1 page

This week, respond to two of your classmates' discussion posts on The Meaning of the Quest by providing examples from this week's readings (Chapter 3) that support or oppose their arguments. How does the success or failure of Oedipus and Sohrab and Rostam shape our understanding of who they are? Include at least two citations from the reading to support your reasoning.

1: Not all quests are mean to come out in victory. Odysseus quest of getting back home to his family was a quest meant to be victorious. Had it been easy to return back home, would Odysseus have been as grateful for what he had left behind? On the other hand , Odysseus failed his other quest of returning his fellow shipmates back to their families. Ironically, that doesn’t seem to matter to the reader.

Gilgamesh’s personal quest is a little different. Upon losing his best friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh sets off to become immortal. He was used to being victorious in his endeavors and could not accept the fact that he could not prevent death and would have to face death himself. “I am going to die!-Am I not like Enikdu?!” (2.9 Gilgamesh: Tablet IX) I think that Gilgamesh quest for immortality was not meant to be completed (yet he came very close), but he was meant to fulfill the quest of accepting mortality, thus doing the best he could with his life.

While I can sympathize with Gilgamesh quest for immortality, I find his quest to be more selfish, than that of Odysseus, whose quest was to return to his family to keep them safe and happy as well.

2: A quest is more about the journey than the final outcome. Yes, the goal is to succeed and fulfill one's heart's desire, but it's the challenges along the way that reveal the true character of the hero. How the protagonist perseveres when met with adversity says more about him than whether he succeeds or fails. Although Gilgamesh fails in his quest and Odysseus succeeds, the reader respects them for the bravery, determination, and willingness to sacrifice.

Gilgamesh is a brave king searching for fame and immortality. But even Gilgamesh faces the fear of failure. Before Gilgamesh and Enkidu enter the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh has a series of dreams and awakens each time deeply disturbed and fearful. But his friend, Enkidu calms Gilgamesh's fears. Gilgamesh is able to regain his confidence and overcome his fear of losing the battle. He finds the strength and courage to refocus on his quest, saying, "--pay no heed to death, do not lose heart! The one who watches from the side is a careful man, but the one who walks in front protects himself and saves his comrade, and through their fighting they establish fame" (Gilgamesh, 2.5). We see that Gilgamesh has overcome his fear and is determined and willing to sacrifice to reach his goal.

Likewise, Odysseus faces many challenges brought on by both gods and men, but he also remains true to his quest. He is strong of heart yet humble, calling on the gods to help him. The gods see his courage and strength. They see how he heeds the gods' warnings, trying to save the lives of his men. When Odysseus asks for Zeus's help in fighting the suitors, Odysseus is rewarded. "The color drained from their faces, And Zeus thundered loud, showing his portents and cheering the heart of the long-enduring, god-like Odysseus (Homer, 2.16).

Both Gilgamesh and Odysseus believe in their actions and overcome human weaknesses to face their fears and pursue their quests. Although one fails and one is victorious, the reader can appreciate what these men stand for. We all want to identify with these heroes. We hope to see these same characteristics of bravery, determination and confidence in ourselves.