In the Separation of Wild Animal Nature and Human Nature in Gilgamesh: Roots of a Contemporary Theme, Patrick Barron examines the literary themes of the Epic of Gilgamesh, particularly the tumultuous relationship between nature and civilization as portrayed in the character Enkidu. Barron suggests that Gilgamesh’s attitude towards animal nature sets the tone for works of literature to this day. In this paper, the author argues that Enkidu’s divorce from his animalistic side is the main conflict of Gilgamesh and that both Gilgamesh and the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) are both to blame for this tragic separation. Barron chooses Gilgamesh as the work for analysis based on its merit as the oldest surviving piece of written literature and as such, a template for all subsequent works that feature similar hostility towards animal nature. He hopes that by studying Gilgamesh he could address the implication of the separation, and takes steps to rectify the problem. According to Barron, the separation of Enkidu from nature is at the very heart of Gilgamesh and all the events that follow are a direct result of this action. Enkidu is created as a counterpart to Gilgamesh, meant to balance Gilgamesh’s civilized violence with his savage sympathy. Together, they are supposed to represent two sides of the greater self. But this union is doomed from the start as a result of Enkidu’s traumatic severance from the wild, which prevents him from fully connecting with Gilgamesh. Barron points out that by participating in Humbaba’s murder, Enkidu unwittingly assists in his own death. Before his domestication, Enkidu serves as an adopted protector of wildlife, freeing animals from the snares of poachers and destroying the traps of hunters. As the story progresses, he gradually loses his animal nature as he adopts the trappings of civilization. After relations with Shamhat, the animals disown Enkidu and no longer accept him as one of their own. After he partakes of bread and beer, he even takes arms against the animals he once protected. But by taking on Humbaba, Enkidu dooms himself to his eventual demise. His animal side tries to avoid this fate by hindering Enkidu’s progress, but to no success. It plagues him with nightmares of the animals h