Gilgamesh Tablet IX-X

Out of what we have read so far, I had not found anything philosophical in these pages. These last tablets stood out however. After thinking about what I had read for a while, I realized that the entire lesson the man gives to Gilgamesh on life and death is actually very accurate. The man explains this matter so beautifully to Gilgamesh it even seems poetic. Another detail I noticed from these tablets was how death is perceived by the people Gilgamesh encounters and even himself. Gilgamesh is now on a quest, no longer for glory but for eternity, for he fears he might share Enkidu's fate. The woman at the tavern basically shuts Gilgamesh down and I assume this was because she didn't want to let death into her establishment. In this case, the woman is avoiding the subject almost as if she was scared that death would be contagious. Next, Urshanabi who is not as scared of death, goes with Gilgamesh and makes the perilous journey with him. Finally, the last person Gilgamesh meets is the wisest from my point of view. This old boatman is at peace with himself and with death, he gives Gilgamesh advice and reminds him that "The day of death is set, though not made known."(64) I found this sentence the most revealing and truthful yet. The importance of this sentence is not how it impacts Gilgamesh, but the fact is, this is something that troubles all human beings. Some want to live longer, others less, while others don't even know what to make of themselves. I find this the most honest sentence anyone can ever tell somebody else. Everyone is, at some point, scared of death, but if that person is told this, it's like if you can be at peace with yourself and your surroundings. Going back to Gilgamesh: he has never been told this and I just wonder what he will say or do about this; not being able to stop death.