One
major similarity between Joseph and Gilgamesh is the fact that both are
cultural heroes (Joseph was the Hebrew “messiah” while Gilgamesh was a Sumerian
hero), ancestors of a people, who go through difficult, painful adventures as
they gain understanding and mastery of their lives. They were both dreamers as
the Supreme Being in which they both believe in revealed the future to them via
dreams. These dreams were about future events which always came to pass.
Another similarity is they were both rulers/leaders. While Joseph was a
governor and was second in command to the Pharaoh, Gilgamesh was a god and a
king of Uruk. Also, Joseph and Gilgamesh were both loved by their parents.
Jacob, Joseph’s father, loved him so much that he made him a coat of many colors which angered his brothers. On the other hand, Gilgamesh’s mother, the goddess
Ninsun, helps her son by seeking the support and protection of the sun god Shamash
and even adopts Enkidu as her son. She also governs Uruk in his absence.
Also, they share a negative trait
which is Pride. They were both very proud people although Joseph wasn't as
proud as Gilgamesh he had an element of pride. For instance, he always told his
brothers his dreams of them bowing down to him which he could have decided not to disclose to them seeing that they hated him. I believe that to be arrogance and cockiness, but his cannot be
measured with Gilgameshs' who felt he was invincible and all-powerful because of
his superior strength and because he was a god.
Asides the fact that they both share
some traits, they both have different personalities and are in fact very
unalike. Gilgamesh was a tyrant who oppressed his people hence the creation of
Enkidu to stop his oppression. Joseph, on the other hand, was the opposite of
Gilgamesh. He treated his followers with respect and even when he saw his
brothers who sold him into slavery he forgave them and accepted them with love.
The reason for this difference in characteristics arose from the fact that
while Gilgamesh was two-thirds god and one-third man, Joseph was a mere man.
Ordinary men can also be tyrants-Hitler is a perfect example- but Gilgamesh
could not be questioned because he was very strong and powerful as a result of
his godly nature. Joseph was a man who although was bestowed with authority by
the Pharaoh, couldn't exert his authority and become a tyrant because he was a
governor and still reported to the Pharaoh. He had power but not absolute power
like Gilgamesh.
Their stories prove that humans/leaders can achieve anything if they are determined. Determination was a key factor in the success of both Joseph and Gilgamesh. If they had given up then maybe their names would not have been in the Books of History. Also, people need to learn to do away with pride as nothing can be achieved with pride. Leaders should learn to follow their hearts and make their own decisions without being swayed by other people's opinions.
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