Gilgamesh was not born
to two parents as people are. Instead, he was created by the gods, and his different parts were
created differently. Therefore, he does not need to be divided into halves as a mortal with two
parents would be. His body seems divine in nature, as he is described as "beautiful,"
but his mind seems human in nature.
He struggles with many of the trials of
being human, including becoming an ethical human being. At the beginning of the epic, he is
rather unethical, as he beds brides on their wedding night and challenges men to feats of
strength. Throughout the epic, he becomes more ethical after watching his friend, Enkidu, die.
Gilgamesh also goes on a fruitless quest for immortality and realizes that his commitment to
being a good leader is the way to make his name live on in posterity. These quests are those of
a human, not a god, showing that Gilgamesh's mind is human in nature.
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