take several forms. It can Being broken can take several forms. It can be physical, emotional, or psychological. Usually, be physical, emotional, or psychological. Usually, it's all three. In the process of being exiled or it's all three. In the process of being exiled or hiding out in the forest, the desert, or even [an] hiding out in the forest, the desert, or even [an] Amish farm, the person becomes whole, Amish farm, the person becomes whole, balanced, and receptive to love. Love in these balanced, and receptive to love. Love in these stories is both a healing force and a reward.stories is both a healing force and a reward.

Linda SegerLinda Seger

Once he sets out on his journey to find Once he sets out on his journey to find Utnapishtim – the only human who can live Utnapishtim – the only human who can live forever, the only one who knows “the forever, the only one who knows “the secret” of how one overcomes death – secret” of how one overcomes death – Gilgamesh begins to experience things Gilgamesh begins to experience things he’s never (or rarely) known before. he’s never (or rarely) known before.

When he hears the sounds of animals When he hears the sounds of animals moving towards him in the night, he fears moving towards him in the night, he fears them for the first timethem for the first time Now that he knows how it feels to be protected Now that he knows how it feels to be protected

by someone else, he’s painfully aware of that by someone else, he’s painfully aware of that protection’s absence. protection’s absence.

Absence and FearAbsence and Fear

Next, he encounters the Scorpion people – Next, he encounters the Scorpion people – monsters whose glances kill, and who monsters whose glances kill, and who guard the passage Gilgamesh must take guard the passage Gilgamesh must take to meet Utnapishtim. to meet Utnapishtim.

Mortal men do not pass them; it’s rare Mortal men do not pass them; it’s rare that someone even attempts to do so. that someone even attempts to do so.

But Gilgamesh survives, for he bows – But Gilgamesh survives, for he bows – something that must have seemed foreign something that must have seemed foreign to him, appearing as someone’s to him, appearing as someone’s subordinate, demonstrating respect subordinate, demonstrating respect rather than making demands. rather than making demands. His partially divine origins also offer him some His partially divine origins also offer him some

protection. protection.

The Scorpion PeopleThe Scorpion People

David Eng’s Scorpion ManDavid Eng’s Scorpion Man

Gilgamesh makes a simple request for safe Gilgamesh makes a simple request for safe passage through Masha, the gigantic mountain passage through Masha, the gigantic mountain separating the realm that leads to Utnapishtim separating the realm that leads to Utnapishtim from the king’s own. from the king’s own.

But the Scorpion Man laughs at him, telling him But the Scorpion Man laughs at him, telling him to turn back: nothing can bring his friend back to to turn back: nothing can bring his friend back to life. life.

Gilgamesh is so enraged by this trivialization of Gilgamesh is so enraged by this trivialization of his grief that he begins screaming at the guard, his grief that he begins screaming at the guard, and rather than match his tone, the Scorpion and rather than match his tone, the Scorpion Man’s wife urges her husband to let him go (in Man’s wife urges her husband to let him go (in the Mason translation, he simply placates him)the Mason translation, he simply placates him) ““This brave man, driven by despair, his body frost-This brave man, driven by despair, his body frost-

chilled, exhausted, and burnt by the desert sun – show chilled, exhausted, and burnt by the desert sun – show him the way to Utnapishtim.” him the way to Utnapishtim.”

Frost-Chilled, Exhausted, and BurntFrost-Chilled, Exhausted, and Burnt

The Scorpion Man opens the gate to the sun’s The Scorpion Man opens the gate to the sun’s tunnel through Masha, which is the only way to tunnel through Masha, which is the only way to the realm on the other side. the realm on the other side.

The sun moves through the tunnel at night, The sun moves through the tunnel at night, traveling through the earth for twelve hours until traveling through the earth for twelve hours until it rises again on the other side. it rises again on the other side.

If Gilgamesh enters the tunnel, he must do so If Gilgamesh enters the tunnel, he must do so just after sunrise, plunging into total darkness just after sunrise, plunging into total darkness just as the rest of his realm enjoys the brightest just as the rest of his realm enjoys the brightest light of day. light of day.

