Who, What *is* Indiana Jones?

[Gear]

(sigh)

If this subject has previously been discussed and so on...

Formalities behind,



In Raiders we are introduced to a shadowy, mysterious, gritty, and dark man who we know near nothing about. It was also supposed to be that he was an alcoholic who would "take the first shot". However, in the other three films that essence does not seem to surface.

Could this simply be due to the atmosphere of each film or is there a change in the character of Indiana Jones?

Which all brings me to my question; who and what exactly is his character?

[Kevin]

(sigh)

If this subject has previously been discussed and so on...

Formalities behind,



In Raiders we are introduced to a shadowy, mysterious, gritty, and dark man who we know near nothing about. It was also supposed to be that he was an alcoholic who would "take the first shot". However, in the other three films that essence does not seem to surface.

Could this simply be due to the atmosphere of each film or is there a change in the character of Indiana Jones?

Which all brings me to my question; who and what exactly is his character?

I think Indy's character does change over the course of the films, as do his motivations. Here are some thoughts I posted on a previous thread:

"I think the release order (ROTLA, TOD, then LC) makes more sense for the character arc of Indiana Jones.

In ROTLA he goes after artifacts for the purpose of contributing them to a museum's collection. Obviously the money doesn't hurt and the thrill of the hunt helps break up the monotony of academic life, but I feel like ROTLA Indy's main interest is getting important relics into the hands of a museum (this fits nicely with the ethos of the young Indy we see in the beginning of LC). Also, it is clear that ROTLA Indy does not yet believe in the supernatural power of artifacts.

However, at the end of ROTLA, Indy and the museum get screwed out of the Ark by the US government. Jaded by this experience, Indy goes mercenary. At the beginning of TOD, we see him as essentially an archeologist for hire, willing to trade important artifacts for other relics with a higher dollar value. However, his experiences during TOD make him realize that there is more to relics and artifacts than "fortune and glory." Someone in another thread likened TOD to Indy's "descent into hell," wherein he is punished for his mercenary ways, and is ultimately redeemed when he rescues the children and returns the stone to the village. With regard to the supernatural, it's not necessarily that Indy doesn't believe in the power of the stones, but he is more interested (at first) in the value attached to them.

Thus, by the time we get to LC, Indy has come full circle, and is once again obtaining artifacts for humanitarian (and in the case of the Cross of Coronado, personal) reasons. His experiences in the first two films have opened his mind to the possibility that there are supernatural powers attached to artifacts (note that he asks Marcus what he believes about the Grail). Thus, while the historical significance of the Grail is important to Indy, he is also clearly interested in keeping a potentially dangerous weapon out of the hands of the Nazis.

By the time we get to KOTCS, archeology has changed, and so has Indy. The focus of archeology is no longer on obtaining important relics and expanding museum collections, but rather on studying artifacts (often inconsequential in and of themselves) to get a better understanding the the society that produced them. Thus, by 1957, Indy is no longer looking for golden idols, but pieces of pottery (which are promptly smashed by Dovchenko). The search for the Crystal Skull is prompted more by the necessity to help a friend in danger (Oxley).

Anyway, that's my take on the matter. I should probably mention that I haven't read the novels or watched the Young Indy Chronicles; my thoughts are based solely on the contents of the four films."

[Jeremiah Jones]

Hmmm it may make some sense, but Temple is before Raiders... I for one thinks Indy does normal archaeology during the 1930s, Archaeology had was already some way along the path away from the days of Antiquarianism,its just the movies represent critical moments in his life, out of the ordinary, I'm sure he has boring days too.

Indy's character though is not very consistant, but then I guess neither am I. I'll write more when I'm awake.. what am I doing on the Raven, its half two in the morning... oy

[Jeremiah Jones]

If one takes the wider view, Young Indy, the novels, comics, the movies, Indy's character is wildly varied. It makes sense with Young Indy, as hes still young and on his way to whatever happened to him in his twenties, but some of the comics.. are somewhat 'out'

Raiders if anything marks a different Indy from the man seen in Temple, Crusade or even Crystal Skull. Hes tougher, grimmer, more willing to shoot first. Maybe because hes on his own again. In Temple hes with Shorty, in Crusade hes with his dad, in Skull, the brady bunch.

In fact if you want to put a finger on one thing Indy is its a loner. While he may be with people in most of his adventures, excepting young Indy, one always gets the impression that its a break from the norm, that hes normally who he is at the start of Raiders.

Although crucially while Indy is always a loner, hes a loner searching for someone, he proposes twice in young indy, in engaged once, is married in the books, falls in love countless times, but it never works out. Hes sort of adrift in the world, latching onto new Crusades and missions with manic fervor, cos thats all hes got. I mean the kid left home when he was 17 and could never go back, its tragic really.

I'm just babbling now.