# LXXVI explained — Seven Pillars of Wisdom

> Chapter companion for Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence.

## What happens

Lawrence and his forces, after a failed attempt to blow up the bridge at Tell el Shehab, retreat in grim silence and exhaustion, crossing the railway and cutting telegraph wires. They endure a harrowing night journey through difficult terrain, with incidents involving a pedlar, a frightened shepherd, and a gipsy woman, before finally reaching the Yarmuk gorge. There, they prepare to demolish the bridge, but their efforts are hampered by the aftermath of their earlier failure and the presence of a passing train.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Endurance

The chapter vividly depicts physical exhaustion, hunger, and the relentless march through mud and rain, highlighting the endurance of the men and camels.

### Futility and Meaning

Lawrence's despair over the failed bridge demolition and his reflection on the Arab Revolt as a 'caravan that started out ardently for a cloud-goal' underscores the theme of futility.

### Honor and Deception

The betrayal by Abd el Kader and the need for secrecy (Mifleh calling Lawrence 'Arab') highlight the tension between honor and deception in guerrilla warfare.

## Character check-ins

### T.E. Lawrence

Leads the retreat and the night march, reflecting on failure and the Arab Revolt's prospects.

### Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein

Rides with Lawrence in the rear, driving the men forward and disciplining a servant.

### Sheikh Mifleh

Guides the party through the night, calling Lawrence 'Arab' to avoid betrayal, and leads them to the Yarmuk gorge.

### Farraj

Involved in a fight with young Mustafa over cooking rice.

### Daud

Joins Farraj in knocking Mustafa about.

### Awad

Has another fight with Ahmed; later helps Mustafa remount his camel.

## Key lines

> Our minds were sick with failure, and our bodies tired after nearly a hundred strained miles over bad country in bad conditions, between sunset and sunset, without halt or food.

We were mentally crushed by our failure and physically exhausted after covering almost a hundred difficult miles in terrible conditions from sunset to sunset, with no rest or food.

_Lawrence summarizes the demoralizing aftermath of the failed bridge mission._

> Had we calculated fairly we should have known that we had a chance in spite of him: yet a dispassionate judgement lay not in our mood, and we thought half-despairingly how the Arab Revolt would never perform its last stage, but would remain one more example of the caravans which started out ardently for a cloud-goal, and died man by man in the wilderness without the tarnish of achievement.

If we had thought rationally, we would have realized we still had a chance despite Abd el Kader's betrayal; but we were too upset to be objective, and we despairingly imagined the Arab Revolt would never reach its final goal, becoming just another caravan that set out eagerly for an impossible dream and perished one by one in the desert without any accomplishment.

_Lawrence reflects on the psychological impact of betrayal and the fear of failure._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters