Enkidus sexual performance in Gilgamesh left me feeling inadequate, what do I do?
First, you need to remember that Gilgamesh is mythological. Enkidu’s sexual performance isn’t even on the same plane of meaning. If you’re taking the story as a threat, you might be taking the events in the story a little too literally. Remember that the characters in Gilgamesh could also walk hundreds of miles in days. But you should also work on building up some distance between yourself and the reading you’re doing for class. Keep in mind that what you read isn’t the only point of view and there is a real world all around you. Try to mix your reading for class with some pleasure reading. This is a good thing to start practicing early. Most people start running into trouble with Freud, Nietzsche, and Kafka. But if you continue struggling with feelings of inadequacy, you should also consider finding someone to talk to (a friend, a parent, a P.A., an R.D., health services, or a therapist).
