Comparing Heroes

Many of the stories about heroes are quite similar no matter what culture they may be from. A person may think of a hero as a person with super-human strengths or the ability to fly, and others may consider a peaceful man with the ability to hold his tongue in conflict, as a more wise and powerful hero. Most authors or creators of stories seem to incorporate a message and lesson within the material to show a piece of themselves and a value they see as important to them. Simply stated, two stories that may seem completely different in journey, may have more similarities in meaning and virtue. This comparison will be drawn between the books of Gilgamesh and The Ramayana.

The story of the Ramayana begins in India and strong roots in the belief of dharma. Dharma is the principle or law that rules the universe. It is also ones obligation, with respect to caste, to do the right thing. The ideal of karma derives from dharma. There is an evil king named Ravana, who rules the Raksasas who are demons who set out to threaten the morals and ideals of dharma. They are like the bad conscience of those who try to follow the practices of dharma. The gods try to persuade Vishnu, the head god, to destroy Ravana and his evil ways. Ravana however has an immunity to the gods and those who use super-human strengths, thus leaving the gods helpless against Ravana.

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So Vishnu incarnates himself as the son of Dasaratha, and is born in human form as Rama. Rama is one of many sons and is the eldest. He is destined to be king. He and his brother Laksmana then go on a journey and end up in the city of Mithilia. In Mithilia Rama meets the beautiful Sita. Sita was the goddess of the earth and was not born naturally to the King Janaka, the people saw her as a blessed child. Sita is desired by many suitors and in order to win her, one must string a giant bow. None of the other suitors had the strength to string the bow, but not only did Rama string the bow, he broke it into two pieces. To the dismay of the other suitors, Sita chose to marry Rama.

Rama’s father then decides it is time to give up his throne and tells Rama that he is to be consecrated as king. Dasaratha then is told by his lesser wife that she wants him to give her the two wishes he had promised her, she wished for Rama to be banished and her son Bharata to be established as king. He disdainfully grants her wish. Sita and Laksmana beg Rama to join him, and he allows them to do so. He is banished to the wilderness where Rama shoos off the Raksasa and this angers Ravana. Bharata then came to the forest to ask Rama to return. Rama would not disobey his father, so his brother placed his sandals at the foot of the throne as he ruled as a sign of his brother as true king. Later Ravana, still furious and with an eye for pretty women, then sets out a golden cow and Sita sees it and wants it. She sends out Rama with Laksmana to retrieve it. She then steps outside a protective line and is captured by Ravana. Rama helps a Monkey king and in return the monkey helps him save Sita. Rama can kill the might Ravana because he is in human form and not a god. Ravana had no protection against mortals, only immortals.

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After Rama saves Sita and returns home after his fourteen years of banishment, the people cry out that Sita may have been unfaithful while she was held captive. Rama

in respect for the people sends Sita away. Sita then gives birth to two twin sons and when Rama hears of them and their praise of him he asks them to return home. Rama is a true hero in the sense that he follows all the aspects of what a good person should do if they are trying to follow the ways of dharma. This is a different type of hero than most of us are used to. He may be god in mortal body, but because he had the strength of a man and the morals to stay pure he is seen as more of a hero.

Gilgamesh is the story of the King of Uruk who has an urge to sleep with ladies before they become married on their wedding night. The people look down on this and are not happy with Gilgamesh for it. They see him as a tyrant. Enkidu, who was created by the gods, is a half man, half animal who protects and lives with the animals. He then sleeps with a temple priestess and the animals no longer see him as one of them, he is civilized. Enkidu then goes and challenges Gilgamesh due to his love for the womanly company. Gilgamesh and Enkidu become friends, as Gilgamesh was told of Enkidu through a dream, and have a mutual respect for one another. They journey together and their friendship grows stronger as they realize they are the companion each one has needed. They venture to the Forest of Cedars where they slay Humbaba. Humbaba curses them as he dies and the god Enil is enraged and curses the heroes and gives the seven splendors to others.