Lawrence of Arabia - The Hero's Journey Example | All 12 Beats Explained
Lawrence of Arabia Hero’s Journey - An Introduction
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is a classic example of the Hero’s Journey, following T.E. Lawrence’s transformation from an eccentric British officer to a legendary leader of the Arab Revolt.
In our last article, The Hero’s Journey Explained - Full Analysis, we broke down the 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey in detail. We saw how Joseph Campbell used the phrase “Hero with a Thousand Faces” to hint at the universal personas of religious, military, and political figures in their relation to mythical figures. And how Christopher Vogler broke down this philosophy into 12 easy steps.
Does story mirror reality, or does reality mirror story? Lawrence of Arabia makes this question even more puzzling. Though some of the events in Lawrence of Arabia are fictionalized. T.E. Lawrence was a real person who integrated into the culture of the Arabs and had an influence over their political and military leaders.
The Hero’s Journey in 12 Steps:
Step #1: Ordinary World
T.E. Lawrence, an intelligent but eccentric British officer, is stationed in Cairo during World War I. Dissatisfied with his mundane role as a cartographer, he longs for adventure. Lawrence is unconventional and arrogant. He doesn't fit in with his superiors or fellow soldiers. They want him reassigned even more than he wants it.
Step #2: Call to Adventure
Lawrence is assigned to assess Prince Faisal’s (Alec Guinness) prospects in leading an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. The mission presents him with an opportunity to escape his ordinary life and seek personal glory. It’s the adventure he’s been waiting for.
Step #3: Refusal of the Call
As we just mentioned, Lawrence craves adventure. He wants out of Cairo, and while he doesn’t outright refuse the call, others are skeptical about his ability to handle and complete the mission. His superior, General Murray, underestimates him. Dryden, who got him the position, questions the brutality of the desert. He wonders if Lawrence can survive. It’s a daunting challenge that could lead to failure or death.
Step #4: Meeting the Mentor
Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif) serves as both a rival and a mentor. Initially, he dismisses Lawrence, but over time, he teaches him the ways of the desert and the Bedouin people. Prince Faisal also provides guidance, giving Lawrence the chance to prove himself.
Step #5: Crossing the First Threshold
Lawrence fully commits to his new path when the Arabs and Sherif Ali clothe him in traditional Arab robes. He then leads his small band of followers across the brutal Nefud Desert to attack the strategically vital city of Aqaba. This marks his true entry into the world of the Arab Revolt.
Step #6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Tests: Surviving the desert, uniting rival Arab tribes, executing a man to maintain tribal unity, and leading guerrilla attacks on the Turkish forces.
Allies: Sherif Ali, Auda abu Tayi (Anthony Quinn), and Prince Faisal.
Enemies: The Ottoman Turks, the British high command, and eventually, Lawrence’s own inner demons.
Step #7: Approach to the Inmost Cave
Lawrence, now an influential figure in the revolt, leads daring raids, but his growing hubris makes him reckless. Lawrence fully believes in his own myth. His ambition blinds him into believing he can pass as Arab. He walks through the streets of the Deraa to do reconnaissance on the Turk forces. His pale skin gives him away, and he’s taken prisoner.
His capture and brutal torture in Deraa at the hands of the Turkish Bey serve as a psychological breaking point.
Step #8: Ordeal
Lawrence's torture in Deraa serves as his greatest trial, both physically and mentally. He’s beaten and humiliated. This experience shatters his sense of invincibility and makes him question his role in the war and his identity.
After getting back to camp, he reflects that he would’ve given up names or the position of his men had he been pressured to do so. For this, he feels like less of a man. He doesn’t feel he’s strong enough to be the man the Arabs have made him to be.
Step #9: Reward (Seizing the Sword)
Despite his trauma, Sherif Ali and General Allenby convince him of his place among the Arab tribes. He is one of them, and they need him.
Lawrence returns to lead the final attack on Damascus. They finally take the city for the Arabs and Prince Faisal. However, Lawrence’s reward is bittersweet. He achieves military victory but loses his sense of self. He realizes that neither the British nor the Arabs truly accept him as one of their own.
Step #10: The Road Back
Lawrence attempts to help establish an Arab government in Damascus, but tribal divisions make it impossible. Prince Feisal doesn’t have the resources and skills to manage the city’s operations like its power plant and water system. He is left with whatever he can get.
The British take control, making Lawrence’s efforts feel meaningless. He is disillusioned and exhausted.
Step #11: Resurrection
Lawrence undergoes a final transformation when he abandons his heroic persona and acknowledges his limitations. He is no longer the idealistic adventurer but a broken man, used by both the British and the Arabs for their own ends.
Step #12: Return with the Elixir
Lawrence is sent back to Britain, no longer the mythic El Aurens but a weary soldier. His "elixir" is knowledge. He understands the true cost of war, power, and imperial ambition. However, unlike traditional heroes, he gains no personal satisfaction from his journey.
Lawrence of Arabia Hero’s Journey - Final Thoughts
Lawrence of Arabia follows the Hero’s Journey but subverts it in key ways. While Lawrence achieves greatness, he is ultimately disillusioned and alienated from both the British and the Arabs. His journey is one of both triumph and tragedy, making him a deeply complex and flawed hero.
Read our next article as we dive further into popular story structure techniques with Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat.