If he can outrace the sun, he’ll make it; if he If he can outrace the sun, he’ll make it; if he can’t, there’s no escape, and he’ll be scorched can’t, there’s no escape, and he’ll be scorched alive. alive.

Gilgamesh realizes in the Mason translation that Gilgamesh realizes in the Mason translation that the Scorpion people indeed fear his journey; it’s the Scorpion people indeed fear his journey; it’s unclear whether they fear his loss or his success. unclear whether they fear his loss or his success.

Pity and FearPity and Fear

The Mason version doesn’t feature much in The Mason version doesn’t feature much in terms of Gilgamesh’s journey through Masha; terms of Gilgamesh’s journey through Masha; the Mitchell version turns it into one of the the Mitchell version turns it into one of the epic’s tensest passages. epic’s tensest passages.

As Gilgamesh races against time, the poet As Gilgamesh races against time, the poet uses a refrain (just as it did as Gilgamesh uses a refrain (just as it did as Gilgamesh approached the Cedar Forest) to mark the approached the Cedar Forest) to mark the countdown to his impending doomcountdown to his impending doom ““For the _______ and _______ hour Gilgamesh ran, / For the _______ and _______ hour Gilgamesh ran, /

deep was the darkness, with no light at all / before deep was the darkness, with no light at all / before and behind him and to either side.”and behind him and to either side.”

He has no way to mark time himself, no way He has no way to mark time himself, no way to be sure that he’s running the right way; to be sure that he’s running the right way; he’s just racing and racing and racing.he’s just racing and racing and racing.

Deep Was the DarknessDeep Was the Darkness

After seven hours have passed, Gilgamesh After seven hours have passed, Gilgamesh still sees nothing but darkness, and he still sees nothing but darkness, and he cries out in fear. cries out in fear.

But at the start of the ninth hour, he feels But at the start of the ninth hour, he feels a breeze on his face. a breeze on his face.

He still can’t see, but he keeps going. He still can’t see, but he keeps going. Nine hours pass. Nine hours pass. Ten hours pass. Ten hours pass. Eleven. Eleven. At the end of the twelfth hour, Gilgamesh At the end of the twelfth hour, Gilgamesh

bursts from the tunnel, just ahead of the bursts from the tunnel, just ahead of the sun as it “was hurtling toward the sun as it “was hurtling toward the entrance; he had barely escaped.” entrance; he had barely escaped.”

Make It Out AliveMake It Out Alive

Regardless of the translation, Gilgamesh Regardless of the translation, Gilgamesh must go through literal blackness for must go through literal blackness for hours, utterly alone – a simple but hours, utterly alone – a simple but effective metaphor for the initial stage of effective metaphor for the initial stage of deep grief. deep grief.

When he emerges from the passage, When he emerges from the passage, however, he gazes upon a beautiful valley however, he gazes upon a beautiful valley – lush, verdant, overflowing with life. – lush, verdant, overflowing with life. It’s one of the loveliest images in the epic. It’s one of the loveliest images in the epic.

As with the passage through Masha, this As with the passage through Masha, this sight serves as a metaphor for part of the sight serves as a metaphor for part of the grieving process – namely that life, in all grieving process – namely that life, in all its mixed splendor, its pleasures and its mixed splendor, its pleasures and pains, awaits those who wish to continue pains, awaits those who wish to continue in the face of devastation. in the face of devastation.

Deep Grief, Nice ValleyDeep Grief, Nice Valley

But Gilgamesh is not ready to rejoin But Gilgamesh is not ready to rejoin the living worldthe living world

This reminder of glory only makes This reminder of glory only makes him ache for what he’s lost even him ache for what he’s lost even more deeply. more deeply.

Instead, he repeats Enkidu’s name Instead, he repeats Enkidu’s name and their exploits together for an and their exploits together for an extended period of time, explaining extended period of time, explaining the depths of his sorrow to no one the depths of his sorrow to no one but himself – evoking nothing so but himself – evoking nothing so much as a scratched record skipping much as a scratched record skipping in an empty room. in an empty room.

