The ancient text: Gilgamesh, compared to the modern classic Maze Runner
Author: Andrew Hendricksen
The first written text in the forgotten language of cuneiform can be compared to one of modern-day’s classics. The Epic Of Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell into the book, Gilgamesh, is the ancient heroic story of a demigod who is on a quest to rid the world of darkness. The modern dystopian novel, Maze Runner by James Dashner, follows a character named Thomas and group of kids forced into a maze who are eager for vengeance against WCKD, an organization studying these kids. Since Gilgamesh was the first ever text, other texts, like Maze Runner, could have borrowed ideas from the plot or characters of Gilgamesh while pioneering new twists in plot to make more dire situations or diverse, sometimes completely opposite characters who have to work together.
Starting out with the mystery of a new character entering the world and having to learn how the world works is how you get hooked on these novels. In Gilgamesh the gods create Enkidu to balance Gilgamesh in the world. When the god Aruru forms Enkidu out of clay, he is a wild man and he must be discovered and taught the ways of the modern society of that time. Mitchell translates, “[Aruru] moistened her hands, she pinched off some clay,/ she threw it into the wilderness,/ Kneaded it, shaped it to her idea,/ and fashioned a man, a warrior, a hero./ Enkidu the brave, as powerful and fierce,/ as the war god Ninurta…” As for Maze Runner, Thomas wakes up in a caged elevator going up with no memory whatsoever. When the elevator arrives at the Glade, he has to learn and abide by how the Gladers run the place even if he doesn’t like it. Both Enkidu and Thomas are shoved into an unfamiliar world and have to learn how to operate in it.
In both of these texts there is this supreme power, but does that mean they can do whatever they want? Or will the suppressed revolt. In Gilgamesh Mitchell translates the god, Ishtar bringing the rampaging Bull of the heavens down to earth and what follows. “Ishtar led the bull down to earth,/ It entered and bellowed, the whole land shook,/ the streams and the marshes dried up, the Euphrates,/ water level dropped by ten feet./ When the bull snorted, the earth cracked open,/ and a hundred men fell in and died…Enkidu circled behind the bull,/ sized it by the tail and set his foot,/ on its haunch, then Gilgamesh skillfully,/ like a butcher, strode up and thrust his knife,/ between its shoulders and the base of its horns.” In Maze Runner, WCKD creates multiple brutal, deathly trials that they force kids to try to complete in order to study their reaction. However, the kids find their way out of the maze, complete the trials, and take revenge for what WCKD has done to them. In both texts the obvious most powerful being(s) think they can do whatever they want to people. But, if they do something that the people they did it to don't like, well lets just say they better watch out.
Different characters might have differing motivation to solve a problem. As for Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh wants to go and rid the world of evil and darkness even though he doesn't have to. Enkidu realizes this and points it out to Gilgamesh, however Gilgamesh is determined and eventually wins over Enkidu. Mitchell translates the argument, “...Gilgamesh said,/ ‘Now we must travel to the Cedar Forest,/ where the fierce monster Humbaba lives./ we must kill him and drive out evil from the world.’.../... Enkidu answered, ‘Dear friend, a scream,/ sticks in my throat, my arms are limp,/ I knew that country when I roamed the hills,/ with the antelope and the deer. The forest is endless,/ it spread far and wide for a thousand miles./ What man would dare penetrate its depths?’/ Gilgamesh said, ‘Listen, der friend,/ even if the forest goes on forever, i have to enter it, climb its slopes,/ cut down a cedar hat is tall enough,/ to make a whirlwind as it fall to earth.’/ Enkidu said, ‘ but how can any man,/ dare to enter the Cedar Forest?/ It is sacred to Enlil. Hasn’t he declared,/ its entrance forbidden, hasn't he put,/ Humbaba there to terrify men?/ We must not go on this journey, we must not,/ fight this creature. His breath spews fire,/ his voice booms like thunder, his jaws are death./ He can hear all sound in the forest, even,/ the faintest rustling among the leaves,/ he will hear a hundred miles away./ Who among men or gods could defeat him?/ Humbaba is the forest’s guardian, Enlil,/ put him there to terrify men./ Whoever enters will be stuck down by fear.’” As for Thomas and the Gladers in Maze Runner, they are in a deadly maze with grievers, mysterious mechanical mucus creatures who want to kill them and whether they get out of the maze and defeat WCKD is a matter of life and death. So While Gilgamesh and Enkidu are choosing to engage Humbaba, the Gladers don't really have a choice.
Gilgamesh has definitely inspired classic storylines. However, modern day classics like Maze Runner spice it up with diverse plot twists or character relationships. Like how you can follow a character all the way from the beginning of their memory or life all the way through to the end. Or how there can be an all powerful manipulative, control seeking being that does whatever it wants. But then there is also the direness of the situation that can motivate characters to care more about certain things whether that’s defeating a villain or just small victories. Nonetheless, Gilgamesh gives a solid starting base for any novel such as Maze Runner, whether that’s the plot of an evil to defeat, or how a protagonist has to find their way, you can always find a little Gilgamesh in every story.
