Re: OK, here's the question...

Posted by another_Adam from bo111monmac.acs.ohio-state.edu on July 10, 2000 at 16:57:40:

In Reply to: OK, here's the question... posted by Shishak on July 09, 2000 at 22:42:26:

Let us also not forget that Indy is a fictional character. Which means that his every thought, action and desire is at the beck and call of the writer. If we sit down and watch the movies in their proper order we do see a slight change in his character. In Temple of Doom Indy originally goes to the Palace to find the children, then he gets the rocks, and returnds them. In Raiders he starts out just wanting to get the artifact, but slowly changes towards the end of the movie. I recall an interview with George Lucas, where he said that he wanted to have Indy go from a self-serving agnostic to a more humanitarian deist, but Spielburg didn't see it that way. By the time of Last Crusade, Indy doesn't care about the grail, he just wants to save his dad.

What I want to know is: What makes the change between the Young Indy series, and Raiders? The books don't seem to touch on that. It's sort of like what made a sweet young boy into Darth Vader? Ohhh wait, in a few years we'll know that...

: There is one question about the character of Indiana Jones that I don't know if anyone else has really pondered, but I think it's worth bringing up and discussing. Here it is:

: Is Indiana Jones a good man or a bad man?

: This question may seem somewhat blasphemous, but let's examine it. Indy is, of course, our hero, a man of vigor and intrepidness who can maneuver himself through just about any deadly situation and almost always achieve his goal. He is evidently a moral man who cares about humanity and does not use his knowledge and heroics just for his own benefit, unlike his rivals, such as Belloq and Donovan. His competitors all seem to be evil, and he often risks his life against them to rescue good people. He is also a mild-mannered college professor, so it's hard not to think of him as an all-around good guy.

: But on the other hand, there are some things that make Indiana Jones seem as if he were not much more moral than his competitors. First of all, he kills many people throughout the movies. Of course, he only kills villains. And more often then not, when he kills it's in self-defense or in defense of someone he cares about. But sometimes it seems like KILLING the person could be avoided. And there are times when he wants to kill somebody in cold blood, such as the scene in RAIDERS when he says to Belloq, "I oughta kill you right now." He later raises his gun and is about to do it, only to be stopped by the armed Arabs in the bar. And also, when he goes on his treasure hunts, it seems as if it's every man for himself, and Indy could care less about the lives of everyone else involved. Also, there's his womanizing ways. Unlike Bond, Indy's womanizing often gets him into trouble, such as with Marion and Elsa. It seems like sometimes Indy can be a real "conceited ape" with women!

: So does Indiana Jones represent "good," or is he sort of an outlaw that we just happen to root for, like Bonnie and Clyde or Butch and Sundance? It's just a thought I had that I thought I'd share and get other people's opinions on.

: Personally, I think Indy's mostly a good man. He cares for humanity and helps the world in it's fight against evil.

: Regards!

: Shishak

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Yeah, I know... Shishak 23:54:45 7/10/2000 (0)

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: Let us also not forget that Indy is a fictional character. Which means that his every thought, action and desire is at the beck and call of the writer.  If we sit down and watch the movies in their proper order we do see a slight change in his character.  In Temple of Doom Indy originally goes to the Palace to find the children, then he gets the rocks, and returnds them.  In Raiders he starts out just wanting to get the artifact, but slowly changes towards the end of the movie.  I recall an interview with George Lucas, where he said that he wanted to have Indy go from a self-serving agnostic to a more humanitarian deist, but Spielburg didn't see it that way.  By the time of Last Crusade, Indy doesn't care about the grail, he just wants to save his dad.

: What I want to know is: What makes the change between the Young Indy series, and Raiders? The books don't seem to touch on that.  It's sort of like what made a sweet young boy into Darth Vader? Ohhh wait, in a few years we'll know that...

: 
: : There is one question about the character of Indiana Jones that I don't know if anyone else has really pondered, but I think it's worth bringing up and discussing.  Here it is:

: : Is Indiana Jones a good man or a bad man?

: : This question may seem somewhat blasphemous, but let's examine it.  Indy is, of course, our hero, a man of vigor and intrepidness who can maneuver himself through just about any deadly situation and almost always achieve his goal.  He is evidently a moral man who cares about humanity and does not use his knowledge and heroics just for his own benefit, unlike his rivals, such as Belloq and Donovan.  His competitors all seem to be evil, and he often risks his life against them to rescue good people.  He is also a mild-mannered college professor, so it's hard not to think of him as an all-around good guy.

: : But on the other hand, there are some things that make Indiana Jones seem as if he were not much more moral than his competitors.  First of all, he kills many people throughout the movies.  Of course, he only kills villains.  And more often then not, when he kills it's in self-defense or in defense of someone he cares about.  But sometimes it seems like KILLING the person could be avoided.  And there are times when he wants to kill somebody in cold blood, such as the scene in RAIDERS when he says to Belloq, "I oughta kill you right now."  He later raises his gun and is about to do it, only to be stopped by the armed Arabs in the bar.  And also, when he goes on his treasure hunts, it seems as if it's every man for himself, and Indy could care less about the lives of everyone else involved.  Also, there's his womanizing ways.  Unlike Bond, Indy's womanizing often gets him into trouble, such as with Marion and Elsa.  It seems like sometimes Indy can be a real "conceited ape" with women!

: : So does Indiana Jones represent "good," or is he sort of an outlaw that we just happen to root for, like Bonnie and Clyde or Butch and Sundance?  It's just a thought I had that I thought I'd share and get other people's opinions on.

: : Personally, I think Indy's mostly a good man.  He cares for humanity and helps the world in it's fight against evil.

: : Regards!

: : Shishak

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