Gilgamesh is a fool. He believes that because he is king he can do whatever he pleases. Taking newly married brides to bed on their wedding night proves this. Even though the other men are not as strong or wise as he is, Gilgamesh expects them to live up to his mighty name. He degrades them by beating them in tests of intelligence (I wonder if he is talented in chess) and strength. Even though he does all of this and more, it still seems that he is put on a pedestal. This could be because he is two-thirds god and one-third man. Which makes me wonder: if Gigamesh is two-thirds god then what does that make Enkidu? He is a creation of the gods, but that probably doesn't qualify him as one. He does however, have to be at least two-thirds god; since he can match the strength of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh has many dreams. Some of them about someone becoming a companion of his (Enkidu) and others about the forest beast Humbaba. I bring this up because it seems that his dreams tell the future. Although he can not interpret them for himself, Enkidu and Ninsun (his mother) can. Another reason that I think Enkidu is a god is because he can interpret these dreams. Ninsun is a god and she can interpret them; but Gilgamesh is only two-thirds god and he can not. Since it seems that only full gods can translate dreams, Enkidu has to be a god. Although he could have made up those interpretations just to please Gilgamesh.
Another reason Gilgamesh is a fool is because he doesn't listen to anyone. When he wanted to go kill the forest beast for fame and glory, he was warned by the elders and Enkidu that he shouldn't go. Nonetheless, he ended up going with Enkidu anyways, for his own reasons of course. Even though it was his idea, Gilgamesh ends up getting scared when Humbaba insults and threatens them. If Enkidu hadn't rallied his spirits, Gilgamesh would have been slaughtered. Gilgamesh is suppose to be intelligent, but in reality he is a fool. He pities the monster when Humbaba pleads for his life. He would have spared him if Enkidu, once again, had not talked some sense into him.
Gilgamesh is selfish. He oppresses his citizens for his amusement. He traveled to kill Humbaba for his own glory and fame. Even after Humbaba is killed (many thanks to Enkidu and the god Shamash) Gilgamesh only wants to return home to show everyone what he did. Enkidu chops down a giant tree so he can make a door for a temple out of it. Enkidu is going to thank the gods for helping capture Humbaba, while Gilgamesh is going to bask in his own glory.
Right now, Gilgamesh is a terrible hero; selfishness, relying on his strength, and stupidity will result in his downfall. I can only hope that the true hero, Enkidu, will take his crown and kingdom away from him (this won't happen, but at least change him for the better).
