The Tin Man Gets The Tin Man Gets His HeartHis HeartFeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

17 October 201117 October 2011

Gilgamesh and Utnapishtim stay by Gilgamesh and Utnapishtim stay by the shore for an undisclosed amount the shore for an undisclosed amount of time, talking and sitting by the of time, talking and sitting by the water. water.

When asked once more how he came When asked once more how he came to the land across the Sea of Death, to the land across the Sea of Death, Utnapishtim reveals that he, unlike Utnapishtim reveals that he, unlike Gilgamesh, did not come to that Gilgamesh, did not come to that place or find the life he and his wife place or find the life he and his wife lead by his own volition. lead by his own volition.

He, like Gilgamesh, is a survivor. He, like Gilgamesh, is a survivor.

SurvivorsSurvivors

The Doomed CityThe Doomed City We learn of Shurrupak, an ancient city on We learn of Shurrupak, an ancient city on

a different part of the Euphrates. a different part of the Euphrates. This was Utnapishtim’s home; in some This was Utnapishtim’s home; in some

translations, he was its king. translations, he was its king. But the gods and goddesses – everyone in But the gods and goddesses – everyone in

the hierarchy, including “Anu, their aging the hierarchy, including “Anu, their aging and weak-minded father; the military and weak-minded father; the military Enlil, his adviser; Ishtar, the sensation-Enlil, his adviser; Ishtar, the sensation-craving one…and all the rest” – devise a craving one…and all the rest” – devise a plan to flood the city. plan to flood the city.

The reasons why they reach this decision The reasons why they reach this decision aren’t clear, but their intentions are: the aren’t clear, but their intentions are: the gods aim to wipe out all human life in the gods aim to wipe out all human life in the city. city.

The means by which Utnapishtim learns of the plan The means by which Utnapishtim learns of the plan vary from translation to translation. vary from translation to translation.

Each method, however, concerns a god named Ea, a Each method, however, concerns a god named Ea, a clever divinity previously unseen in the epic. clever divinity previously unseen in the epic.

In most translations, Ea comes to Utnapishtim and In most translations, Ea comes to Utnapishtim and warns him of the impending cataclysm. warns him of the impending cataclysm.

The god instructs him to tear down the walls of his The god instructs him to tear down the walls of his house (remember, we start in a walled city) in house (remember, we start in a walled city) in order to construct a ship, an ark of sorts. order to construct a ship, an ark of sorts.

Utnapishtim is to “abandon [his] possessions and Utnapishtim is to “abandon [his] possessions and the works that [he] find[s] beautiful and crave[s in the works that [he] find[s] beautiful and crave[s in order to] save [his] life instead.” order to] save [his] life instead.”

Afterwards, Ea tells him to blame the coming rains Afterwards, Ea tells him to blame the coming rains on Enlil’s displeasure with him, and that he must on Enlil’s displeasure with him, and that he must leave the city because the god will bar him from it – leave the city because the god will bar him from it – indeed, that he must leave the earth and travel to indeed, that he must leave the earth and travel to the Great Deep (the Waters of Death), where Ea the Great Deep (the Waters of Death), where Ea (the only god who can tolerate his presence) (the only god who can tolerate his presence) resides. resides.

A Clever God Sends WordA Clever God Sends Word

So Utnapishtim builds his great, cubical ship, So Utnapishtim builds his great, cubical ship, packs it to the gills with the things he can save – packs it to the gills with the things he can save – animals, provisions, a couple of volunteers, his animals, provisions, a couple of volunteers, his family – and closes the door as the water falls family – and closes the door as the water falls from the sky. from the sky.

In the Mitchell translation, the ship must be In the Mitchell translation, the ship must be sealed from the outside, which means one of the sealed from the outside, which means one of the volunteers (not the citizens who didn’t heed volunteers (not the citizens who didn’t heed Utnapishtim’s warnings) must stay behind.Utnapishtim’s warnings) must stay behind.

