Immortality Essay, Research Paper

Immortality – (a) the quality or state of being immortal. (b) never ending existence.

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.