Final answer:
Gilgamesh departs to the Cedar Forest seeking fame and glory, driven by the death of his friend Enkidu and a fear of mortality. He aims to defeat the demigod Humbaba and secure his legacy, but ultimately learns that immortality is beyond his grasp, returning to Uruk a wiser king.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gilgamesh goes to the Cedar Forest to seek fame and glory. He is the protagonist of The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem that is considered one of the earliest works of literature. The Cedar Forest is home to the demigod Humbaba, whom Gilgamesh aims to defeat. Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh is driven by the desire to achieve eternal renown and to secure his legacy as a great king of Uruk. This drive for immortal fame becomes even more pronounced after the death of his close companion, Enkidu, which deeply affects Gilgamesh, causing him to fear his own mortality and seek immortality.
However, Gilgamesh's journey is not just about battles and quests for glory; it also reflects deep philosophical and existential themes, such as the nature of human mortality and the quest for meaning in a transient life. Despite his heroic efforts, Gilgamesh ultimately learns that immortality cannot be achieved through heroic deeds alone. It is a powerful lesson in the limitations of humans in the face of the inexorable reality of death. From his epic journey, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with a greater wisdom and understanding of his role as a ruler and a human being.