Gender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay - 1141 Words

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story of Gilgamesh, a man who was two-thirds god that was saved by companionship. Gilgamesh was a cruel and careless king, who spent his time raping women, exhausting citizens, and conquering foes and foreign lands until he met, fought and was guided by his great friend and soul mate, Enkidu. With the help of Enkidu and his influence, he learned compassion as well as wisdom and integrity, and eventually Gilgamesh became a great and fair king. Though the story focuses mainly on Gilgamesh and his friendship with Enkidu, there are several roles played by women that help to make and move the story along. Without these important women who show great strength and feminine qualities despite being oppressed by the†¦show more content†¦The others acknowledge Aruru for her great powers and responsibility, and then simply command her to perform a task. â€Å"You, Aruru, created the boundless human race, now create what Anu commanded† (The Epic of Gilga mesh 101). She is expected to, and never asked to; create life on command, just to make others happy, as if it were her only purpose. This could be a parallel to how men view women: solely as baby makers. Regardless, Aruru does as she is told and creates Enkidu from clay. It is implied that women are only good at a certain job, making it seem as if their ability to procreate is all that matters. This kind of belief also shows that women were mostly seen as sex machines for men, for their use and convenience. Women were viewed as replaceable; their jobs were to be mothers, wives, or harlots. Women were controlled, and those who were unable to be controlled were deemed as dangerous. Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, women treated the men like gods. When Shamhat was sent to seduce and recover Enkidu, she did so without any struggle or fight. After she had successfully turned him from his animal ways by spending six days and seven nights laying with him, she praised him. â€Å"You are so handsome, Enkidu, you are become like a god† (The Epic of Gilgamesh 107), She then uses her own clothing to dress him before leading him to food and shelter. Because she saw him as a god, she sacrifices her own clothing to clotheShow MoreRelatedGender Roles in The Epic of Gilgamesh688 Words   |  3 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh: Gender roles The Epic of Gilgamesh chronicles the life of the great warrior and hero Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is not great hero because he is moral. In fact he is feared because a goddess made him, strong as a savage bull, none can withstand his arms (1). This phrase underlines the terrible power of femininity, in the view of the Mesopotamian culture that produced the text. On one hand, the female principle is responsible for creation. On the other hand, the female principleRead MoreGender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay679 Words   |  3 PagesGender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh In the Epic of Gilgamesh, gender plays a very significant role. While women were not the most powerful gods nor the strongest or wisest of humans, they still had tremendous influence. Though the main characters of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, are male, women did not play a necessarily minor role. With all the women that play a role in the Epic of Gilgamesh, gender is a topic worthy of discussion. The obvious role of men in the Epic of GilgameshRead MoreGender Roles During The Epic Of Gilgamesh An Epic Poem 939 Words   |  4 PagesApril 4, 2017 Gender Roles In Gilgamesh, an epic poem, gender roles play a large role in the plot line. Even female goddesses had some key roles through this ancient epic. They might not have necessarily had the same strengths and duties to their male counterparts, but their roles were substantial. Even though the main characters in this epic, Enkidu and Gilgamesh, are male, women still had major roles in their tale. In the story of Ruth, Naomi and her mother-in-law defy gender roles and workRead MoreGender Inequality In Gilgamesh Essay1339 Words   |  6 Pageshistory, there has always been a gender inequality separating the roles and power of men from women. Most societies were patriarchal, emphasizing male dominance in society and directing women towards a more idle role so that they were more ornamental than influential. Through this gender division, women would take on the less powerful role as a nurturing mother, or caring wife over and over again in several ancient societies up to modern day societies . In Gilgamesh, male characters are emphasizedRead MoreRelationship Between Ninsun And The Loving Mother Of Gilgamesh1329 Words   |  6 Pagesmother of Gilgamesh, although conforming to a stereotypical nurturing mother, she creates a sense of wisdom, both as a goddess and as a mother, using this wisdom to guide Gilgamesh towards his quest. Ninsun demonstrates her influence on the epic through her wisdom as she interprets Gilgamesh’s dream â€Å"Soon you will meet him, the companion of your heart. Your dream has said so† (Mitchell 84). As Ninsun reveals what Gilgamesh’s dream mean, she paves a path for the friendship between Gilgamesh and EnkiduRead MoreEast Vs. West Literature Essay931 Words   |  4 Pagesdeals with epics such as The Ramayana and Confucius. While Western Literature typically are epics like Beowulf, The Odyssey, and similar characteristics are also in Gilgamesh.   