Enkidu and Patroclus: How They Affect Their Companions

Many similarities can be made between the epics Gilgamesh and the Iliad, but one of the most striking comparisons is certainly the presence of two companions who help one another.  While this comparison is a bit strange, as Enkidu was created by the gods and Patroclus was not, it is not a stretch to say these men are similar despite their many differences.  Both Enkidu and Patroclus in particular help their “godlike” counterparts, Gilgamesh and Achilles, by bringing smaller, more human things to the attention of these great men.  Before meeting their companions, though, the two men prove to have a rocky start in their early lives.  Enkidu is known for being wild and living with animals and was made to match Gilgamesh’s stormy self, which ultimately means he’s violent.  On the other hand, Book 23 of the Iliad mentions that Patroclus actually ended up with Achilles because the older companion killed a man (while playing dice) and needed exile.  This comparison brings out an aspect we typically don’t think of in terms of Patroclus: being uncivilized.  Nonetheless, the early lives of these two men are similar.  What truly brings them together, however, is how they affect their companions when they die.  The death of Enkidu and Patroclus are, in a sense, the turning points for Gilgamesh and Achilles.  Although they are similar themselves, the way they affect their companions differs in a rather surprising manner.  While Gilgamesh becomes wiser and seeks immortality, Achilles runs into battle, meaning he will lose his life for his friend Patroclus.