The Book of Khalid · Chapter
A Dream of Empire explained
Khalid, preparing to speak at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, is consumed by a new, profound love that keeps him from sleep and work.
What happens
Khalid, preparing to speak at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, is consumed by a new, profound love that keeps him from sleep and work. He is surrounded by newspapers that both vilify and glorify him, with one line in particular—'the soul of the East and the mind of the West, the builder of a great Asiatic Empire'—capturing his imagination. Unable to think, he dreams of an Arab renaissance and a new Saladin. He visits Mrs. Gotfry, who is also awake, and shares his vision of a great Arab empire, suggesting that with her love and influence, they could achieve it together.
Themes in this chapter
East-West Clash
Khalid is seen as having 'the soul of the East and the mind of the West,' and his dream of an empire is to be backed by 'American millions,' highlighting the fusion and tension between Eastern and Western influences.
Love and Sacrifice
Khalid's new love is described as a 'divine strain' that brings both 'exquisite pain and joy,' and he connects it to his dream of building an empire, suggesting a willingness to sacrifice for a greater purpose.
Political Awakening
Khalid's dream of a great Asiatic Empire and his desire to lead a renaissance of Arabia represent a significant political awakening, moving from personal spiritual quest to a vision for his people.
Critique of Modernity
Khalid criticizes the Turks for being 'demoralised' and lacking 'stamina' and 'character,' and dismisses 'high-sounding inanities about fraternity and equality' as unable to regenerate an empire, reflecting a critique of modern political ideals.
Characters to notice
- Khalid
Consumed by a new, fathomless love and the dream of an Arab empire, he is unable to sleep or work, instead dreaming of a great renaissance.
- Mrs. Gotfry
Also unable to sleep, she welcomes Khalid into her room, where they discuss his vision of a new Saladin and an Arab empire.
- Shakib
Mentioned in Khalid's earlier statement about the nature of enduring love.
- Najma
Khalid's cousin, with whom he experienced a divine but snatched-away love in Baalbek.
- Sheikh Taleb
An old sheikh in Damascus who advises Khalid to be careful in his utterances, warning him of the ulema and the dangers of speaking directly to the people.
Key passages
“The love that endures, give me that. And it must be of the deepest divine strain—as deep and divine as maternal love.”
Khalid desires a love that is eternal and sacred, as profound as a mother's love.
Khalid expresses his ideal of a transcendent, enduring love.
“He read it and reread it over and over again—forward and backward, too. He juggled, so to speak, with its words.”
Khalid repeatedly read and pondered the line about him being the builder of a great Asiatic Empire.
The line from the newspaper deeply resonates with Khalid's own secret ambitions.
“We need another Saladin today—a Saladin of the Idea, who will wage a crusade, not against Christianity or Mohammedanism, but against those Tataric usurpers who are now toadying to both.”
Khalid believes the Arab world needs a new leader, a spiritual and intellectual warrior, to fight against the Ottoman Turks.
Khalid articulates his vision for a new Arab leader to Mrs. Gotfry.
“With my words and your love and influence, with our powers united, we”
Khalid suggests that together, his words and her love and influence, they could achieve their shared dream.
Khalid proposes a partnership with Mrs. Gotfry to realize his imperial vision.