These types of literatures are so rich in their text and have so many differe nt beliefs.   The Eastern and Western Literature compares throughout topics like gender roles, the influence of family, and afterlife beliefs. A stereotype or a set of normal that one does and is appropriate for their sexuality, gender roles. ComparingRead MoreRoles Of Gilegosh And The Power Of Women In Gilgamesh1440 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough women seem to play a less apparent role, women are essential for both the continuation of life and the nurturing of the future, signifying that the power of women is very potent. The women of Gilgamesh are goddesses, priestesses and a variety of other roles, each with their own set of skills, guide Gilgamesh throughout the epic. Despite the perception of some scholars that the women of Gilgamesh appear inferior, the women have diverse and influential roles throughout the story, challenging theRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh1193 Words   |  5 Pagesinfluences individuals. Women are perceived as sexual objects, but have the ability to persuade and influence the male character in literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the significance ancient Mesopotamian Literature has made on the social image that women possess pertaining to sexuality and appearances to the public eye in modern culture. In Gilgamesh, the harlot Shamhat held a reputation proving that women are only represented in one way. To support this argument, many aspects such as definingRead MoreAnalysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Epic of Gilgamesh The epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest primary document discovered in human history dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C.E. This document tells a story of an ancient King Gilgamesh, ruler of Sumer in 2,700 B.C.E. who is created gloriously by gods as one third man and two third god. In this epic, Gilgamesh begins his kingship as an audacious and immature ruler. Exhausted from complaints, the gods send a wild man named Enkidu to become civilized and assist Gilgamesh to matureRead MoreAthanasia: Human Impermanence and the Journey for Eternal Life in the Epic of Gilgamesh1740 Words   |  7 PagesAthanasia: Human Impermanence and the Journey for Eternal Life in the Epic of Gilgamesh â€Å"Will you too die as Enkidu did? Will grief become your food? Will we both fear the lonely hills, so vacant? I now race from place to place, dissatisfied with whereever I am and turn my step toward Utnapishtim, godchild of Ubaratutu† (Jackson â€Å"Gilgamesh Tablet IX† 4-9) Gilgamesh so much feared death that he threw away his honor as a warrior in order to obtain immortality. For centuries there have existed individuals

The A Defense Of Abortion - 1294 Words

In this paper, I will argue that Thomson is right to claim that, even if a fetus is a person, abortion is still permissible, regardless of the fetus’ right to life. I will focus on Thomson’s 3 main analogies – the violinist, the people seeds, and the chocolate – and the arguments against them. In Thomson’s â€Å"A Defense of Abortion,† she uses several analogies to demonstrate that abortion, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the conception, is universally morally permissible. At the beginning of the essay, Thomson states clearly that she is arguing under the assumption that the fetus is considered a person. The first analogy that Thomson employs is the violinist. The basis of the thought experiment is that the Society of Music Lovers kidnaps you and hooks you up to a famous and deeply talented violinist who needs to use your kidneys for the next 9 months in order to live. She revisits this analogy several times throughout the essay to demonstrate various scenarios in which one can see the comparability to abortion clearly. In the first instance, she is arguing that a person’s right to life does not justify deciding what happens to your body without your consent. Later on, she reuses the thought experiment with a slight change in that if you continue to let the violinist use your kidneys, you will die within a month; however they cannot release you as it would definitely kill the violinist and that would be considered murder. With this change, Thomson is showing theShow MoreRelatedA Defense of Abortion Essay784 Words   |  4 PagesA Defense of Abortion In her argument on abortion, Judith Thomson discusses some major points about abortion. She deals with extreme cases and those extreme cases help us to realize a single perspective of abortion. For example, she talks about the violinist attached to you. In that example, you keep everything constant and focus on a single point, violinist being dead if you unattached him. This way of thinking would provide partial answers. That is, in real lifeRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion Summary1476 Words   |  6 PagesIn Thompson’s â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† she tries to answer the question: â€Å"Is voluntary abortion ever permissible?