Utnapishtim leaves him his palace (since his Utnapishtim leaves him his palace (since his home is now an ark) and everything left inside, home is now an ark) and everything left inside, which seems like cold comfort until one realizes which seems like cold comfort until one realizes that we spend our time accumulating that we spend our time accumulating possessions when we live our lives in just as possessions when we live our lives in just as doomed a state. doomed a state.

Sealed Through SacrificeSealed Through Sacrifice

The rains fall for six days and seven nights: The rains fall for six days and seven nights: observant readers will note this is the same observant readers will note this is the same amount of time Enkidu spends with Shamhat, and amount of time Enkidu spends with Shamhat, and the same amount of time Gilgamesh spends the same amount of time Gilgamesh spends standing over Enkidu’s corpse. standing over Enkidu’s corpse.

Even the gods ultimately recoil in the face of the Even the gods ultimately recoil in the face of the utter destruction they’ve shown, for what are utter destruction they’ve shown, for what are (and again this must be stressed) unknown, (and again this must be stressed) unknown, seemingly arbitrary reasons. seemingly arbitrary reasons.

Ishtar even weeps and wails: “O, how could I Ishtar even weeps and wails: “O, how could I have wanted to do this to my people?” have wanted to do this to my people?”

Utnapishtim bitterly continues, “They were Utnapishtim bitterly continues, “They were hers,hers, notice. Even her sorrow was possessive – her notice. Even her sorrow was possessive – her spawn that she had killed too soon. Old gods are spawn that she had killed too soon. Old gods are terrible to look at when they weep, all bloated terrible to look at when they weep, all bloated like spoiled fish. One wonders if they ever like spoiled fish. One wonders if they ever understand that they have caused their grief.” understand that they have caused their grief.”

One Wonders If They Ever Understand…One Wonders If They Ever Understand…

Here, once more, we see a great cynicism Here, once more, we see a great cynicism expressed towards the gods’ machinations.expressed towards the gods’ machinations.

Their cruelty seems random (Mitchell’s Their cruelty seems random (Mitchell’s translation posits that Enlil sent the flood to translation posits that Enlil sent the flood to annihilate mankind for the sins of some – adding annihilate mankind for the sins of some – adding an interesting dimension to Shamash’s war on an interesting dimension to Shamash’s war on Enlil’s “sinful” slave of a forest guardian), and Enlil’s “sinful” slave of a forest guardian), and their tears in the flood’s aftermath hypocritical. their tears in the flood’s aftermath hypocritical.

Yet Utnapishtim complies because he must; to do Yet Utnapishtim complies because he must; to do otherwise is to court annihilation. otherwise is to court annihilation.

And with Utnapishtim’s ark, we see the recurring And with Utnapishtim’s ark, we see the recurring image of the lonely figure adrift, a survivor image of the lonely figure adrift, a survivor floating atop the forces that have ravaged his life floating atop the forces that have ravaged his life – the waters of life (the overburdened Euphrates) – the waters of life (the overburdened Euphrates) for Utnapishtim, the Waters of Death for for Utnapishtim, the Waters of Death for Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh.

MachinationsMachinations

I fell down on the ship’s deck and wept. I fell down on the ship’s deck and wept. Why? Why did they have to die? I couldn’t Why? Why did they have to die? I couldn’t understand. I asked unanswerable understand. I asked unanswerable questions a child asks when a parent dies questions a child asks when a parent dies – for nothing. Only slowly did I make – for nothing. Only slowly did I make myself believe – or hope – they might all myself believe – or hope – they might all be swept up in their fragments together be swept up in their fragments together and made whole again by some and made whole again by some compassionate hand. But my hand was too compassionate hand. But my hand was too small to do the gathering. I have only small to do the gathering. I have only known this feeling since when I look out known this feeling since when I look out across the Sea of Death, this pull inside across the Sea of Death, this pull inside against a littleness – myself – waiting for against a littleness – myself – waiting for an upward gesture.an upward gesture.

At first, Utnapishtim is as Gilgamesh was; he At first, Utnapishtim is as Gilgamesh was; he refuses to leave the ship, to confront the world, refuses to leave the ship, to confront the world, to face the “deaths he knew were there.” to face the “deaths he knew were there.”

