Although that is
the Webster definition of immortality, what is never-ending existence?
That question has
a different answer for everyone. Some
people believe that never-ending
existence happens
by never physically dying, and others believe that immortality can be
obtained through
your children. I personally feel that
your children cannot give you
immortality
nowadays because of all the influences outside of the home. What I mean by
this is that
children are not striving to be "chips of the old blocks"
anymore. They spend
more time with
their friends, or watching, TV, or listening to music, not following their
parents
around. To become immortal, you must
either live forever, which is not very
likely, or do
something that is historically noteworthy like George Washington, or Abe
Lincoln.
Gilgamesh is an epic story about our hero
Gilgamesh, and for a short time, his
friend
Enkidu. In the beginning Enkidu is one
which animals; Later, however, he and
Gilgamesh fight
and become close friends. Together, they
fought wars, and ruled the city.
Eventually, the
goddess of war asked Gilgamesh to marry her but he refused, making her
very angry. She retaliates by sending the bull of heaven
down to attack Gilgamesh and
Enkidu. In the battle, they killed the bull, but
Enkidu injured his hand; he eventually died
from his
wound. After Enkidu died, Gilgamesh went
on a quest for immortality.
Gilgamesh was trying to find immortality for
both Enkidu and Himself. After
gilgamesh got the
"immortality" plant and scratched himself with it he was bathing and
a
snake ate the
plant. As soon as that happened
Gilgamesh started to cry. Since he had
already used the
plant on himself, it was evident that he still wanted the plant for Enkidu.
Another example
occurred during Gilgameshes conversation with the boatman. The
boatman asked
Gilgamesh to discuss his story about Enkidu.
Gilgamesh said "Don't ask
me to retell my
pain, I only want to bring him back to life."
Gilgamesh never received the immortality he was
searching for, but he got
immortality of a
different kind. When he returned to his
people he ruled differently,
kindly. Because he changed his evil ways of ruling,
he will be lived on through the fond
memories his
subjects will have of him.
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