Gilgamesh: Out of the Dark and into the Light

Gilgamesh: Out of the Dark and into the Light Without light, we wouldn’t know dark. Without cold, we couldn’t know hot. These “systematic dualisms of associated polarities” (Honderich 734), or binary oppositions, are used to illustrate meaning in the story of Gilgamesh. The story of this epic hero, Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, is one of conflict between wild and civilized, immortality and mortality, love and hate. These are all binary oppositions, which give …

…of human nature, that he comes to realize himself. Similarly, we go through this journey with him, following his transformation unto himself. We recognize these differences and the relationships between them within ourselves, which leads us to draw our conclusions of the story. In understanding the parallels and dualisms of associated human polarities that are so eloquently, yet simply illustrated in Gilgamesh, we come to understand the story. Indeed, we also come to understand ourselves.