Comparing Women In The Thousand And Gilgamesh

From the Greek mythology era to today’s time, women have always been portrayed as the weaker species. It has been expressed in society, culture, as well as literature. Before people could write, they told stories. These stories were passed down from generation to generation. They held a major influence to anyone who listened. Instead of being spoken these works were also being recorded, in other words, written, which engraved the stories even more. What are these stories teaching? The basis is that they teach of man and woman. Stories in earlier centuries teach of integrity and honor of man but do not put the treatment of women at the forefront of the story. Women were portrayed as either the classic damsel-in-distress or the seductive woman …show more content…
Even though they are not specifically the protagonists, women positively impact both works. In The Thousand and One Nights, Shahrazad plays a crucial role. King Shahrayar is going on a rampage because he finds out about the infidelity of his wife. He concludes that women could not be trusted. King Shahrayar decides that he will marry a woman each night, have intercourse with her, and have her killed off upon morning. The vizier’s daughter, Shahrazad, volunteers to be the king’s wife even though it means risking her life. She positively represents women because she possesses the courage to try to end the king’s madness. Another positive representative for women is found in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Ninsun, Gilgamesh’s mother, throughout the epic, gives her son advice. In Tablet II, it states, “The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows everything . . .” (The Epic). This statement suggests that Ninsun has much wisdom. Another characteristic is seen in The Thousand and One Nights is the art of persuasion and charm. “The Tale of the Porter and the Three Baghdad Ladies” exemplifies these characteristics. One of the Baghdad ladies went to the market and she asked the porter could he carry all the items in a basket for her. After the woman finished at the market, the porter carried the basket to her house. Not only was he attracted to her, but upon arrival, he meets her other two sisters which he …show more content…
The first is the only one that gives the role of power to women, goddesses or deity. Deity is another word for goddess. Ninsun is a goddess as well as the mother of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. Shamhat is the promiscuous prostitute that seduces Enkidu, she is gathered to be the second depiction. The third depiction shows that men of power can abuse their authority upon women. Every time a couple is married in the city Uruk the woman is almost always a virgin. When the ceremony is over, Gilgamesh would take the wife for the night and deflower her.
The representation of women has varied throughout time and even though we become stronger and more independent in the work environment and society women are still downgraded and seen as much less than a man. In The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Thousand and One Nights women are seen as harlots and sexual beings and only being used for their sensual