When he does arrive, Enlil and the others are When he does arrive, Enlil and the others are angry to see that some humans survived. angry to see that some humans survived.

But in the end, the gods assemble for them, and But in the end, the gods assemble for them, and Utnapishtim and his wife are blessed with eternal Utnapishtim and his wife are blessed with eternal life life becausebecause they have survived. they have survived.

In doing so, both must leave the lives they’ve led In doing so, both must leave the lives they’ve led behind; to reach backward into the past for it is behind; to reach backward into the past for it is to reach for nothingness, for our pasts no longer to reach for nothingness, for our pasts no longer exist…and to ignore the present is to forego exist…and to ignore the present is to forego living. living.

So Utnapishtim and his wife are relocated to a So Utnapishtim and his wife are relocated to a place where the rivers begin, far across the place where the rivers begin, far across the Waters of Death, where they will live alone Waters of Death, where they will live alone forever, blessed only with the company of each forever, blessed only with the company of each other and the boatman Urshanabi. other and the boatman Urshanabi.

To Reach for NothingnessTo Reach for Nothingness

I would grieve at all that may befall you still if I I would grieve at all that may befall you still if I did not know you must return and bury your own did not know you must return and bury your own loss, and build your world anew with your own loss, and build your world anew with your own hands. I envy you your freedom.hands. I envy you your freedom.

Utnapishtim then turns to Gilgamesh and asks Utnapishtim then turns to Gilgamesh and asks him pointedly, “Who will assemble the gods for him pointedly, “Who will assemble the gods for youryour sake? Who will convince them to grant you sake? Who will convince them to grant you the eternal life that you seek? How would they the eternal life that you seek? How would they know that you deserve it?” know that you deserve it?”

He tells Gilgamesh that he must pass a simple He tells Gilgamesh that he must pass a simple test: stay awake for seven days. test: stay awake for seven days. (Notice this same timeframe – the biblical seven days, at (Notice this same timeframe – the biblical seven days, at

that – appears yet again here.) that – appears yet again here.) As he puts it, “Prevail against sleep, and perhaps As he puts it, “Prevail against sleep, and perhaps

you will prevail against death.”you will prevail against death.”

I Envy You Your FreedomI Envy You Your Freedom

Gilgamesh, of course, does not prevail. Gilgamesh, of course, does not prevail. No sooner does he sit to begin waiting out No sooner does he sit to begin waiting out

his seven days of wakefulness than he his seven days of wakefulness than he blacks out and falls asleep. blacks out and falls asleep.

Utnapishtim, knowing that Gilgamesh will Utnapishtim, knowing that Gilgamesh will swear he never slept, orders his wife to swear he never slept, orders his wife to bake Gilgamesh a loaf of bread on each bake Gilgamesh a loaf of bread on each morning, leaving it by his side once it’s morning, leaving it by his side once it’s finished. finished.

When Utnapishtim wakes him after seven When Utnapishtim wakes him after seven days, Gilgamesh protests in the predicted days, Gilgamesh protests in the predicted fashion…at which point the aged king fashion…at which point the aged king points to the stale loaves surrounding points to the stale loaves surrounding him, and asks, “How will you bear eternal him, and asks, “How will you bear eternal life? It is not easy to live like gods.” life? It is not easy to live like gods.”

Prevail Against Sleep?Prevail Against Sleep?

Pleading for some way to escape death – Pleading for some way to escape death – which he feels following him at every turn which he feels following him at every turn now – Gilgamesh begs for wisdom and now – Gilgamesh begs for wisdom and insight. insight.

Utnapishtim has none to give him – at Utnapishtim has none to give him – at least, none he hasn’t already shared. least, none he hasn’t already shared.

