Inanna vs. Oedipus Rex Essay

She wondered: ‘How long will it be until I have a shinning throne to sit upon? ‘How long will it be until I have a shinning bed to lie upon? † The huluppu-tree is a metaphor of Inanna herself. The tree’s growth symbolizes Inanna’s growth in her own life. When she mentions that she wants to make a thrown and bed for herself, she is foreshadowing her destiny of becoming a queen. This was her first test in becoming a leader. A leader needs to know how to be responsible for something or someone. They need to show that they care and can put forth tremendous effort toward what is important. In many instances through out the story, Inanna showed responsibility and maturity, but this was her first sight of it. After a couple years of waiting for the bark to split so that she can build her thrown and bed, â€Å"A serpent who could not be charmed made its nest in the roots of the huluppu-tree. The Anzu-bird set his young in the branches of the tree. And the dark maid Lilith built her home in the trunk. â€Å"(Pg. 6;Lines 1-4) The three things that built their home in the tree was the next test that he needed to overcome so that she can start her life in becoming a woman. When these struggles started in her life, she knew that she couldn’t do it alone, so she asked for help. She first asked her brother Utu, The Sun God. He would not help her. So she then asked her other brother, Gilgamesh who agreed to help. He put on his armor and grabbed his bronze ax and entered Inanna’s holy garden. He struck the serpent and then the Anzubirds flew away. Finally the Lilth smashed her home and fled. Gilgamash then carved a throne and bed for Inanna using the tree trunk. This portrays a strong leadership quality in Inanna, which is openness. A leader needs to be able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. They need to be able to know that sometimes they might not be right, and have to listen to someone else. Inanna knew she couldn’t do it on her own, and she needed help. Asking for help was a learning step for her in maturing her leadership qualities. Oedipus showed different leadership qualities as Inanna, which were determination and integrity. When the plague hit the town the second time, Oedipus as determined to end it. Just as he did when he first entered the town and solved the riddle. He sent many men out to find who killed the king and promised the town that he would find this man and end the plague. Ironically, who he was looking for was himself. He was the murderer of the king and the husband of his mother. When his guilt, no longer see those they should never seen, nor see, unseeing, those he had longed to see, henceforth seeing nothing but night To this wild tune he pierced his eyeballs time and tie again, till bloody tears ran down his beard. † – (Pg. 1 ;Lines 7-12) Oedipus was a very strong leader. He put an exceptional amount of effort and responsibility towards the people of the city. He was determined to end the plague for his people of Thebes. When he found out that he was the man he was looking for, he punished himself. Instead of killing himself, he pierced his eyes out so he has to live the rest of his life knowing that all of his answers were right in front of him, but he couldn’t see it. This is why he was a great leader. He had the most power in the whole city and could have easily accused someone else. Yet he punishes himself Just as would if it was another man. This shows a great amount of integrity. He never veered from his inner values, even when it was expeditious to do so. I think that Inanna has better leadership skills than Oedipus because she is more experienced. Oedipus has natural leadership qualities. Inanna was tested throughout her life, which made her a stronger leader. The one part of her life that made her a better leader than Oedipus was when she decented herself to the underworld. â€Å"My Lady abandoned heaven and earth to decened to the underworld. Inanna abandoned heaven and earth to decened to the underworld. She abandoned her office of holy priestess to decened to the underworld. † – (pg. 52;Lines 4-6) This shows great leadership qualities. She was striving so much to be great, she never experienced the difficulties of life. So she descended herself so that she can experience the other side of life. This was the biggest step into making her the leader that she was. Oedipus is nothing like Inanna in the sense of leadership. Through out the story of Inanna, she works to achieve royality, experience both sides of life and doesn’t help nyone but herself on the way..