† Throughout the paper, she uses a variety of thought experiments in order to parallel pregnancy due to rape, accidental pregnancy, and pregnancy that threatens a mother’s life, among many other situations. Using these examples, she illustrates her main point: that unless a fetus has a right to demand it, the mother is not morally required to make large sacrifices to keep the fetus aliveRead MoreThe Defense Of Abortion And Virtue Theory And Abortion Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion is the main topic talked about in both The Defense of Abortion and Virtue Theory and Abortion. While the two may have similarities, they are also quite different. While one story talks about how abortion is bad and makes you look at it thr ough different examples of things, the other describes how a righteous person sees it. In A Defense of Abortion, Thomson states at the very beginning â€Å"it is concluded that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception† (Thomson 449). She then goesRead MoreEssay on Thomson Defense of Abortion878 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosophy 1001-001 A Defense of Abortion in Pregnancy Reduction In this paper I will discuss the relevance of J.J. Thomson’s argument in her article, A Defense of Abortion, to that of pregnancy reduction and if there is any relevance, if there are exceptions or situations where that might change. J.J. Thomson’s argument in A Defense of Abortion is that the one thing a person has rights to is his/her body and the right to control what happens with it. Thomson also states that there is an innateRead MoreOn Thomson s A Defense Of Abortion Essay1278 Words   |  6 PagesOn Thomson’s â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† Abortion is the intentional and deliberate termination of a human pregnancy that results in the death of a fetus. It is a practice that has sparked many debates centering around arguments over women’s right and fetal rights. Judith Jarvis Thomson’s essay, â€Å"A Defense of Abortion,† argues that a fetus’s right to life does not always override a women’s right over her own body and thus abortion is not morally impermissible. By using thought experiments, ThomsonRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson1678 Words   |  7 PagesWhat takes precedence; an unborn fetus’ life or its mother’s right to her body? Anti-abortionist argue that the life of an unborn fetus has priority, and thus abortion is morally impermissible as it violates the fetus’ right to life. In her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†, Judith Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible under the certain conditions where the rights of the fe tus fail to surpass a mother’s right of choice. For the sake of her argument, Thomson allows the assumption thatRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson965 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosopher Judith Thomson, in her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion,† presents a hypothetical case of a famous violinist who has a health condition that can only be healed by getting â€Å"connected† to someone compatible and use his kidneys for 9 months to clean his contaminated blood. A compatible person is then kidnapped, rendered unconscious, and connected without permission to the dying violinist. When the victim wakes up, he gets an explanation and is presented with two options: he stays connectedRead MoreEssay on In Defense Of Abortion1638 Words   |  7 PagesWithout legal prohibitions, women in Europe and the United States provided abortions and trained each other to perform the procedures. In the past century different states had begun to outlaw any procedure that would terminate or avoid pregnancy. In 1973(?) the United States Supreme Court asserted a womans constitutional right to abortion in determining Roe v. Wade. After several decades of quiet disagreement, abortion has once again become a political hotbed. Under the direction of religiousRead More`` A Defense Of Abortion `` By Judith Jarvis Essay1552 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: Is it immoral to have an abortion? Abortion is the process of stopping a pregnancy through the removal or killing of the fetus. Dan Marquis is adamant that abortion is wrong and that the fetus is a full human being that deserves to live while, Judith Jarvis Thomson would say that should the mother decide to terminate her pregnancy it is her body and her right. However, what if there was a third side to this already complicated issue? I argue that abortion itself is amoral and that circumstancesRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson1468 Words   |  6 PagesThank you! Ziyun Wang In A Defense of Abortion, Judith Thomson’s statement against abortion constructs on her agreement that fetus is a human being, for the sake of argument, therefore has the right to life. She shows that the basic argument against abortion is inadequate. The basic argument of abortion goes: the first premise is that every person has right to life; the second premise is that the fetus is a human being; the conclusion is that the abortion is impermissible. Thomson found this

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay Sample free essay sample

