The Strength People Miss: the Depiction of Love in Literature

There is not force on Earth greater than love. Love is a basic human need and a concept of admiration, love is constantly appreciated and present in literature millions of artworks can be found and unfold the mysteries and beauty of it. In The Epic of roman mythology and Antigone love is presented in different forms than the traditional romantic exposure, where the characters grow out of it and face their problems for those who love.

In this piece, The Epic of sumerian is based on the friendship between Enkidu and sumerian and the influence they had on one another. Even when at the beginning of the story they disliked each other, they grew to understand each other strengths and flaws “There is not another like you in the world… for your strength surpasses the strength of men. So, Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced and their friendship was sealed”. Gilgamesh and Enkidu had a long journey to learn how to embrace each other, they were capable to appreciate one another and lastly demonstrated the importance of Enkidu’s friendship to Gilgamesh and how it will develop his emotional strength. In addition, these feelings developed show an advance in Gilgamesh. He wouldn’t love anyone but himself and treat others as if they were his to torment, “Which of your lovers did you ever love for ever? What shepherd of yours has pleased you for all time?… And if you and I should be lovers, should not I be served in the same fashion as all these others whom you loved once?”. Given his past encounters with women, Gilgamesh indirectly shows he has never beloved anybody but himself and the love of a woman, a goddess, is not enough for him to do that. Instead, his fellowship with Enkidu based on mutual respect and admiration was stronger than any desire he could have for a woman, Gilgamesh couldn’t appreciate the love of Ishtar for her past lovers while he could love Enkidu as his traveling partner. On account of Gilgamesh’s journey, his love for his friend makes him wiser and stronger.

On the other hand, Antigone presents the power of fraternal love and how it goes beyond any rules of society. Antigone’s love for her brother Polyneices drawn her to risk -and lose- her life for his dead body, “I am going to bury him… He is my brother” she’s is willing to go against the law just to give her brother the burial he should’ve had as a human being under the laws of the gods. The tragedy in her family and the curse of the gods drawn her to take desperate measures even when others tell her not to, her fear of not giving her brother the ending he deserves (and that it will be her fault if it he doesn’t) is what pushes her into not give in and go against society rules. Once more, the love she feels for her family gives her the strength to face the world alone.

Finally, the concept of love is a personal interpretation that cannot be defied by someone else. Just like Gilgamesh, some learn how to love others at a slower pace and through hard companionship and grew up to improve as people. In the case of Antigone, love gives the strength needed in order to face the greatest challenges without hesitating. Somehow, the representation of love in these pieces shows there are different ways that love can be portrayed and how each one is meant for every person.