How does Lean use the wells in Lawrence of Arabia to reflect his interpretation of Arab culture? The historical drama, Lawrence of Arabia, is a reflection of one man’s interpretation of Arab culture during World War I. In Lawrence of Arabia, the director, David Lean, shows the journey of T.E. Lawrence and how he helped defeat the Turkish forces. He uses imagery and specific scenes to convey this idea of British superiority throughout the movie. The direct and indirect use of wells in the movie shows Lean’s interpretation of Arab culture. When looking at how Lean directs this movie, there are scenes that are so powerful they simply cannot be overlooked. One of these scenes is Sherif Ali’s introduction; the long, drawn out horse riding into the frame seems almost wasteful, but holds your attention, forcing you to meticulously watch every detail as Sherif Ali shoots Lawrence’s guide. This is shocking to Lawrence, as there was no warning, no perceived reason and no apparent guilt from Sherif Ali. Not only does it immediately show us the severity of violating tribal boundaries, but it also brings to light the power of simply being a Westerner. Sherif Ali did not kill Lawrence, he did not even take him hostage and we ask …show more content…
ourselves, “why?” What we come to understand for his favorable treatment over the entire movie is, he is British. In the Arab culture, portrayed by Lean, the British are regarded as visitors in Arab culture. They are there as outsiders who are merely visiting or doing nothing more than visiting and are not expected to understand their rules. The wells seem to be important as a center of life itself, but also the heart of intertribal relations and their most basic societal conflicts. The protection of the wells is mostly a matter of pride from what is shown in the movie. Although they are important to society the wells have no risk of running out of water once they are built, therefore the reasoning to kill someone else who drinks out of it seems flawed. Furthermore, the significance of wells is exemplified by the lack of wells in the Nefud Desert. There are no tribal disputes or issues when Lawrence crosses the Nefud desert, thus reinforcing Prince Feisal’s claim that, “No Arab loves the desert. We love water and green trees. There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.” Without wells there is no room for Arabs or conflicts, revealing that it is not the desert that is causing the barbarity. Lean uses the wells to portray the Arab people as warring, savage and possessive as demonstrated by the unnecessary use of violence when used without permission. Lean uses specific camera angles and methods to make the well the focal point of the scenes. While very little of the dialogue surrounds the actual wells themselves, they still seem to highlight the tensions and hatred between tribes and people. Lean is very careful in showing exactly what he wants and when he wants you to see it. Nothing in the scene is accidental. Those wells are there because, in Lean’s eyes, they show a particularly uncivilized part of Arab society. An example of this is in the scene where Auda abu Tayi is introduced to the audience.
Another Arab leader, Auda abu Tayi’s, first response to an opposing tribe drinking out of his well is to kill them, this is a response you have come to expect out of a people that have been portrayed as violent and primitive. Lawrence’s presence has a profound impact once again, seemingly because he is a neutral party and British. By some mysterious miracle Lawrence is able to keep the tribes from fighting, and create a weak alliance. Could he have done this if he was not British? Unlikely. He certainly could not have done it if he was Arab, because, like any other Arab, they would have shot him on the spot for drinking out of another’s
well. The methods Lean uses to portray both the British and the Arabs creates a distinct difference between the two cultures. The scenes encompass wells paint a class of misguided Arab people. Lawrence points this out on his own when he says, “So long as the Arabs fight tribe against tribe, so long will they be a little people, a silly people - greedy, barbarous, and cruel, as you are.” Lawrence seems harsh, but what have we seen to disprove this? By the end of the movie Lawrence’s thirst to kill and his broken mental state show a different side of the British, a barbaric side. It is also worth noting throughout the movie Sherif Ali is a sort of mentor to Lawrence. He helps guide him and gives him advice, such as someone from a Western country. The wells are simply for drinking, they do not serve any other practical purpose, however they do convey a message that Lean either believed or thought was true of the Arab people. The wells are an object that performs a task necessary to live, but they also serve as a common connection between the tribes. There is no difference in the wells, they all go deep into the ground and allow you to bring back water. Every alliance formed during the movie was surrounding a well. Stubbs’ position is focused on Lawrence and how they misrepresented him in the film. It seems less like Lawrence was misrepresented, but more importantly the portrayal of Arabs, as shown by the wells, is overlooked.
Critics have already begun a heated debate over the success of the book that has addressed both its strengths and weaknesses. The debate may rage for a few years but it will eventually fizzle out as the success of the novel sustains. The characters, plot, emotional appeal, and easily relatable situations are too strong for this book to crumble. The internal characteristics have provided a strong base to withstand the petty attacks on underdeveloped metaphors and transparent descriptions. The novel does not need confrontations with the Middle East to remain a staple in modern reading, it can hold its own based on its life lessons that anyone can use.
Joyce, James. “Araby”. The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Eds. R.V. Cassill and Richard Bausch. Shorter Sixth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2000. 427 - 431.
Joyce, James. “Araby.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter Eighth Edition. Eds. Jerome Beaty, Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W.Norton.
Lawrence (1934) was assertive and took control of the situation, while McKenna (1955) seemed to let the situation control him. When Lawrence got the message from his wife about the cryptic note, he immediately ran into Louis' room to get it. He used his resources and wit to get him through sticky situations, from standing up to the authority of Scotland Yard, to tangling with the dentist to the chair fight at the church. Lawrence even recruited Clive to do most of the dirty work such as getting a tooth pulled or being hypnotized by the 7-fold ray.
