Read the excerpt from gilgamesh: a new english version.
gilgamesh answered, "dear friend, dear brother, i cannot kill humbaba alone. stay here with me. stand at my side. 'two boats lashed together will never sink. a three-ply rope is not easily broken.' if we each other and fight side by side, what harm can come to us? "
the author includes this excerpt to establish gilgamesh as
a compelling speaker.
a ruthless warrior.
a devoted servant of shamash.
a long-distance traveler.

a compelling speaker.

In this excerpt, Gilgamesh is trying to convince Enkidu to help him fight Humbaba because they are stronger together. He does not talk about his actual fighting technique or victories so we do not know if he is a ruthless warrior. We also do not know if he is a devoted servant of Shamash because there is nothing in the excerpt to suggest that he is devoted to anyone or even knows who Shamash is. A long-distance traveler is also wrong because this excerpt does not have anything to do with traveling, nor does it say they have traveled.

Gilgamesh has some good metaphors to help him in his case. He seems to improvise a good speech to convince someone else to do what he wants at that moment. All by the use of words and nothing else.

He doesn't mention Shamash, he doesn't make any reference to travels nor to his prowess in war. There's a clear objective in this excerpt.

It is to show that Gilgamesh is a compelling speaker.

the use supports it by making it seem like the dictators are not bad to the people when the truly are.