Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
XLV explained
Lawrence and his companions continue their journey through the desert, facing an attack, dealing with the challenges of thirst and scarcity, and finally finding the Howeitat.
What happens
Lawrence and his companions continue their journey through the desert, facing an attack, dealing with the challenges of thirst and scarcity, and finally finding the Howeitat. They plan to negotiate with Nuri Shaalan for safe passage and support.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Endurance
The chapter highlights the physical hardships of desert travel, including thirst, foodlessness, and the need to adapt to Arab customs.
Honor and Deception
The plan to have Nuri Shaalan publicly adhere to Turkey while secretly supporting the Arab cause involves deception for strategic advantage.
Culture and Otherness
Lawrence reflects on the differences between English and Arab habits, particularly regarding solitude and communal living.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator and participant; reflects on the lessons of desert war and the need to avoid solitude among the Arabs.
- Mohammed el Dheilan
Second man of the Abu Tayi; described as powerful, thinking, and cynical; joins Lawrence by the fire and later leads a pursuit.
- Auda abu Tayi
Leader of the Howeitat; calls Zaal to scout and plans to ride to Nuri Shaalan for negotiations.
- Sherif Nasir
Musters the Ageyl during the attack and participates in the council.
- Ibn Zaal
Nephew of Auda; described as lithe, metallic, and cruel; scouts the enemy after the attack.
- Nuri Shaalan
Powerful tribal leader; the group plans to present him with six thousand pounds for permission to stay in Sirhan.
Key passages
“pleasant lessons of the desert war: and humiliating, too, for it was a part of pride with Englishmen to hug solitude; ourselves finding ourselves to be remarkable, when there was no competition present.”
The desert war taught both pleasant and humiliating lessons; Englishmen took pride in solitude, but among the Arabs, being alone made one stand out, which was uncomfortable.
Lawrence reflects on the cultural clash between English desire for privacy and Arab communal living.
“Mohammed el Dheilan heard, came silently across the sand and sank down, slowly, groaningly, camel-like, on the ground by me.”
Mohammed el Dheilan heard the coffee preparation and quietly approached, lowering himself to the ground with a groan, like a camel.
Describes Mohammed's deliberate and weary movement, emphasizing his physicality.
“We had unlimited ammunition in our hand, and did not stint to show it.”
We had plenty of ammunition and used it freely to demonstrate our strength.
During the night attack, the group fired heavily to intimidate the enemy.
“Our desire was to fight Turks, and this inter-Arab business was sheer waste.”
We wanted to fight the Turks, not other Arabs, so this conflict was a pointless distraction.
Lawrence expresses frustration with skirmishes between Arab groups.
“Arab habit was to fill themselves to vomiting point at each well, and either to go dry to the next; or, if they carried water, to use it lavishly at the first halt, drinking and bread-making.”
Arabs typically drank until they were sick at each well, then either went without water until the next or used it freely at the first stop for drinking and making bread.
Describes the extreme water consumption habits of the Bedouin.
