Looking through West’s Distorted Lens on the Middle East in Lawrence of Arabia The West has always actively engaged as interventionists in foreign lands. This can be seen from its active engagement in colonialism and overt imperialism during the 15th until the mid-20th century, to the more modern assertions of influence Western powers over smaller nations (Hoffman). The Middle Eastern nations are among those who have consistently been affected by Western interventionism throughout the centuries. This interventionism manifests itself in the various political, military, and cultural influences that the Western powers have imposed on the Middle East. At the same time, this (arguable) imperialism by the Western powers can also manifest itself…show more content… E. Lawrence as a fundamental figure in the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918, and at the same time as one of the heroes who helped catalyze Allied victory over the Ottoman Empire. The film is split into two parts. The first part focuses on the beginnings of the Arab Revolt, before it became a full-fledged guerilla war conducted by the Arab people against the Ottoman Empire. The second part directs its attention to the remainder of the conflict, and the Middle Eastern theater of the First World War. In the first part, T. E. Lawrence is presented as a misfit British Army Lieutenant, known by the British detachment in the Middle East for his combination of insolence and education. He is sent, over the objections of commanding General Archibald Murray, to assess the capability of Prince Faisal I of Iraq in leading his revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Upon meeting the prince, he ignores suggestions to follow his mission to the letter and simply make his assessment and leave. He is outspoken during his meeting with Prince Faisal, who later pays more attention to him rather than Colonel Brighton when the latter proposes a retreat after a major defeat. Prince Faisal instead follows T. E. Lawrence’ advice to attack Aqaba, which is successful and yields dividends to the revolution’s efforts. For the rest of the first part, T. E. Lawrence plays the role as the primary organizer of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.…show more content… E. Lawrence is attributed as leading the Arabs in their guerilla war, taking command in every major battle. In the process, he is shown as a sympathetic figure, for example in his willingness to kill his comrade Farraj instead of leaving him to be captured and tortured by the Ottoman Turks. He himself is captured and subjected to torture before being returned to the British quarters in Cairo, and shown as deeply shaken by the experience. Nevertheless, he return to lead the Arabs in revolt, taking Damascus ahead of the actual British forces. Here, the Arabs are shown to be incapable of governing the city themselves, and end up having to cede it to the British in the end. This would be T. E. Lawrence’ last major action in the war according to the film, and he would return to the United Kingdom soon
