The theft of the Book of Wisdom and Knowledge has led to the need for a hero to stand up and retrieve the book and, thus, the university’s prize possession. Chosen to retrieve the book, I decided that no true hero sets forth alone, and thus, I have decided to form a team including unique individuals with extraordinary skills and traits. I will choose these individuals from the Epic of Gilgamesh, The Ramayana, and The Odyssey.
From the epic of Gilgamesh, I would pick Gilgamesh as my first character. This is because Gilgamesh portrays unmatched prowess and strength. This is seen when he wins the test of strength against Enkidu, as well as when he slays the Humbaba. As such, he can contribute to protecting the team against any adversary and help in overcoming obstacles in our way. Gilgamesh, as the king of Uruk, is a born leader. He is confident and fearless, which makes him a source of inspiration for those around him. Enkidu tells him, “… in the forest of Cedar where the Humbaba dwells let us frighten him in his lair,” which he agrees to without hesitation (George 18, Tablet II). In our team, he will be helpful in strategic decision-making, offering guidance and helping maintain the morale, which will help us get through the dangers and uncertainties of our mission.
Although he and Enkidu were initially not friends, “they kissed each other and formed a friendship” (George 17, Tablet II). Through this friendship, he transforms from a tyrant to a compassionate leader. This shows his for change and growth. Further, it shows that Gilgamesh is a team player and thus able to foster unity in case of conflict between team members during the mission. While pursuing the Cedar Forest and in his battle with Humbaba, Gilgamesh shows that he is determined and capable of persevering through hard circumstances. On our quest, Gilgamesh will not have a problem enduring hardships, overcoming obstacles, and persevering when faced with challenges until the mission is accomplished. His journey to discover the secret of eternal life shows that he thirsts for knowledge and is intellectually curious. These traits will help in solving puzzles and deciphering clues in our quest to find the stolen book.
My second character would be Hanuman from the Epic of Ramayana. Hanuman’s loyalty to Rama is evident throughout. In one instance, to symbolize his dedication and loyalty, he asks Sita, “With your consent, I will slay all those female titans who formerly taunted you in your misfortune…Grant me permission to strike down those barbarians of distorted features and fearful aspect… I shall exterminate those monsters who formerly insulted you.” (Griffith 116). In our quest, Hanuman will be loyal to the team, and thus, he will be driven by duty and devotion to completing the mission. The role he played in locating Sita in Lanka shows just how resourceful he can be. It further shows that he is quick in accessing situations and finding innovative solutions. In our team, Hanuman will be useful in overcoming obstacles and deciphering clues in our quest to find the stolen book. Hanuman also possesses great physical strength. He can fly as well as leap big distances. He will be a great addition to our team as he will help navigate challenging terrain, keep team members safe, and overcome physical barriers.
Hanuman takes on the task of searching for Sita. Taking up the task shows that he is dependable and devoted. As such, he will be a dependable member of the team and can be relied upon to take on difficult tasks within the team. Sita acknowledges how great his prowess is when she says, “When, in Lanka, you didst dispatch the great warrior Hanuman to seek me out…” (Griffith 119). During Sita’s search in Lanka, Hanuman encounters demons and fearlessly takes them on. His fearlessness will be crucial in our quest as we might face danger and have to fight for survival. Hanuman collaborates with Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva. This clearly portrays that he is a team player. This will be helpful for our team as all team members need to be cooperative and collaborative to achieve our goal.
My third character will be Athena from Odyssey. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is wise and intelligent. She gives Odysseus and Telemachus strategic insight, which helps them make good and informed decisions. In our team, Athena would be helpful in planning and executing an effective strategy to retrieve the stolen book. Her guidance helps Telemachus and Odysseus make informed decisions and face challenges with intelligence and courage. Further, she is able to disguise herself in order to be able to guide Telemachus. In her first disguise, “she looked like Mentes, a foreigner, the chief who ruled the Taphians” (12). She is also convincing enough that Telemachus follows her insights. This skill can be used against the enemy to find out their tactics as well as find out important information regarding the stolen book. In her disguise, she is able to find Telemachus a ship. The ship is “down into the sea and stocked with supplies, all the materials well-decked boats have stowed on board…” (41) and a crew; this shows how determined she is to fulfill her mission. This shows that as a member of the team, she has the ability to facilitate the necessary resources needed for the mission. Athena is able to intervene just at the right time to help Odysseus and Telemachus. This shows that she will be a dependable member of the team as she has divine status hence can intervene just at the right time when her help is needed. This is further seen when she appeals to Zeus for the return of Odysseus just when Poseidon has left Mount Olympus.
My last character would be Odysseus; he portrays adaptability, resourcefulness, and cunning intellect. Throughout his journey home, Odysseus faces a lot of trials, all of which he manages to survive. He will be a great addition to our team as he will always find a clever way of maneuvering through the challenges we face in our mission. His escape from Cyclops Polyphemus shows that he is quick to act under pressure and that he is creative and a good problem solver. He revisits the ordeal, saying, “Friends, up to this point, we’ve not been strangers to misfortunes. Surely, the bad things now are nothing worse than when the Cyclops, with his savage force kept us his prisoners in his hollow cave. But even there, thanks to my excellence, intelligence, and planning, we escaped” (Homer et al. 241). This shows that he can help the team overcome unexpected challenges creatively. Odysseus is able to adapt to different circumstances. Whatever the challenge, be it temptations by sirens or fighting mythical creatures, Odysseus adapts. In our team, Odysseus’ adaptability will be helpful in ensuring that he survives any situation thrown at him during the mission. Odysseus is a born leader; he is able to rally his men throughout their journey. One time at sea, Odysseus “went through the ship, cheering up the crew, standing beside each man and speaking words of reassurance…” (Homer et al. 241). This will be useful in the team when he is required to lead certain tasks.
In conclusion, our team, composed of Gilgamesh, Hanuman, Athena, and Odysseus, is capable of retrieving the stolen Book of Wisdom and Knowledge. Gilgamesh’s strategic leadership and strength, Hanuman’s physique, loyalty, and resourcefulness, Athena’s strategies and divine intervention, and Odysseus’ adaptability, resourcefulness, and leadership are all unique skills and traits that will greatly contribute to the success of the mission. Together, our skills blend in and form a strong team.
References
Griffith, Ralph Thomas Hotchkin. The Ramayan of Valmiki. Lazarus, 1915.
George, Andrew. The Epic of Gilgamesh. A New Translation. Allen Lane the Penguin Press, Homer, Ian Courtenay Johnston, and Anton Lesser. The Odyssey. Naxos AudioBooks, 2007. 1999.
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