Irritated by Gilgamesh’s unwillingness to Irritated by Gilgamesh’s unwillingness to listen to those who would provide him listen to those who would provide him with counsel – for he has received advice with counsel – for he has received advice from three people, yet seemingly learned from three people, yet seemingly learned nothing – Utnapishtim summons nothing – Utnapishtim summons Urshanabi and commands him to take Urshanabi and commands him to take Gilgamesh back to the other shore. Gilgamesh back to the other shore.

No Magic WisdomNo Magic Wisdom

Gilgamesh hands over his animal pelts, the Gilgamesh hands over his animal pelts, the manifestations of his savage grief; Utnapishtim manifestations of his savage grief; Utnapishtim promptly burns them, which moves the king to promptly burns them, which moves the king to tears. tears.

But as Urshanabi begins to sail away, But as Urshanabi begins to sail away, Utnapishtim’s wife asks him to reconsider Utnapishtim’s wife asks him to reconsider Gilgamesh’s plight.Gilgamesh’s plight. ““He has come so far. Have you forgotten how grief fastened He has come so far. Have you forgotten how grief fastened

onto you and made you crave some word, some gesture, onto you and made you crave some word, some gesture, once?” once?”

She remembers when he, like Gilgamesh, sought only a balm, She remembers when he, like Gilgamesh, sought only a balm, not an enlightened phrase, for comfort. not an enlightened phrase, for comfort.

It’s easy, when one feels comfortable and secure, It’s easy, when one feels comfortable and secure, to say that they’d prefer to earn that comfort, to say that they’d prefer to earn that comfort, rather than have it handed to them. rather than have it handed to them.

When one is without these things, she points out, When one is without these things, she points out, one doesn’t much care how one receives comfort; one doesn’t much care how one receives comfort; one only wants the quickest, most efficient means one only wants the quickest, most efficient means of getting it. of getting it.

Crave Some WordCrave Some Word

Utnapishtim says that “youth is very cruel Utnapishtim says that “youth is very cruel to an old face; it looks into its lines for to an old face; it looks into its lines for wisdom so touchingly, but there is nothing wisdom so touchingly, but there is nothing there to find.” there to find.”

But even if he can’t offer Gilgamesh the But even if he can’t offer Gilgamesh the “wisdom” the other man so desperately “wisdom” the other man so desperately wants – and he has given his counterpart wants – and he has given his counterpart plenty of wisdom, just none of the magic-plenty of wisdom, just none of the magic-button variety – he can give him one button variety – he can give him one thing. thing.

So he calls to Gilgamesh, and tells him the So he calls to Gilgamesh, and tells him the secret he’s told no one else: that there secret he’s told no one else: that there isis a way to defeat death. a way to defeat death.

Into Its LinesInto Its Lines

A thorny plant grows from the floor of the A thorny plant grows from the floor of the river leading into the Sea of Death. river leading into the Sea of Death.

One cannot enter the Waters willingly, One cannot enter the Waters willingly, swim to those depths, and survive. swim to those depths, and survive.

But if one But if one couldcould retrieve the plant – a retrieve the plant – a plant whose thorns will gash and wound plant whose thorns will gash and wound anyone who touches it – it will give its anyone who touches it – it will give its possessor youth, rolling back the years possessor youth, rolling back the years whenever its owner wishes. whenever its owner wishes.

If one possesses it, in short…one could If one possesses it, in short…one could live forever. live forever.

The Plant and the PossessorThe Plant and the Possessor

Gilgamesh ties stones to his feet, lets Gilgamesh ties stones to his feet, lets them carry him to the floor, and sees the them carry him to the floor, and sees the rosy plant, “shimmering in the water like rosy plant, “shimmering in the water like a prism of sunlight.” a prism of sunlight.”

As he rips it from the floor, the plant’s As he rips it from the floor, the plant’s thorns slash his palms to ribbons, but he’s thorns slash his palms to ribbons, but he’s able to cut the ties binding his feet to the able to cut the ties binding his feet to the stones and float to the surface before the stones and float to the surface before the Waters claim him. Waters claim him.

