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LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: A ROMANTIC CAVALIER IN MODERN TIMES

Year 2021, , 915 - 939, 25.08.2021
https://doi.org/10.47994/usbad.907415

Abstract

Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, was one of the most controversial figures in the field of Oriental studies. While some acclaim him as an epic hero who provoked the Arab revolt against the Turks, others criticize him for being an egocentric and embellisher who played a sideshow role during the War. Either as a popular hero characterized by speculative representations or a historical figure well documented by his biographers, Lawrence has an outstanding reputation in the area. Therefore, there are many academic studies based on his heroic fame and detailed war narratives. This study aims to illustrate how this epic heroism is represented by T. E. Lawrence in his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1921-2). Through a detailed literary analysis of the book, it also hopes to reveal how Lawrence represents himself as a romantic cavalier. In this context, the study will first examine Lawrence’s aristocratic background and deep interest in mediaeval studies. His identity clashes stemming from his contact with the Arabs will also be investigated to show his quest for a new heroic identity. Then, Lawrence’s reliability as a narrator will be questioned. Some fictional incidences included in his book will be analysed to explore how these false accounts help Lawrence’s aim of representing himself as a mystic and romantic hero. Overall, the study hopes to contribute to the existent scholarship by examining a controversial political figure through the lenses of chivalry, heroism and Medieval studies.

References

  • Aldington, R. (1955). Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Enquiry. London: Collins.
  • Anderson, N. (1923). The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press.
  • Antonius, G. (1939). The Arab Awakening: The Story of the Arab National Movement. New York: Simon Publications.
  • Barr, J. (2006). Setting the Desert on Fire: T. E. Lawrence and Britain's Secret War in Arabia, 1916-1918. London: Bloomsbury.
  • Bell, J. L. (1993). Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications.
  • Besant, W. & E. H. Palmer. (2011). History of Jerusalem. New York: Barnes and Noble.
  • Doughty, C. M. (1881). Travels in Arabia Deserta. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Dowson, E. M. (1937). T. E. Lawrence by His Friends. In A. W. Lawrence (Ed). London: J. Cape.
  • Graves, R. (1927). Lawrence and the Arabs. London: Cape.
  • Hart, B. H. L. (1935). ‘T. E. Lawrence’ in Arabia and After. London: J. Cape.
  • Holy Bible. (2013). New International Version, NIV. Retrieved from https://www.biblica.com/
  • Hughes, T. (1861). Tom Brown at Oxford. London: MacMillan.
  • James, L. (1995). The Golden Warrior, the Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. London: Abacus.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1921-2). Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Hertford: Wordsworth Classics.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1976). T. E. Lawrence Letters to His Biographers Robert Graves and Liddell Hart. Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1938). The Letters of T. E. Lawrence. In D. Garnett (Ed). London and Toronto: J. Cape.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (2005). Lawrence of Arabia: The Selected Letters. In M. Brown (Ed). London: Little Books.
  • Macphail, A. (1929). Three Persons. London: John Murray.
  • Meyers, J. (1973). The Wounded Spirit: T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Malory, T. (1485). Le Morte D'Arthur. London: Penguin.
  • Richards, V. (1964). Portrait of T. E. Lawrence. New York: Scholastic.
  • Stewart, D. (1977). T. E. Lawrence: A New Biography. Colorado: Paladin.
  • Storrs, R. (1997). The Spell of Arabia: Charles Doughty and T. E. Lawrence. Journal of the T. E. Lawrence Society 7(1), 25-31.
  • Storrs, R. (1937). Orientations. London: Nicholson & Watson.
  • T. E. L. Studies. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.telstudies.org/
  • Thomas, L. (1924). With Lawrence in Arabia. London: Prion.
  • Wilson, J. (1989). Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence. London: Heinemann.

