When Ishtar heard this she fell into a bitter rage, she went up to high heaven.
Nature can be dangerous especially for those who travel in the wild. This is also a comparison to the Goddess Ishtar. She is powerful and can be an agent of destruction. When Gilgamesh not recognizing this aspect of the feminine caused destruction in his life. The death of Enkidu was the result of Gilgamesh rejecting her temptations.
I. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD. {The famous race of Spear-Danes.} Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle. {Scyld, their mighty king, in honor of whom they are often called Scyldings. He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, so prominent in the poem.}
This versions is nothing compared to the Seamus Heaney versions this is so difficult to understand not just by the font of the text but language is difficult to understand. I don't think this is the best translation to fully grasp the understanding of what this text is about. i found this surprising that it was published in 2005. Ann Marie Victoria
I Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings, leader belovéd, and long he ruled 55 in fame with all folk, since his father had gone away from the world, till awoke an heir, haughty Healfdene, who held through life, sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad.[1] Then, one after one, there woke to him, 60 to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave; and I heard that —— was ——’s queen,[2] the Heathoscylfing’s helpmate dear. To Hrothgar[3] was given such glory of war,
At the very beginning of this Epic they are already trying to not show importance to the women, instead showing how string and how much glory the men had. Ann Marie Taylor
A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger2 50 Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous Who3 dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; The wan-mooded being abode for a season [5] In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, 55 The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in general. The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance;
Absolutely unnecessary to add all this nonsensical Christian stuff to the text. The story would have flowed much better without it.
Since first he found him friendless and wretched, The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it, Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained, Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to 10 Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute: An excellent atheling! After was borne him A son is born to him, who receives the name of Beowulf—a name afterwards made so famous by the hero of the poem. A son and heir, young in his dwelling, Whom God-Father sent to solace the people. He had marked the misery malice had caused them,
Only took 9 lines to go from being lonely and depressed to having a devoted friend. Time really does fly.
Boldly to swallow4 them, as of yore he did often The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble A head-watch to give me;5 he will have me dripping [17] In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the trouble of burying me. 75 And dreary with gore, if death overtake me,
His pride seems to overshadow the safety of his brethren. e
I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil, The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore 55 Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain, Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition: Not to refuse me, defender of warriors, Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee, That I may unaided, my earlmen assisting me, 60 This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot. I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature Since the monster uses no weapons, From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, My liegelord belovèd, lenient of spirit, 65 To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target, A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip I, too, shall disdain to use any. The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then, Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold o
Quite a monologue for a man of action, Beowulf wants them to see him win- he is making a point with his action. This does not hold up when he meets Grendel's mother
“We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland,
We, as in identity. Tribalism FTW
But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving, And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings 65 And farther fare, I fully must know now What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers, Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from.”
Some underlying racism- "Yer' not from 'round here are ya, boy"
Note this to describe the general affect race has on perception
But the man remembered his mighty power, the glorious gift that God had sent him. in his Maker’s mercy put his trust for comfort and help: so he conquered the foe, felled the fiend, who fled abject, 1275reft of joy, to the realms of death, mankind’s foe. And his mother now, gloomy and grim, would go that quest of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge. To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danes 1280slept in the hall. Too soon came back old ills of the earls, when in she burst, the mother of Grendel. Less grim, though, that terror, e’en as terror of woman in war is less, might of maid, than of men in arms
Another moment in the story of manipulation with God. This shows man trying to give an example of why we should control women into being submissive because if not she will turn into Grendel mother someone/something without god behind her but her fury and terror is much more than man if man did not have God. Ann Marie Taylor
"[I saw him and like] a woman I fell in love with him."
The relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was far more intense than a friendship.
In reply, the father advises his son to take a woman with him when next he goes out on his pursuit, and to have the woman remove her dress in the presence of Enkidu, who will then approach her, and after intercourse with her will abandon the animals among whom he lives.
The power of a woman was able to convert Enkidu from beast to human.