In giving in to the temptation of the harlot Shamhat, Enkidu loses much here, but he also gains something. What is it that he comes to understand? How does it differ from the physical prowess that he has evidently lost?
What will be an ideal response?
In this reading, we see the seduction and consequent diminishment of Enkidu by Shamhat, a harlot. Enkidu is the rival of Gilgamesh and also his opposite. He represents the forces of nature and being in harmony with nature, which is evidenced by his ability to communicate with animals. Shamhat represents the forces of civilization. Enkidu must become socialized and admitted into human society, leaving the state of nature (similar to the Hebrew Bible story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden). By doing so, he loses his communion with nature, but he gains the society and association of other human beings, particularly Gilgamesh.
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