ARABİSTANLI LAWRENCE: MODERN ZAMANLARIN ROMANTİK ŞÖVALYESİ

Year 2021, , 915 - 939, 25.08.2021
https://doi.org/10.47994/usbad.907415

Abstract

Thomas Edward Lawrence, daha iyi bilinen adıyla Arabistanlı Lawrence, Şarkiyat alanındaki çalışmalarda adı geçen en tartışmalı figürlerden biridir. Bazıları Lawrence’ı Türklere karşı Arapları kışkırtan epik bir kahraman olarak överken, bazıları ise onu savaşta sadece yan bir rol oynayan, benmerkezci bir yalancı olarak yermiştir. Gerek spekülatif temsiller vasıtasıyla tanımlanan popüler bir kahraman olarak, gerekse biyografisini yazan yazarlar tarafından iyi bir şekilde kayıt altına alınmış tarihi bir figür olarak, Lawrence alanda sıra dışı bir üne sahiptir. Bu nedenle, hem destansı ünü ile ilgili hem de detaylı savaş anıları ile ilgili pek çok akademik çalışma yapılmıştır. Bu çalışma, söz konusu destansı kahramanlığın T. E. Lawrence tarafından kendi kitabı olan Seven Pillars of Wisdom’da (1921-2) nasıl anlatıldığını göstermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Kitaba dair detaylı bir edebi analiz yapılarak, Lawrence’ın kendini nasıl romantik bir şövalye olarak yansıtmaya çalıştığı ortaya konulmaya çalışılacaktır. Bu bağlamda, çalışmada ilk olarak Lawrence’ın aristokratik geçmişi ve Orta Çağ çalışmalarına olan ilgisi ele alınacaktır. Ayrıca, Lawrence’ın Araplarla tanışmasından sonra ortaya çıkan kimlik çatışması yeni bir kahramansı kimlik arayışını göstermek adına detaylı olarak incelenecektir. Daha sonra, Lawrence’ın anlatıcı olarak güvenilirliği tartışmaya açılacaktır. Kitabında geçen bazı kurgusal olayların, kendisini gizemli ve romantik bir kahraman olarak gösterme amacına hizmet etmesi adına Lawrence tarafından nasıl manipüle edildiği ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılacaktır.

References

  • Aldington, R. (1955). Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Enquiry. London: Collins.
  • Anderson, N. (1923). The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press.
  • Antonius, G. (1939). The Arab Awakening: The Story of the Arab National Movement. New York: Simon Publications.
  • Barr, J. (2006). Setting the Desert on Fire: T. E. Lawrence and Britain's Secret War in Arabia, 1916-1918. London: Bloomsbury.
  • Bell, J. L. (1993). Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise. Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications.
  • Besant, W. & E. H. Palmer. (2011). History of Jerusalem. New York: Barnes and Noble.
  • Doughty, C. M. (1881). Travels in Arabia Deserta. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Dowson, E. M. (1937). T. E. Lawrence by His Friends. In A. W. Lawrence (Ed). London: J. Cape.
  • Graves, R. (1927). Lawrence and the Arabs. London: Cape.
  • Hart, B. H. L. (1935). ‘T. E. Lawrence’ in Arabia and After. London: J. Cape.
  • Holy Bible. (2013). New International Version, NIV. Retrieved from https://www.biblica.com/
  • Hughes, T. (1861). Tom Brown at Oxford. London: MacMillan.
  • James, L. (1995). The Golden Warrior, the Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. London: Abacus.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1921-2). Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Hertford: Wordsworth Classics.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1976). T. E. Lawrence Letters to His Biographers Robert Graves and Liddell Hart. Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (1938). The Letters of T. E. Lawrence. In D. Garnett (Ed). London and Toronto: J. Cape.
  • Lawrence, T. E. (2005). Lawrence of Arabia: The Selected Letters. In M. Brown (Ed). London: Little Books.
  • Macphail, A. (1929). Three Persons. London: John Murray.
  • Meyers, J. (1973). The Wounded Spirit: T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Malory, T. (1485). Le Morte D'Arthur. London: Penguin.
  • Richards, V. (1964). Portrait of T. E. Lawrence. New York: Scholastic.
  • Stewart, D. (1977). T. E. Lawrence: A New Biography. Colorado: Paladin.
  • Storrs, R. (1997). The Spell of Arabia: Charles Doughty and T. E. Lawrence. Journal of the T. E. Lawrence Society 7(1), 25-31.
  • Storrs, R. (1937). Orientations. London: Nicholson & Watson.
  • T. E. L. Studies. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.telstudies.org/
  • Thomas, L. (1924). With Lawrence in Arabia. London: Prion.
  • Wilson, J. (1989). Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence. London: Heinemann.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Creative Arts and Writing
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Veysel İşçi 0000-0001-5187-5120

Publication Date August 25, 2021
Acceptance Date June 18, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021

Cite

APA İşçi, V. (2021). LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: A ROMANTIC CAVALIER IN MODERN TIMES. Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Akademi Dergisi(6), 915-939. https://doi.org/10.47994/usbad.907415

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