The statement that “There is no permanence” doesn’t seem to directly stop humanity from searching for it and ways to achieve immortality. Humanity’s desire for permanence of any kind is a doomed one and our longing seems absurd. Our world, constantly changing, deteriorating, and evolving, shows perfectly how nothing will ever remain. Often we see this but then look and see that the world itself endures and use that as some type of hope or some type of excuse to believe in permanence of it and ourselves. But even the world itself, as we now know through science, will fade and break away into the sun as the universe marches toward its inevitable heat death. I suppose the nothingness after the universe will be permanent but do blind people always see the same thing? In a temporary existence that seems so bleak from the previous description it would be impossible to do anything, knowing that we are really doing nothing. It’s absurd to act normally knowing that it’s all for naught but it seems even more absurd, and much more tragic, to act grandeously to try and fight the impermanence. One might then choose not to act, rebelling against the absurdity and playing their part a little earlier than the rest of joining that which no longer exists. But since we are here for such a short time and will all spend an equally eternal amount of time not here, it is a waste of the brevity of life to over concern oneself with this problem. Rather, we must get up and choose: live with the notion of impermanence constantly in mind and draw as much meaning from individual moments as possible or ignore the problem altogether and find meaning from what you determine as meaningful. Perhaps some combination or alternative is true but the result is similar: create meaning in spite of the fact that it won’t last because meaning now and not later is better than no meaning now and later.
The world’s impermanence is demonstrated throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh. From Enkidu’s untimely death to the flood story, to losing the plant of eternal youth, Gilgamesh is constantly being taught about how fleeting the world can be. After defeating Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, nothing seemed like it could go wrong for Gilgamesh and Enkidu until they learned that Enkidu must die. It seemed like the good times would last forever but they ended just as effortlessly as they started. Gilgamesh’s lesson about how quick fortune can change and how easily a world can be destroyed was only deepened when he found Utnapishtim who recounted to him the story of the flood. While on its first read, the flood story seems like necessary background to meet Utnapishtim, by viewing the story as a lesson about impermanence it fits perfectly in Gilgamesh’s development as he learns about life’s ephemerality. But like any student, Gilgamesh does not learn his lesson immediately. After Enkidu died, he embarked on a quest to live forever and after learning about the impermanence of the world from Utnapishtim he tried to capture the plant of eternal youth. Finally, after the snake steals the plant, Gilgamesh gives up and returns to Uruk. Soon after in the story he dies and we don’t get to know if he accepted the truths his story taught us. Every time he thought something would last forever it didn’t. From the joy and friendship with Enkidu came his friend’s death. From a permanent, unchanging world came the flood. From the peace of eternal youth came the snake.
In such an impermanent world, the pursuit of meaning is a central concern for humanity as people persist in seeking meaning in their lives despite. This desire for meaning, whether through personal achievements, relationships, or spiritual beliefs, is a way for individuals to transcend the fleeting nature of existence. While Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality ultimately fails, it is driven by a deep desire for meaning and significance. The pursuit of immortality is an expression of the human longing for enduring purpose in a transient world. Utnapishtim suggests that humans should accept their mortality and find purpose in the present, cherishing the simple joys and experiences of life, such as family, work, and community. These moments and themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh emphasize the human need to find meaning in response to, or because of, impermanence and mortality. As individuals seek purpose, connections, and wisdom, they try to navigate the transient and ever-changing world around them.
Gilgamesh stops developing after returning to Uruk and describing how wonderful his city is. We never know if he took the lesson his quests taught him to heart and if he was able to find meaning in a world void of it. Before his adventure started Gilgamesh was unsatisfied with his life and needed some type of grand act to derive meaning. But after slaying Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, tracking down Utnapishtim, and finding the plant of eternal youth he was still unsatisfied as neither the mundane nor the grandiose could have permanent meaning. We never know how Gilgamesh chose to live the rest of his life, only that he lived it well as his story survives to this day. It can be hard to figure out where and how to find meaning and how to balance our rebellious spirit with a peaceful resignation to impermanence. The Epic of Gilgamesh shows us how to move on with life and create our own meaning with both the mundane and grand through friendships and adventures.