A boy who doesn’t stand up for himself, and a war that demands decency are two points Hosseini portrays to demonstrate the readers sense of moral values depicted in this book. Amir is taught many values to be a decent man, however when the situation presents itself for Amir demonstrate his teachings; Amir realizes how different he is from the ways of his father. Amir discovers his courage after many years of being a coward and feeling regret. The teachings of his father did sink in and Amir is now educated with the virtues of a decent man.
War establishes many controversial issues and problems within society and can often expose an individual to many economic and sociopolitical hardships; thus creating an altercation in the way they view life. Amir, from the novel The Kite Runner and the novel’s author Khaled Hosseini, both saw the harsh treatment toward the people of Afghanistan through a series of wars, invasions, and the active power of a Pashtun movement known as the Taliban. Amir, much like Hosseini, lived a luxurious and wealthy life in Kabul. He is well educated and immerses himself in reading and writing. After transitioning from a life in Afghanistan to a life in the United States, both Hosseini and Amir faced obstacles in order to assimilate to American society. In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, the protagonist Amir parallels the experiences and hardships that Hosseini endured in his own lifetime.
Joyce, James. "Araby." 1914. Literature and Ourselves. Henderson, Gloria, ed. Boston, Longman Press. 2009. 984-988.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel based in Afghanistan that shows the betrayal between two boys with two different social backgrounds. Four years later “The Kite Runner” was filmed by David Benioff, which shows the meaningful message that the book delivers in a movie. Throughout the book and movie, Amir the protagonist must live the rest of his life with guilt from his childhood. Although the movie gave the same meaningful message that the book delivered, the book was further developed, which had more detail and kept the readers wanting more. Ultimately these details that were present in the novel gave the readers a better understanding of the characters, which led to the relationships
on his motor bike. This appears like the 'eye of God'. As soon as the
Stanley Kubrick is a name that has remained relevant throughout the years. Movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and many others have made an impact on how films are made, but more importantly, the thematic elements of Kubrick’s films is what translated so well to the screen. Kubrick developed stylistic innovations in his films such as one-point perspective, realistic lighting, and distinctive dialogue. All of these stylistic strategies served to amplify the common themes found in his films that dealt with enduring issues like war, which Kubrick argued is part of human nature. Not only was Kubrick a film director who made an impact on filmmaking history, but his innovative ideas have also made an impact on society
The narrator in “Araby” is a young man who lives in an uninteresting area and dreary house in Dublin. The only seemingly exciting thing about the boy’s existence is the sister of his friend Mangum that he is hopelessly in love with; “…her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.” (Joyce 2279) In an attempt to impress her and bring some color into his own gray life, he impulsively lies to her that he is planning on attending a bazaar called Arab. He also promises the gi...
The Green Zone directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matt Damon focuses primarily on the United States' involvement in Iraq, 2003 on the eve of George Bush's 'War on Terror'. Though the movie focuses more on behind the scenes activities of Senior U.S Officials and media agencies at the time of war, snippets throughout the film portray the Middle East and its inhabitants in a time of political turmoil and backlash, as Iraqi people are often seen angry and unsettled in large groups due to the danger of events that transpire around them, with the U.S now pulling the strings in the war torn region determining the future of all its citizens. This essay will focus mainly on the theme of politics expressed throughout the movie by focusing on certain dialogues amongst characters, analysing important scenes and settings, and will make reference to Edward Said's 'Orientalism' in arguing that Arabs are often misplaced and mistreated at the hands of Americans throughout the movie.
He illustrates that in many example, such as, Baba, however, never calls Ali, Hassan’s father, his friend, because of their ethnic and religious differences. Also the culture can play an important part in this novel. For an example, when Hassan is getting raped by Assef and hi friends, Amir refers to the sacrificial act of the lamb because Amir is Pashtun and Hassan is Hazara (Pashtan is Sunni Muslim, but Hazzara is Shi’a Muslim). At that time, Assef says Amir is part of the problem for being friend with Hazara. For another example, when Amir and baba moves to America, they communicate with the Afghan group there because the search about people look like them, and behave with the same
In the story of, "Araby" James Joyce concentrated on three main themes that will explain the purpose of the narrative. The story unfolded on North Richmond Street, which is a street composed of two rows of houses, in a desolated neighborhood. Despite the dreary surroundings of "dark muddy lanes" and "ash pits" the boy tried to find evidence of love and beauty in his surroundings. Throughout the story, the boy went through a variety of changes that will pose as different themes of the story including alienation, transformation, and the meaning of religion (Borey).
The Middle East is a place often portrayed by violence and terrorism. Often times we allow the media to misconstrue our minds and we fall into and believe the typical stereotypes imposed on us. To say you truly understand the conflicts and issues that occur in the Middle East, I believe you must have had to physically been there or have experienced it. In the fictional novels, The Sirens of Baghdad by Yasmina Khadra and De Niro’s Game by Rawi Hage, we are given two different portrayals and views of the lifestyle that goes on in the Middle East. Although the stories are fictional, many would say that there is some truth behind there “stories”.