Mirroring the “other”: Orientalism, Nomads and Ethnomasquerading in Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Postcolonial theory is mainly concerned with the concept of “otherness”. This termimplies complexities to its definition in that it might include other concepts, such asdoubleness, identity, responsibility, alter ego and enigma to and of the self. As a complex andmultifarious term, Otherness conventionally evokes another pivotal aspect of the theory that is“difference”. This article ventures into the way in which Thomas Edward Lawrence, in hismasterpiece Seven Pillars of Wisdom, sees “the Other” and, secondly, what possible reasonsmake him partially change his vision of/on the oriental culture. The focus will be especiallyset on Lawrence’s journey to Arabia as a crucial point to his personal development.Furthermore, the article will take into account Lawrence’s role in the revolt in which he tookpart and what kind of relationship he had both with his English superiors and with Arabsoldiers. Finally, to better understand Lawrence’s interior change, it will be indispensable toanalyse three important theories: Orientalism, the concept of “nomad”, and the notion ofEthnomasquerading.