Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
XCII explained
Lawrence reflects on the improved organization of the Arab Revolt under Allenby's staff, particularly Alan Dawnay's influence.
What happens
Lawrence reflects on the improved organization of the Arab Revolt under Allenby's staff, particularly Alan Dawnay's influence. He discusses the triple plan to support Allenby's offensive, the death of Daud and its effect on Farraj, and the nature of discipline in the Arab Army versus regular armies. The chapter also touches on cultural differences in conceptions of womanhood and the challenges of managing the Arab regular forces.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
The friendship and perfect love between Farraj and Daud, and Farraj's grief at Daud's death.
Culture and Otherness
Contrast between Western and Eastern conceptions of womanhood, and the partnerships of man and man among the Ageyl.
War and Guerrilla Tactics
Discussion of discipline in regular versus irregular armies, and the Arab Army's lack of formal discipline.
Futility and Meaning
Reflections on the nature of war, discipline, and the search for meaning beyond flesh and sense.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator; spends four days in Cairo, plans operations with Joyce, travels to Shobek with Zeid and Nasir, reflects on discipline and the Arab Army.
- Alan Dawnay
Allenby's greatest gift to the Arab Revolt; a professional officer who marries war and rebellion, helps reorganize the movement.
- Joyce
Works with Lawrence on the triple plan; falls ill of pneumonia and leaves for Suez.
- Sherif Zeid
Accompanies Lawrence to Shobek.
- Sherif Nasir
Accompanies Lawrence to Shobek.
- Farraj
Grieves the death of his friend Daud; becomes silent and devout.
- Daud
Lawrence's Ageyli boy; dies of cold at Azrak.
- Emir Feisal
Supports the scheme to cut the railway but faces opposition from his officers.
Key passages
“He married war and rebellion in himself; as, of old in Yenbo, it had been my dream every regular officer would.”
Alan Dawnay successfully combined conventional military strategy with guerrilla tactics, fulfilling Lawrence's long-held hope.
Lawrence praises Dawnay's unique ability to integrate regular and irregular warfare.
“These two had been friends from childhood, in eternal gaiety: working together, sleeping together, sharing every scrape and profit with the openness and honesty of perfect love.”
Farraj and Daud had been inseparable companions since childhood, sharing everything with complete trust and affection.
Describes the deep bond between the two Ageyli boys.
“In the regular Arab Army there was no power of punishment whatever: this vital difference showed itself in all our troops.”
The Arab regular army had no system of punishment, which fundamentally shaped its character and operations.
Highlights the lack of formal discipline in the Arab forces.