Scratched Record in an Empty RoomScratched Record in an Empty Room

This does nothing to promote healing, This does nothing to promote healing, obviously, because he’s incapable of obviously, because he’s incapable of healing himself healing himself

He’s reverted to his pre-Enkidu self, He’s reverted to his pre-Enkidu self, back to tearing at himself, oblivious to back to tearing at himself, oblivious to the larger world around him except to the larger world around him except to acknowledge that the valley has no acknowledge that the valley has no way to understand his pain. way to understand his pain.

After all, it’s a private pain; we can After all, it’s a private pain; we can never really feel that which we wish to never really feel that which we wish to heal in others.           heal in others.          

Never Feel What We Wish to HealNever Feel What We Wish to Heal

Moving through his new land, Moving through his new land, Gilgamesh approaches the water Gilgamesh approaches the water line, complete with a tavern/inn by line, complete with a tavern/inn by the sea. the sea.

As to As to whywhy there’s a tavern/inn by a there’s a tavern/inn by a sea that, in theory, nobody should sea that, in theory, nobody should visit – the Scorpion Man insists that visit – the Scorpion Man insists that no one save Utnapishtim and his no one save Utnapishtim and his family has ever gone to the other family has ever gone to the other side – I have no explanation. side – I have no explanation.

We do odd things for cheap real We do odd things for cheap real estate, I suppose. estate, I suppose.

Cheap Real EstateCheap Real Estate

Ordinarily meant to evoke both endless Ordinarily meant to evoke both endless possibility with its scope and the cyclical possibility with its scope and the cyclical nature of life with its tides, the water here nature of life with its tides, the water here is instead the Sea of Death (alternately is instead the Sea of Death (alternately called the Waters of Death; the two terms called the Waters of Death; the two terms will be used interchangeably from here on will be used interchangeably from here on out, including on the exam). out, including on the exam).

Furthermore, we remember that most life Furthermore, we remember that most life perished in Ishtar’s great flood. perished in Ishtar’s great flood.

Just as we saw in the epic’s beginning that Just as we saw in the epic’s beginning that the Tigris and Euphrates can bring life – the Tigris and Euphrates can bring life – could even embody it – we’re reminded could even embody it – we’re reminded that water, like love and life itself, has a that water, like love and life itself, has a dual nature, and that it can bring pain and dual nature, and that it can bring pain and death just as easily as salvation. death just as easily as salvation.

Water and DualityWater and Duality

We get a better look at Gilgamesh here, and see We get a better look at Gilgamesh here, and see that he’s allowed grief to transform him into that he’s allowed grief to transform him into something monstrous, both violent and something monstrous, both violent and weakened; he’s lost weight, clothed himself in weakened; he’s lost weight, clothed himself in the skins of beasts, and looks barely human. the skins of beasts, and looks barely human.

His rage spills in every direction, and Siduri – the His rage spills in every direction, and Siduri – the barmaid and innkeeper by the sea, the first barmaid and innkeeper by the sea, the first mortal he encounters – shrinks from him as one mortal he encounters – shrinks from him as one shrinks from an inferno. shrinks from an inferno.

She hides behind a locked door, frightened of She hides behind a locked door, frightened of what Gilgamesh brings; when he comes inside, what Gilgamesh brings; when he comes inside, she rejects his claims and minimizes his grief she rejects his claims and minimizes his grief (just as, in Mason’s translation, Gilgamesh (just as, in Mason’s translation, Gilgamesh himself minimized Enkidu’s initial pain at himself minimized Enkidu’s initial pain at Humbaba’s gate). Humbaba’s gate).

Transformed Into Something MonstrousTransformed Into Something Monstrous

Closer to the BlazeCloser to the Blaze Many of us consider ourselves compassionate Many of us consider ourselves compassionate

people. people. If asked, most will say that we reach out to and If asked, most will say that we reach out to and

comfort those who suffer, those who endure comfort those who suffer, those who endure moments of weakness, those who need human moments of weakness, those who need human connection. connection.

And indeed, most people can point to specific And indeed, most people can point to specific incidents where they did, in fact, provide solace incidents where they did, in fact, provide solace and consolation to someone else. and consolation to someone else.

But our instinct is to retreat from fresh pain – not But our instinct is to retreat from fresh pain – not just our own misery, but from others as well – for just our own misery, but from others as well – for suffering and misery transfer much more easily suffering and misery transfer much more easily than joy. than joy.

