Costumed British Actor as Caliban from "The Tempest" 


After becoming reacquainted with Enkidu last night, it occurred to me the regular theme of bringing one from a "savage" in Western and world literature, to an enlightened state probably had its genesis in The Epic of Gilgamesh (TEOG). Like many hallmarks we see in our civilization, they harken back to civilizations in the Fertile Crescent. Will and Ariel Durant began their series of historical works with a nod to this point by naming the first title in that series, Our Oriental Heritage.



Shakespeare's character of Caliban is a significant one in Western literature, albeit Caliban proves a "failure," incapable under Prospero of attaining this desired state like Enkidu, over Shamhat (sorry, just couldn't let that one go by) and is instead a slave off-and-on throughout  the scenes of The Tempest. During his trials, this half-man, half-beast displays his atavistic ties to nature through his pronouncements, not making the same break with his past as does Enkidu:

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.

-Caliban from Act 3, Scene 2

Onto a different theme.......


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General Jack Ripper

Another theme with ties to TEOG is the loss of manly strength by succumbing to female charms. Whether having "an utterly depleted body," losing strength and might by cutting of hair like Sampson, or suffering a "loss of essence," this theme is manifested many places in Western and world literature, including a modern example shown here. If you are unfamiliar with Stanley Kubrik's satirical masterpiece Doctor Strangelove, this video may seem out of place, but have a look at how this theme is revealed here and consider seeing this strange and hilarious film, available sans charge at Hulu.