Literature is All about Human - Term Paper Example

Introduction Literature is an art form that depicts the soul of the artist. Basically, the meaning of literature varies according to how it is beingused or described by a person. It symbolizes many things and has something to do with the personality of the person who made it. A literature can be regarded as the masterpiece of its owner and can be part of the history for the recognition that it gains just like the known literary pieces today that are made by the famous writers. According to Bennet and Royle, “Literature is, above all, about the human, about what it means to be human, and therefore about the non-human, about what it might mean not to be human”. Indeed, no argument should be posted on this statement because literature is all about human and the also about non humans. Vague it may seem but inspirations of writing a masterpiece start from human and its maker. It could depict a symbolic way of interpreting one’s feelings for a person and to for what subject that the writer caters. A person composes a literary art where an expression of idea is the main goal. It is like an embellishment to what a person wants to say and put on a paper or other medium used for literature. Some describes literature as a part of life which gives direction in interpreting the different subjects in the world through the perceptions of the writer or author (Damrosch, 2007). Different kinds of literature are present in contemporary art which originated from the past. Discussion Literature is all about human. But, it is also about non-human. People may give meaning to literature through the forms of written masterpieces with regard to the literary fiction and merit as the medium to measure and define the lines between works of different writers. In connection with the Epic of Gilgamesh, a very good example of a literature which is an epic poem, the statement of Bennet and Royle will be more comprehensive (Mason, 2003). The Epic of Gilgamesh is known as a fiction which is believed to initiate in the Sumerian era. Primarily, the story of the epic is all about the relationship of Gilgamesh and a friend, Enkidu. Gilgamesh is described to be troubled and dispirited because of his rule while Enkidu is like the quest-partner of Gilgamesh. The main point is the search of Gilgamesh for immortality after the death of Enkidu. After becoming human, Gilgamesh started to seek for immortality because of undergoing a depressing stage for the loss of Enkidu (Damrosch, 2007). There have been a lot of versions for this literary and given different series for its edition. However, the customary translation of the epic was pioneered by Layard. It is depicted that Gilgamesh knows how to worship the gods and the reasons why human beings are mortals who are capable of dying (Damrosch, 2007). As a hero, he is known to have wisdom and know what qualities a good king should have, and how to live life to the fullest. Through a fight, Gilgamesh met Enkidu and decided to travel to the forest in order to cut trees and kill a demon as well. Originally, Enkidu is wild and is created to kill the abusive king, but has been tamed through sending a woman to him and it eventually changed his attitude (Satari, 2001). Through their journey to the forest, many things had happened that resulted to the bad dreams of the two especially Enkidu. He had dreamt of his fate wherein he died because of they killed Humbaba (Satari, 2001). The punishment will be given to Enkidu because of the acts that they have made on the forest. Upon knowing this, Gilgamesh started to seek for the ways that could save the life of Enkindu. He offered foods to the gods hoping that they will grant his wish to give Enkidu immortality (Jastrow, 1898). Gilgamesh reached Utnaphism, who is one of the two humans who have been given immortality by the gods and asked for help. However, he was rejected by Utnaphism because delaying the death of humans or contradicting the fate of humans is ineffective and shatters the essence of life (Mason, 2003). Utnaphism tried helping Gilgamesh through the tasks that he adviced Gilgamesh but he failed to make it. When he returned to Enkidu, he admitted that he had been unsuccessful of his journey in searching for a way that could make his friend immoral. Enkidu died though and it made Gilgamesh disheartened. But upon wishing to bring back his friend Enkidu, from underworld; all questions of Gilgamesh to Enkidu pertains to what his experiences were underworld and what he had seen. Various versions do not state clear ideas and uniform flow of story. There are some parts of the Gilgamesh flood myth matches the story of Noah’s ark and is said to be influenced by the myth of Alexander the Great. The search for the water of life made it similar and a conclusion of being unsuccessful of being an immortal (Damrosch, 2007). Relating the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh to the literature in a broader sense make it valid to say that literature is not only for humans. Actually, the journey of Gilgamesh talks about the mortals and the immortals which enlightens the readers to think of the life other than the real world. Literature has two forms; the fiction and non- fiction (Satari, 2001). Hence, it pertains to the unreal and real, non- human and human way of thinking and writing the ideas to express (Mitchell, 2004). Factual information about human are not the only focus of literature are not the only focus of literature but also the non- human. In connection with the Epic of Gilgamesh, it should be put on a highlight that the main plot caters to the immortality of the humans. Thus, the thoughts of the literary piece is into the other side and pertains to non- humans. The statement of Bennet and Royle is agreeable through the success of the stories or literary masterpieces centered to the non- humans such as fictional myths (Mason, 2003). It will be very effective to include non-human subjects in a fictional form of literature as it adds creativity to the art. The world is not owned by the mortals only but also by the immortals. It is believed that the world started through immortality and mortality is just the result of the Adam and Eve’s sin. Gilgamesh and other characters in the story played a very significant role in symbolizing how one perceives of being immortal converted to a mortal. It is somehow depicted that being mortal is dissented because of the death, unlike immortality which lives forever. Conclusion Literature should be regarded as part of everyone’s life and every day journey is a form of literature if expressed into words and add creativity onto it. Reminding that human is not the only essential theme of literature is a good point because non-human completes the totality of literature through the years. Ages have passed and most common known literatures are fiction and myths about gods and goddesses. Being unsuccessful for avoiding the fate of Enkidu to die, Gilgamesh has been disheartened. The non-human s has been unable to help Gilgamesh and this made him very depressed and frustrated (Mitchell, 2004). On the standard version though, it showed that the underworld let Enkidu to jump over the crack that was made in order for him to be back to the outside world. However, it was not clarified whether Enkidu was entitled for a new life or just appeared as a ghost (Mitchell, 2004). Consequently, thinking that literature for non- humans make up the creative writing of stories, novels and other forms of literature is a way of appreciating the works of other in general (Satari, 2001). Literature is an art and it lives in each and every one of us. Literature can be regarded as the soul of a person wherein in all ideas are put together in the form of words or perhaps orally. A wide imagination is required in order to come up with a masterpiece and consider all the elements that will make significance to all. Humans are the ones who create the masterpiece but it is made up of the non-humans as each character in the story completes the thought. Literature considers non- humans as well because it is the root of everything. Non- existence is also counted when talking about literature through its fictional form. References Damrosch, David (2007). The Buried Book: The Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh. United States of America: Henry Holt and Co.. pp. 315. Jastrow M.The religion of Babylonia and Assyria.GIN & COMPANY. Boston 1898 Mason, Herbert (2003). Gilgamesh: A Verse Narrative. Boston: Mariner Books. Mitchell, Stephen (2004). Gilgamesh: A New English Version. New York: Free Press. Sattari J. Astudy on the epic of Gilgamesh and the legend of Alexander. Markaz Publications 2001 Read More