We’re reluctant to make ourselves unnecessarily We’re reluctant to make ourselves unnecessarily unhappy, and it is a special person who willingly unhappy, and it is a special person who willingly walks closer to that blaze.walks closer to that blaze.

RehabilitationRehabilitation In this matter, Siduri is no different. In this matter, Siduri is no different. But she does eventually comfort him – the But she does eventually comfort him – the

first of two parallels the epic draws with first of two parallels the epic draws with the harlot’s encounter with Enkidu. the harlot’s encounter with Enkidu.

In an interesting reversal, Mason actually In an interesting reversal, Mason actually stresses this encounter, allowing for stresses this encounter, allowing for something approaching broken romancesomething approaching broken romance In the Mitchell translation, this stop is a mere In the Mitchell translation, this stop is a mere

bump in the road Gilgamesh travels. bump in the road Gilgamesh travels. Mason allows Siduri to rehabilitate him, or Mason allows Siduri to rehabilitate him, or

at least try to do so; she cares for his at least try to do so; she cares for his broken body while trying to reach his broken body while trying to reach his troubled soul. troubled soul.

You will never find the eternal life You will never find the eternal life That you seek. When the gods created mankind,That you seek. When the gods created mankind,They also created death, and they held backThey also created death, and they held backEternal life for themselves alone.Eternal life for themselves alone.Humans are born, they live, then they die,Humans are born, they live, then they die,This is the order that the gods have decreed.This is the order that the gods have decreed.But until the end comes, enjoy your life,But until the end comes, enjoy your life,Spend it in happiness, not despair.Spend it in happiness, not despair.Savor your food, make each of your daysSavor your food, make each of your daysA delight, bathe and anoint yourself,A delight, bathe and anoint yourself,Wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean,Wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean,Let music and dancing fill your house,Let music and dancing fill your house,Love the child who holds you by the hand,Love the child who holds you by the hand,And give your wife pleasure in your embrace.And give your wife pleasure in your embrace.That is the best way for a man to live.That is the best way for a man to live.

Impossibilities and PossibilitiesImpossibilities and Possibilities It’s good advice: don’t spend your time dreaming It’s good advice: don’t spend your time dreaming

of impossibilities when our possibilities are so of impossibilities when our possibilities are so beautiful. beautiful.

But by trying to make him think of something But by trying to make him think of something else – by trying to make him forget – Siduri else – by trying to make him forget – Siduri dooms her own efforts: her best intentions aren’t dooms her own efforts: her best intentions aren’t worth much, considering how grief-stricken worth much, considering how grief-stricken Gilgamesh remains. Gilgamesh remains.

He can only speak of standing by Enkidu for six He can only speak of standing by Enkidu for six days and seven nights, refusing to accept his days and seven nights, refusing to accept his friend’s departure until a maggot falls from the friend’s departure until a maggot falls from the fallen man’s decaying nose…fallen man’s decaying nose…

……in other words, not someone who’s ready to in other words, not someone who’s ready to agree that life can be beautiful even if it’s agree that life can be beautiful even if it’s temporary.temporary.

Too Self-AbsorbedToo Self-Absorbed Instead, Gilgamesh rejects her – just Instead, Gilgamesh rejects her – just

as she counsels him not to do – and as she counsels him not to do – and treats her compassion as a burden to treats her compassion as a burden to be thrown off. be thrown off.

Siduri angrily tells him to seek Siduri angrily tells him to seek Urshanabi, who can show him the Urshanabi, who can show him the way across the water – but also tells way across the water – but also tells him that he will fail, because he’s him that he will fail, because he’s too absorbed in himself to be wise too absorbed in himself to be wise enough to make it.enough to make it.

For What? For Whom?For What? For Whom? He screams, “I am not blind with He screams, “I am not blind with

self-love, but with loss!”self-love, but with loss!” And as he makes his way toward the And as he makes his way toward the

Waters of Death, we wonder again Waters of Death, we wonder again for whom, and for what, we mourn for whom, and for what, we mourn when we grieve. when we grieve.