Tribulation of Enkidu, Adam and Eve The Book of Genesis and The Epic of Gilgamesh are very important

contributions to literature. There are many differences between these two stories, but there are many similar themes and motifs as well. It is possible to compare antagonists in many aspects. They are made out of a substance by Gods, placed naked in nature amongst animals, tempted, and eventually punished by their makers because they are incapable of resisting the temptations. Both Enkidu and Adam and Eve are created by superior entities, Gods. In the Epic of Gilgamesh there are many Gods whereas in the Book of Genesis there is only one. They are created for different reasons and out of different substances. The purpose of Enkidus creation is the aid to the citizens of Uruk who are unable to cope with Gilgamesh, their king, and his way of living. Aruru, the goddess of creation, makes him out of clay. Adam and Eve are created out of dust of the ground to multiply, to begin the existence of the humankind and to fill the earth. While Enkidu is created in Gilgameshs image, so that he can have an equal, Adam and Eve are created by the Lord God, in his own image. God creates Eve in order to provide Adam with companionship, and Aruru makes Enkidu to provide Gilgamesh a friend who can pacify him, but he does stand on his own among animals until he is lured into the City of Uruk and meets Gilgamesh. On one side, there is the forest and the hills, where Enkidu resides. He is surrounded with animals, which are accustomed to his presence and accept him as one of their own. Together they eat green vegetation and drink water. They are equal and live in unity. On the other side, there is the Garden of Eden, where God places Adam and Eve. They are also surrounded by nature and animals, but they have dominion over them.

Enkidu is innocent and unaware of life outside of his abode. He is satisfied with what he has, until he meets harlot Shamhat, a woman who seduces him with her body and makes him cognizant of what he can have. He is not able to bode the consequences his actions cause: For six days and seven nights they lay together, for Enkidu had forgotten his home in the hills; but when he was satisfied he went back to the wild beasts. Then, when the gazelle saw him, they bolted away; when the wild creatures saw him they fled. He is not welcome in the forest anymore. Adam and Eve are tempted in a similar way by the snake in the garden. The snake tells Eve they should eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of right and wrong, even though God forbids it. Eve does it and she persuades Adam into doing the same. They are not welcome in the Garden of Eden after this. However, they are rewarded with knowledge. Although Enkidu is endowed with exceptional strength before meeting Shamhat, he loses it and gains wisdom and opportunity to be initiated into civilization and to be the strongest of all the people. Not only that, but he also has the opportunity to have a friend which he longs for. Adam and Eve also gain knowledge. They realize that they are naked and make aprons, which is a sign of civilized way of thinking and behaviour. It is ironic that even though Enkidu lives with animals, they reject him after his primitive, animal instincts prevail and he engages in sexual intercourse with the woman. It is also ironic that this act introduces him to humanity. Animals have the opposite roles. In Gilgamesh they are kind and humans are the ones who trick Enkidu and coax him. In Genesis, the first one who leads humans on is the snake. Both stories describe the situation in which human beings are being tempted and all of them give in to these temptations. Naturally, punishment follows. Not only are they banished from their initial dwellings, but they are punished with suffering and death. It goes to show that gods have no mercy and people are easy to mislead.