Gilgamesh was a man of different entities, a man who cannot be described with a single word. Indeed, he can be described by many; he was a man, a king and a hero. Gilgamesh's different identities led him to live a conflicted life in search of who he truly was. A man: Gilgamesh was a mortal man. A normal man who was strong, courageous and almost unstoppable, but nevertheless he was a man. He had the desires of a man, he desired women, he arrogantly demonstrated his strength and as a man he allowed his heart to break. Gilgamesh used his strength, his knowledge, and his being to prove to all of Uruk that he was the best. Throughout Uruk it was declared that “[Gilgamesh's] arrogance had[d] no limits by day or night. No son remains with his father; for Gilgamesh takes them all…His lust leaves no virgin for his lover” (Norton pg. 13). Gilgamesh's arrogance led the people of Uruk to beg the gods to send a counterpart to Gilgamesh, someone who would defeat Gilgamesh the Unbeaten. The reader quickly learns that Gilgamesh is not defeated but instead gains a new companion and a new helper, Enkidu. His new partner quickly emerged into a brotherly love that knew no bounds. They showed affection towards each other and held hands while they slept. They had great adventures together and tried to prove to the world that together they were the best. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attempt to achieve courage and immortality by defeating the toughest of the tough. They decide that they will kill and defeat Humbaba. Gilgamesh was convinced that “the performance of great deeds of valor… is the highest achievement of life and that which serves as the basis for lasting fame, and fame in the form of stories of… middle of the paper. ..... Gilgamesh begins to die. Upon his death the people of Uruk honored him and mourned the passing of their great leader. But even today people mourn and honor Gilgamesh. Upon his death Gilgamesh still managed to achieve immortality. Thousands of years after the writings of this story, people today remember the journey of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Just as he originally intended, future generations learn such courageous friendship has no boundaries. Gilgamesh was a man, a king, and a hero who lived yesterday, lives today, and will live tomorrow. Works Cited Abusch, Tzvi. "The Development and Meaning of the Epic of Gilgamesh: An Interpretative Essay." 2001.Keenan, James. G. Gilgamesh: An appreciation. Wauconda, Illinois: Bolchazy-Carducci Editori, 1997. Norton. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. vol. A. New York, London: WW Norton Company, 2002.