Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Power of Persistence

I’m sure everyone at one time or another has seen the 1st movie involving archeologist Indiana Jones. I’m sure they have all been amazed at the stunts, music and action in the tale of his search, but there is another strong theme in Raiders that is a very important lesson for people to learn. In fact, the earlier one learns this lesson the more likely they will succeed later in life.
The year was 1981, Personally I was only 5 years old when this came out, but I still remember seeing it in the theatres. At that time I was more concerned about closing my eyes when the skeletons came on screen, but as I grew, the lessons in this blockbuster became much clearer to me. The interesting dynamic in this film regarding the lesson, is that for the first time, we see a theme that is equally adhered to by both the good guy and the bad guy. In this aspect, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most tremendous teachers in our darkened theatre.
Lets look at the pre-theatre analysis. We’ve got a strong title, easily getting the boys excited about going to see it. This is important, we want this movie to appeal in majority to adolescent boys, that is in great part due to the persistence theme, there is nothing more fragile then the teenage boy’s ego, and as many times as it gets assaulted in Jr High and High School, they need to know how to be persistent. Not much on the surface to appeal to the girls, in fact, as I write this it appears we have our first movie that doesn’t have an immediate draw to the finer sex. Just as well, as we all know girls mature quicker than guys, so maybe they don’t need this lesson as much as their male counterparts.

The movie begins, and we are in South America, we follow a shadowy figure who is rugged and good with a whip. Suddenly, the guides are frightened by a statue and run off screaming. First lesson, if you are in the jungle and your guides run off, don’t run with them, continue on your own, what’s the worst that can happen to you? So, they continue on and come to a cave, Indy enters with one other guy, they go to the cave and Indy sees his prize, the treasure he has been looking for, and when he finally grabs it, the entire cave starts to collapse around him. Here we learn that sometimes even when you think you’ve reached your goal, it may not have been all that you thought, something to keep in mind.
We rejoin Indy running for his life and reaching a chasm, with the other man standing on the other side. Here Indy decides to throw his treasure to his “friend”, in exchange for getting across the chasm. Of course, Indy being the trusting soul tosses the treasure, only to be abandoned by his “friend”. Another instance where one must truly know his friends, so that they won’t be abandoned at the first sight of a shiny object, or pretty face. Again, showing his resolve, Indy could have just resigned himself to his fate, treasureless and stuck in a cave, but instead he risks everything and jumps the chasm, in order to continue his existence and reclaim that treasure.
He does reclaim the treasure only to face a giant boulder trying to squash him like a pancake. Again undaunted Indy escapes the boulder, only to run into his arch enemy, Belloq. Belloq too, wants the treasure, but he has an army of natives with spears to back him up, Indy must give up the treasure, and then runs for his life. Note here, that if one is persistent and smart, they can get the treasure with considerable less effort then others. Its that whole brain over brawn thing.

Next time we get to the ark, I’m going to skip a bunch of the movie here, but in summary, Indy is asked to go find the Ark, in another part of town, Belloq has also been asked, or really hired, to go get the Ark as well. Thus our ‘race’ begins. We have 2 men, with different motives, but both with the same goal. This is the point where our lesson truly begins; persistence is a great trait to have, but in its pursuit, you walk a fine line between success and failure.