O'Connell: Raiders of the Lost Ark

With Temple of Doom taking place so soon before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones’ character goes through quite rapid changes. His rivalry with Belloq plays a contrasting role, displaying the moral superiority of Indy, but just a year prior, he and Belloq were identical, doing whatever it takes to reach goals for their own benefit. Monetary reward is only a small, technical concern to Jones, who only needs a sponsor to allow him to partake in another adventure. The US government acts as the lord to which he is sworn on his quest, but it seems that deep down his loyalties lie in the pursuit of the artifacts themselves, and his fascination with history. From what I understand, not having yet seen the film, The Last Crusade will see Jones graduate from servitude to a lord towards a more spiritually fulfilling goal, meaning that the Indy we see in Raiders is in just as temporary a state as the “anything goes” mercenary in Temple of Doom; he is never a perfect, stable, archetypal role. Ford himself mentions the depth of character as well, stating: “Jones is a character who has some other dimensions. He’s kind of a swashbuckling hero type, but he has human frailties, fears, and money problems, and therefore is more down to earth.” (Pfeiffer 115)

Look at him… fresh faced, and ready to serve America.

During the course of Raiders, Indy really just seems to be giving indentured servitude a try in his pursuit of recognition and his passion for history. A year earlier, he cared only for himself, and by the end of Raiders, he becomes disillusioned with his lord when they fail to live up to his expectations. He exhibits almost naivete as he accepts the mission and fulfills his duties at risk of life and limb, only to be let down by the government’s failure to meet his standards, as they hide away the ark rather than learn from it. But such is the life of servitude; it is not for him to question the motives of his lord. This seems to be what he learns in the final scene as he displays his dissatisfaction with the agents and storms down the steps of the government building. He is frustrated with the cause to which he pledged himself, and once again turns towards concern with the self, decrying the agents as “bureaucratic fools” and leaving with Marion, presumably cleaning his hands of government work and breaking off his service to the authority of a lord due to their inability conform to Indy’s ideals. This acts as a cliff-hanger of sorts, with an unsatisfactory conclusion that sets up Jones’ character for further development later in the trilogy, when he embarks on his grail quest to achieve spiritual fulfillment.