He and Urshanabi sail away from He and Urshanabi sail away from Utnapishtim’s home together, carrying the Utnapishtim’s home together, carrying the precious cargo – the boon or grail at the precious cargo – the boon or grail at the end of his long quest. end of his long quest.

A Prism of SunlightA Prism of Sunlight

Voyage and ReturnVoyage and Return Most good voyages feature a return, and Most good voyages feature a return, and

Gilgamesh intends to go back to Uruk with Gilgamesh intends to go back to Uruk with his plant – a reborn man in the face of his his plant – a reborn man in the face of his great loss. great loss.

In Mason’s translation, Urshanabi leaves In Mason’s translation, Urshanabi leaves him here; in most others, Urshanabi him here; in most others, Urshanabi remains with him until the journey’s end, remains with him until the journey’s end, since Utnapishtim has dismissed him for since Utnapishtim has dismissed him for bringing Gilgamesh across the Sea. bringing Gilgamesh across the Sea. Since Urshanabi is more commonly assumed to Since Urshanabi is more commonly assumed to

remain with Gilgamesh, we will feature him remain with Gilgamesh, we will feature him doing so here.doing so here.

Up Comes the SerpentUp Comes the Serpent Gilgamesh is dirty and tired, albeit relieved, Gilgamesh is dirty and tired, albeit relieved,

at the end of his journey. at the end of his journey. When he comes upon a pool of cool, clear When he comes upon a pool of cool, clear

water, he sets down the plant and bathes. water, he sets down the plant and bathes. But in doing so, he leaves the plant But in doing so, he leaves the plant

unguarded – as he was bound to at some unguarded – as he was bound to at some point, since we all must bathe, eat, and sleep point, since we all must bathe, eat, and sleep in order to stay alive. in order to stay alive.

When he does, a serpent, drawn by its sweet When he does, a serpent, drawn by its sweet smell, approaches the plant and consumes it. smell, approaches the plant and consumes it.

The restorative powers of the plant cause the The restorative powers of the plant cause the serpent to shed its skin, and it leaves that serpent to shed its skin, and it leaves that old, worn shell behind, departing the scene old, worn shell behind, departing the scene as a freshly reborn creature. as a freshly reborn creature.

Nothing But a Snake’s SkinNothing But a Snake’s Skin When Gilgamesh returns and finds nothing When Gilgamesh returns and finds nothing

but a snake’s skin – the chronicle of a life, but a snake’s skin – the chronicle of a life, the physical representation of the the physical representation of the memories and experiences we collect and memories and experiences we collect and use to define our existences – he sobs, use to define our existences – he sobs, beside himself at having come so far only beside himself at having come so far only to lose everything he sought. to lose everything he sought.

But this brings him to the realization But this brings him to the realization Urshanabi, Utnapishtim, Siduri, and even Urshanabi, Utnapishtim, Siduri, and even the Scorpion Man tried to reveal to him the Scorpion Man tried to reveal to him earlier: that man cannot beat death, and it earlier: that man cannot beat death, and it is futile to try. When that realization takes is futile to try. When that realization takes hold, grief falls away, and only acceptance hold, grief falls away, and only acceptance remains. remains.

That acceptance, in turn, frees him from That acceptance, in turn, frees him from Humbaba’s and Ishtar’s curses. Humbaba’s and Ishtar’s curses.

A Flawed TestamentA Flawed Testament Our last glimpse of Gilgamesh finds him staring Our last glimpse of Gilgamesh finds him staring

up at the city. up at the city. In most of the translations, he’s surveying it with In most of the translations, he’s surveying it with

Urshanabi, pointing out to the other man all of Urshanabi, pointing out to the other man all of the subtleties this monument to his the subtleties this monument to his achievements contains; it is a flawed achievements contains; it is a flawed representation of his life (and those of the representation of his life (and those of the people around him), forever vulnerable to the people around him), forever vulnerable to the weather and the elements, but it is sufficiently weather and the elements, but it is sufficiently imposing to leave Urshanabi awestruck. imposing to leave Urshanabi awestruck.

