The Hero-Enkidu is the hero because he does the right thing
for proper reasons. In the beginning, he was very helpful to his
animal friends by protecting them from the traps the hunters set. Once
he became civilized, he was very good friends with Gilgamesh and was
giving a charm and asked by Ninsun to protect Gilgamesh. He risked
his very own life when he knew it was pretty much going to be death
ahead for himself all in order to help his companion.
The Antihero-Gilgamesh was the anithero because he did the
wrong things for a different reason. He started out by being a great
and powerful king. As king, he thought he could do anything and had
sex with the virgins before they got married. He also wanted to go
and defeat Humbaba but not for the reason of defeating a force against
good but for himself to feel the praise of killing Humbaba not taking
his companion into much consideration.
The Wise Fool-The Wise Fool is Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim
serves as this figure because he is the one with survived the flood of
Ea. Gilgamesh was horrified when Enkidu died and wanted to find a way
to bring him back to life. He went on a mission to find Utnapishtim
and the secret to eternal life. He found his way across the sea of
death. When he got across he found him. At first he wouldnt tell him
but then right before he left, he told him about a plant with thorns
that is found in the water that gives eternal life. He got the plant
and left it alone while he took a swim and it ended up getting stolen
by a serpent. G. then gave up and returned to Uruk.
The Devil Figure-The devil figure is Humbaba. He lives in a
forrest in which everyone is afraid of. Gilgamesh and Enkidu go and
try to defeat him. At the entrance gate is where Enkidu paralized his
hand. Gilgamesh slashed Humbaba in the back of the neck with an axe
to kill him.
The Outcast-Enkidu is the Outcast. He fits this discription
because in the beginning of the story, he was not a man. He was not
considered human and roamed with the animals. He just wondered place
to place alone until the prostitute came along.
The Double-Gilgamesh is the Double because he used to be evil
while he was king before he met Enkidu and once he met Enkidu, he was
changed into a better man.
The Scapegoat-Enkidu is also the scapegoat. He wears the
charm from Ninsun with pride and stands up in front of Humbaba and
gets his own life taken for his companions.
The Temptress- The temptresses are the prostitutes. Ishtar
is a temptress because she is almost trying to threaten Gilgamesh when
she asks him to marry her and he denies it. She then tells her father
to send the Bull of Heaven down upon him as his pusishment. Siduri
also serves as a temptress because Gilgamesh slept with her while he
was on his mission to find Utnapishtim.
The Good Mother (Earth Mother)-Ninsun is the good mother
because Gilgamesh talks to her about his dreams that he has and she
gives him knowledge that is very useful about his dreams.