WHY DAVID HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ELIZABETH?
âDavid seems to have some fascination with that film and the character Lawrence, and I always attributed it to the fact that Lawrence has got a very clear vision and heâs very pure in his pursuit of it. Thereâs not much questioning. Heâs a very decisive character, and I think David sees elements of that in Shaw as well. Thatâs why he finds her so fascinating. Heâs also an outsider like David; heâs an Englishman, but heâs not accepted really by the English or the Arab nations, so heâs kind of somewhere in the middleâ
So, David sees some traits of his favorite character in Elizabeth. David definitely fall in love with Elizabeth when she demonstrate her kindness to him putting him back together, but David starts to be obsessed, to be âstrangelyâ interested in Elizabeth more than in other people way before, because of her personality.
Watching Lawrence of Arabia again, I noticed that the scene where Lawrence discovers that yes, Engaland, France, and even Prince Faisal, had âanother agendaâ regarding the destiny of Arabia, itâs very similar as the scene of Prometheus where Elizabeth finds out that Weyland is still alive and wants to find the Engineers to obtain more life. The both of them, Lawrence and Elizabeth, were used by greater forces. Their ability to pursue their goals, their âpureâ goals, were used for other purposes. The both of them want to end the âadventureâ here, the both of them are wounded, physically and spiritually. Lawrence was tortured and probably raped by Turkish soldiers, and Elizabeth had to perform a sort of painful cesarean on herself. The both of them have lost faith in what has drove them until that point.
Weyland tries to convince Elizabeth that she has to go on, that they must go on and go talk to the last Engineer, that they canât surrender now that they are so close to finally talk with one of their creators. Elizabeth says that she was wrong about everything. Weyland reminds Elizabeth that it was her to convince him that finding their creators was possible. Weyland asks Elizabeth what Charlie would have done in the same situation. He reminds her of Holloway to make her find the will to go on. Itâs similar to Lawrenceâs situation: he is a broken man now and has lost faith in himself, he doesnât believe anymore to be the âmessiahâ of the Arabs: he thinks he was wrong about himself and about all the situation.
Lawrence:Â âThe truth is Iâm an ordinary man. You might have told me that, Dryden. And I want an ordinary job, sir. Thatâs my reason for resigning. Itâs personalâ.
Allenby:Â âLook Lawrence, Iâm making my big push on Damascus the 16th of the next month and you are part of it. Can you understand that? You are an important part of the big push!â
Lawrence:Â âI donât wanto to be part of your big push!â
Allenby:Â âWhat about your Arab friends?â
Lawrence: âI donât have Arab friends! I donât want Arab friends!â
Allenby:Â âWhat in hell do you want, Lawrence?â
Lawrence:Â âI told you, I just want my ration of common humanity!â
After the confrontation, Lawrence with Allenby and Dryden, and Elizabeth with Weyland, the both of them think about all the situation and end up finding their strenght again. Elizabeth regains her faith and hold onto Hollowayâs memory, and Lawrence regains his faith in himself as the one the Arabs will follow. The both of them beleieve they can still make things going in the direction THEY want them to go: Elizabeth believes she can asks her questions to the Engineer, not caring about Weylandâs quest for immortality, Lawrence believes he can still give real freedom to Arabia.
The both of them will fail.