â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† written by an Unknown writer is genuinely a narrative of a hero on an heroic poem journey in order to happen himself. When Sir Gawain is foremost introduced you view him as an undistinguished portion of King Arthur. and his knight’s of the unit of ammunition tabular array. Sir Gawain is gallant and a genuinely great character who is concerned about protecting. and advancing his award as a knight. Therefor he sought out the journey in the first topographic point to turn out himself worthy of being one of the knight’s of the unit of ammunition tabular array. and as the narrative goes along you find him to be a well-bred knight. However. because he is ashamed he took the girdle from Bertilak’s married woman. he suppresses the information from the host. This skip of the truth violates the regulations of the game the two work forces established. and agreed upon ; which tarnishes Sir Gawain’s character somewhat in the eyes of the reader. The narrative of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is non merely a narrative of an heroic poem hero out to detect himself as a adult male. but a true life lesson about how honestness is ever is the best pick in the terminal. â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† is a good illustration of bildungsroman or â€Å"coming of age† . You see this as he goes through certain stairss in his journey to happen the Green Knight. His first trial is when he steps up to play the game with the Green Knight because he sees himself as the â€Å"inferior knight† in comparing to all the remainder of the knights. â€Å"I am the weakest. I know. and the dullest-minded. So my decease would be the least loss. if truth should be told ; Merely because you are my uncle I am to be praised. No virtuousness I know in myself. but your blood† ( 354-357 ) . So here he’s fundamentally stating King Arthur that his decease in the terminal would be the least loss to him. but there’s implicit in significance here because he truly took the mission to turn out himself. Or possibly it was because he wanted to salvage King Arthur and his knights from taking the mission upon themselves that’s what you’ll neer know because everything in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight truly has a dual entendre feeling to it. The following brush he has is with the host of the palace he’s remaining at. and this truly tests his knightly codifications and courtly love. Alanen states that. â€Å"The codification of knightly courtesy seems to be the most of import and extremely honored set of regulations. Gawain demonstrates all three sets: knightly behavior as he accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. courtly love as he avoids lusting after the married woman of his host. and Christian virtuousness in his dress† . Gawain suffers in the palace with the host’s married woman because he knows non whether to follow his award as a knight. or his pledge to courtly love simply a conflict between adult male versus ego. â€Å"So good a knight every bit Gawain as justly reputed. in whom courtesy is so wholly embodied ; could non easy have spent so much clip with a lady Without imploring a buss. to follow with niceness. by some intimation or suggestion at the terminal of a remark† ( 1296-1301 ) . He refuses the married woman several times as she tries to acquire him to undermine in by appealing to his courtly loves values in the terminal though he doesn’t sleep with her. But. the married woman did offer him a green girdle that she claimed to be â€Å"magical† and Gawain kept it in fright of how he would shortly hold to confront the Green Knight. Since he didn’t give the host his side of the trade that dark it brings your eyes down upon Gawain’s character. â€Å"The feeling of security Gawain has gained from accepting the girdle of immortality does non nevertheless. discourage his demand to squeal his wickednesss before heading out to confront a challenge that should truly and logically take his life† ( Alanen ) . This merely goes to demo how Sir Gawain has a moral witting and he feels incorrect for what he did hence he additions some understanding in a sense. After his confession to the priest you see Sir Gawain has changed from the beginning of the verse form and has emerged a spot into a adult male. When he eventually completes his â€Å"bildungsroman† is at the very terminal of the verse form when the Green Knight reveals himself to Sir Gawain as the Green Knight and Gawain confesses that he withheld the girdle from him â€Å"See. my Godhead. said the adult male. and held up the girdle. This belt caused the cicatrix that I bear on my cervix ; this is the hurt and harm that I have suffered For the cowardliness and cov etousness that seized me there ; This is the item of the dishonesty I was caught perpetrating. And now I must have on it every bit long as I live. For a adult male may conceal his misbehavior. but neer erase it. For where one time it takes root the discoloration can neer be lifted† ( 2505 – 2512 ) . The quotation mark shows how Sir Gawain’s character has come full circle from a knight looking for a small celebrity to a knight who grew up and cognize his values as a knight and respected them. Sir Gawain whole journey truly goes to demo what one small prevarication can take you through. Although Gawain learned a pretty large life long lesson that honestness will ever be the best policy in the terminal because the truth sets people free. and that’s what this whole verse form was constructed about. In malice of the fact that Gawain lied in the terminal his Christian virtuousness still shines through which is why the Green Knight showed sympathy towards him. and all the knights of the unit of ammunition tabular array wore green girdles to honour him. They saw how brave he truly was even though he didn†™t think so. That right there is how Sir Gawain earned his regard as a knight. and it was through him finishing his â€Å"coming of age† as a knight. and that’s what makes his celebrity all the better. Plants Cited Alanen. Miriam. â€Å"The Purposes of Gawain: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight through the lens of Peter Abeelard’s Theory of Intention. † 12 Dec 2012 Web. Winny. James. â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Translation† Broadview Editions. Publication: 1 Jan 1992. Print.