Rough Draft 1

Sunset Park: A Modern Epic

The classic epic(work on synonyms) Gilgamesh is a tale of glory, sorrow, divine intervention and secular immortality. However, Paul Auster has taken this tale and adapted it to a modern epic. Chronological distortions, character splicing, and fusions reflect Auster’s unique take on the Mesopotamian epic(change from epic to another word). It is told in this manner to be accessible and relatable(combine with another sentence - short(Ayesha likes it thoug). Secondary characters are explored and the designated roles of protagonist are blurred with the shift in narration. Sunset Park beautifully captures the gem cut faces of the same story. The book does not directly come out as an adaptation, but the similarities are endless and uncanny. Characters, events, and relationships reflect the recycling of an old story that captures the essence of Gilgamesh.

Auster anthropomorphizes Gilgamesh. He strips away the 2/3(look into propotion of Willa, Mary, Morris) divinity, kingship, and physical strength to leave a flawed character with a violent, irrational temper: Miles Heller. This humanification(go with humanization) illustrates the internal struggles and personal shortcomings that even the high and mighty must suffer. Miles flees from Providence to wrestle with his internal demons just as Gilgamesh leaves his kingdom to kill the ogre Humbaba. Neither is able to accomplish what they truly desire. Although, Gilgamesh obtains secular immortality but remains mortal and must eventually face death(flesh out to make a better comparison). Similarly, Miles runs from guilt, and for a while succeeds in losing himself, yet eventually is forced to realize that denial is no means to cope or understand his brother’s death. Although Miles is only a diaphanous specter of Gilgamesh, his essence of true humanity embodies a more complete, strong, and alive representation of the same being.

The role of the family in Gilgamesh is one of mutual protection, love, and sacrifice. The Mesopotamian hero’s mother is the minor goddess Ninsun. Adapted to a modern story, Miles mother is a relatively famous celebrity idolize(look for potentially a better word) and worshipped in American culture. Ninsun adopts Enkidu as her own son just as Morris and Mary-Lee Swann adopt Bing into their family after witnessing his displays of unending kindness and loyalty. Ninsun does this to bestow protection on Enkidu along with Gilgamesh. Not surprisingly, “Willa”, the name of Miles' stepmother, from Germanic roots translates to “protection” (Work on it). As secondary characters in the ancient story, Auster does not strip the parents of any qualities, instead promoting their own perspective to the forefront of the story. In Gilgamesh’s quest to attain immortality, his family is greatly affected yet his mother’s viewpoint is not thoroughly addressed. By switching perspectives to Morris, Sunset Park expands on the full effects of the protagonist’s actions and the repercussions in full to secondary characters.

Bing is perhaps the most unchanged character in this modern epic. He epitomizes the primitive Enkidu; Gilgamesh’s bosom friend that was born of the earth and raised by animals. Physically, Bing and Enkidu are large and have “hirsute [chests]” (pg 222) and are large bulking bears. Enkidu is a literal creature of the earth, an animal from the point in which humanity existed before the rise of Mesopotamia. Because Sunset Park occurs in 2007, Bing is instead a creature of the primitive modern: the point proceeding the era of software. The arguably homoerotic relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is seen in Bing’s attraction to Miles. Further strengthening the analogy, Bing gives advice and helps Miles throughout the novel just as Enkidu interprets Gilgamesh’s dreams. Both characters serve to foil their protagonists and demonstrate that despite fundamental differences, friendship can endure hardships. Auster switches narration which shows that the foil to the protagonist can be complex and suffer personal problems. "It also suggests that a true protagonist in the story of a person’s life is on whom the story gravitates (unclear - simplify). The story surrounds Miles; his story establishes him as the protagonist. If during the moments of Mile’s life Auster had instead focused on Bing, than the roles would reverse and Miles would instead be the foil to the protagonist, Bing. Literary roles are in relation to the centralized character and there is a constant fluidity since in a moment, every character’s story is in motion." - potentially new paragraph, but it would be a compare and contrast ( so you'd have to watch out)... Ayesha likes it, though. make sure it fits in with your overarching theme... make a whole new paragraph.

Originally, Enkidu exists outside civilization. It is not until he sleeps with the temple prostitute Shamhat for seven days and seven nights that he understands the language and customs of man(show Bing's specific social changes from living in the house). Bing lives alone due to his social ineptitude but through Ellen, who is of questionable sexual integrity and with whom he later has sexual relations, he is capable of entering society. Interestingly, she works on 7th Ave. and it is only after looking at seven houses do the two find the house in Sunset Park. The house is formed and Bing becomes a member of the tightknit community of Sunset Park. The message is universal and clear in both stories. Human civilization is a creation of people and so it is only through people that a person can enter society. In fact, it is the bond between more than two people that establishes a society.

Sunset Park is the neighborhood in which the four housemates choose to squat within. The house protects them from the cost of living and shields them from the elements. In Gilgamesh, Shamash is the sun god that protects Enkidu and Gilgamesh throughout the epic. The sun god sends wind to bind Humbaba to enable the victory, but more importantly to ensure the survival of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Eventually, higher powers decide to assail the heroes of Uruk and not even Shamash can grant protection. The house enables Alice to finish her dissertation, Ellen to develop true expression, Bing to exist as a part of society, and Miles to live in New York and confront his past. The house provides an environment in which the characters are able to live together, affect one another, and within this environment(new word) save one another. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu have prophetic dreams throughout the tale indicating impending, unavoidable disaster. At the house in Sunset Park, the tenants receive many eviction notifications and their refusal to leave ends in violence. The transformation of the sun god into Sunset Park suggests that there is the existence of tangible, positive circumstances and that “all luck isn’t bad” (pg ?). ---(pinto says put nourish)

Ishtar is the antagonist of Gilgamesh and her actions cause the complications and sufferings. Gilgamesh denies this authoritative goddess sex and in retaliation she sends a deadly bull from heaven to destroy him and Enkidu. The two of them are capable to defeat the beast without divine intervention. Pilar’s older sister approaches Miles and demands she provides her with the spoils of gutted houses. At his refusal she angrily sends two thugs to beat him up. They succeed. This dissimilarity might have to do with the absence of Bing. Had his two hundred and twenty pound friend been at his side, the confrontation might have ended differently. Ishtar eventually instigates divine retribution and the gods choose to kill Enkidu seemingly without reason. Miles’ brother is suddenly killed in a small skirmish that should not have resulted in his death. It is a catholic notion that is no different over space or time. Unexpected tragedy does occur without reason.

Gilgamesh travels to the end of the world to the oceans in an effort to learn the secret of immortality. Since he cannot master sleep(explain that), he is convinced to return home but to take a flower from the bottom of the ocean that will restore youth. Miles travels south to the end of the United States yet since he cannot comply with the legalities between him and Pilar he must return north. She is Cuban, which like the boxflower, is from the ocean beyond the end of the earth. Gilgamesh is bathing on his way home and a serpent clandestinely steals off with the flower. It is an abrupt end that seems rushed. Sunset Park ends with Miles’ hopes of the future stolen by the fight with the eviction police. His life with Pilar slips from his grasp and he falls into the despair. Just like Gilgamesh the novel ends abruptly at a point of panic and melancholy.