Death and the quest for immortality

Think about the theme of death and the quest for immortality. How is death represented at various stages of the Gilgamesh epic? How is immortality represented? After Enkidu dies, why must Gilgamesh “wander the wild” with “matted” hair and “clad in a lion skin” (VII, 115)? What is Gilgamesh really seeking in his quest for immortality? How does he understand his quest? How do we see it? What does he find at the edge of the world? Does he find what he is looking for? Does he undergo a transformation? Is this an “epic about the fear of death,” as Stephen Mitchell argues? If so, how are we supposed to understand that? What would it mean to overcome the fear of death? How would that transform the way we live? Does Gilgamesh overcome his fear? What are we left with at the end of the poem? What kind of wisdom does Gilgamesh bring home to his people?