The Quest for Eternal Life The "Epic of Gilgamesh" is a historical story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story portrays the short-lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins when Shamat, the prostitute, seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh. From that moment on, the two were very close. They planned a journey into the cedar forest to defeat the monster known as Humbaba so that Gilgamesh could show his power to the citizens of Uruk. However, Enkidu tried in vain to dissuade Gilgamesh from going into the forest. Despite Enkidu's plea, the two continued their adventure into the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed it. In Gilgamesh, to reach this man, he overcomes many obstacles, some of which no mortal has ever ventured before. Finally, when he meets Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh explains his desire to be immortal and his fear of death. Utnapishtim challenges him to "not sleep for six days and seven nights" ("The Epic"). He is determined to complete this challenge and prove to Utnapishtim and himself that he deserves immortality, however "sleep hovers over him like a mist" and he is unable to stay awake ("The Epic"). He finally wakes up and thinks he's only slept a few minutes. He is still filled with despair confident that death is fast approaching. His journey ends in failure, but it also leads to an important epiphany. Even if death itself arouses fear. We know it exists but not where it leads. The mystery of death leaves fear and sadness to grow in Gilgamesh's mind. Gilgamesh says, "No one sees the face of Death. No one hears the voice of Death." And he continues, nothing that "death is a picture that cannot be drawn." This form or force that is death cannot be explained. Gilgamesh believes that something that cannot be heard or seen but can strike and kill at any time is something to be feared. Death gives us no clues about what happens after life. We can only speculate on how this mysterious element operates. Ultimately, all we know is that the human body decays. Gilgamesh only feels empty and sad, but he also discovers that it is better to die happy than to live.