For this place, flawed though it may be, is a For this place, flawed though it may be, is a testament to his life – to being alive – and must testament to his life – to being alive – and must therefore be maintained, cared for, watched therefore be maintained, cared for, watched over…and even loved. over…and even loved.

It will outlive him, as all good legacies do. It will outlive him, as all good legacies do.

The Meaning of…The Meaning of… If the epic is about growing up, maturing, If the epic is about growing up, maturing,

coming to terms with one’s place in a coming to terms with one’s place in a complicated universe, understanding that complicated universe, understanding that one cannot always control one’s fate…then it one cannot always control one’s fate…then it is also about realizing that the meaning of is also about realizing that the meaning of life lies in life lies in buildingbuilding, whether we build walls or , whether we build walls or cities or relationships. cities or relationships.

Yes, time knocks down or buries our Yes, time knocks down or buries our constructions in the end – but we live and constructions in the end – but we live and love anyway, because this is the space that’s love anyway, because this is the space that’s been reserved for us – and we can find been reserved for us – and we can find meaning in the things we meaning in the things we cancan do, particularly do, particularly when we spend less time obsessing over when we spend less time obsessing over what we can’t. what we can’t.

Greater Than DesignedGreater Than Designed In short, the fact that life ends doesn’t make In short, the fact that life ends doesn’t make

it meaningless; it compels us to squeeze the it meaningless; it compels us to squeeze the most meaning from our allotted time as we most meaning from our allotted time as we can, and to leave behind something that can can, and to leave behind something that can outlive us, that can transcend us – that can outlive us, that can transcend us – that can allow us to strike the final blow in the battle allow us to strike the final blow in the battle against death, to prove that we can be against death, to prove that we can be greater than the universe designed us to be.greater than the universe designed us to be.

In that moment, when Gilgamesh looks at his In that moment, when Gilgamesh looks at his towering city, he is unburdened of his grief – only towering city, he is unburdened of his grief – only for a moment, but still. for a moment, but still.

For that moment, he comes back to himself; for For that moment, he comes back to himself; for that moment, he understands love better than he that moment, he understands love better than he ever had. ever had.

The Sting of AnythingThe Sting of Anything The poem ends before Gilgamesh’s The poem ends before Gilgamesh’s

journey ends, before he fully heals. journey ends, before he fully heals. We never see him make it all the way We never see him make it all the way

back…but we don’t really expect him to. back…but we don’t really expect him to. It’s not realistic to assume that we can It’s not realistic to assume that we can

ever permanently shrug off grief, no more ever permanently shrug off grief, no more realistic than it would be to chew that realistic than it would be to chew that pain forever. pain forever.

At some point, the sting of almost At some point, the sting of almost anything fades; that point varies for each anything fades; that point varies for each person, but it’s worth reaching. person, but it’s worth reaching.

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts We do not seek to eliminate our We do not seek to eliminate our

ability to grieve; to do so is to ability to grieve; to do so is to trivialize the loss of someone dear to trivialize the loss of someone dear to us, not to mention a violation of us, not to mention a violation of what it means to experience life what it means to experience life rather than simply survive it. rather than simply survive it.

Nor do we seek to nurse our grief Nor do we seek to nurse our grief forever; to do so is to make someone forever; to do so is to make someone we loved responsible for we loved responsible for unfathomable pain, and to waste unfathomable pain, and to waste time they’ve been denied. time they’ve been denied.

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts No, we seek the best way to honor No, we seek the best way to honor

someone once they leave us, readily or someone once they leave us, readily or not. not.

And perhaps our greatest way to honor And perhaps our greatest way to honor someone we’ve lost is to hold them close someone we’ve lost is to hold them close to us once they’re gone, to remind and to us once they’re gone, to remind and convince ourselves that we really did love convince ourselves that we really did love them, that the opportunities we missed them, that the opportunities we missed don’t negate the ones we shared…and don’t negate the ones we shared…and then, gradually, to keep going, to keep then, gradually, to keep going, to keep growinggrowing – to continue living a life that – to continue living a life that would make them proud of us. would make them proud of us.