Indiana Jones' first outing in Raiders of the Lost Ark is an action-adventure classic, but its story's ending also carries a deeper meaning. Since its release in 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark's popularity has secured it four sequels to date, and its protagonist has become one of pop culture's most iconic figures. Following archaeologist adventurer Indiana Jones as he attempts to recover the lost Ark of the Covenant to stop it from falling into the hands of the Nazis, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a cinematic masterpiece of entertaining storytelling.
Raiders of the Lost Ark features a number of moments almost as iconic as Indiana Jones himself. Moments like the film's unforgettable opening scene have left an indelible mark on pop culture, having since been spoofed in almost every way imaginable. Other moments, like Indiana Jones shooting the swordsman, have become synonymous with the character's unshakeable, resourceful nature, contributing in a major way to his lasting relevance to audiences spanning multiple generations.
Perhaps no Indiana Jones moment is as iconic as Raiders of the Lost Ark's ending, which sees the titular Ark opened and its power unleashed. The scene concludes with a display of supernatural power that tested the limits of the visual effects of the era, and it also speaks to the complex societal and cultural themes of the film. Although Raiders of the Lost Ark may be a thoroughly fun and entertaining adventure on the surface, it also doesn't shy away from examining a number of interesting deeper themes.
What Happened To The Ark At The End Of Raiders
The film's final scenes see the Nazis decide to open the Ark in the desert, resulting in Raiders of the Lost Ark's face-melting finale. Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood manage to survive the opening of the Ark, but are left alone with it in the desert. The film then jumps ahead a few weeks to show Jones and his colleague, Marcus Brody, arguing with government officials about the Ark. Though the details of how the U.S. government came to take possession of the powerful relic, it's established that they've put "top men" in charge of studying it. However, the film's final moments show that it's actually been placed in a nondescript crate and stored in a colossal warehouse filled with numerous other identical crates, implying that the Ark is simply being hidden away.
How Indiana Jones Survived Riding The Submarine
Widely considered a minor Indiana Jones plot hole, the matter of how exactly Indy survived riding the German submarine in Raiders of the Lost Ark is actually relatively simple. Revealed in the film's novelization, Jones survived by using his bullwhip to attach himself to the submarine's periscope, then releasing himself and swimming in behind the vehicle as it docked in the Nazi hideout. However, history actually adds additional context for exactly how this would have been possible.
German U-boats of the era only fully submerged when preparing to attack enemy ships. This was because they primarily used diesel engines, which required a supply of oxygen to run, meaning that it's perfectly plausible for the submarine to have traveled along the surface of the water. The journey likely wasn't pleasant for Indiana Jones, but it's not the plot hole it has long been assumed to be.
How Did The Ark Kill The Nazis & Who Were The Spirits?
One of the Indiana Jones franchise's most famous moments is 's face-melting scene. However, due to the relatively abrupt nature of the Nazis' demise, the specifics of the Ark's supernatural power aren't fully explored. This was intentional, as the power of the Ark is shown to be the power of God, and it's through the Nazis' lack of understanding and proper respect for God's power that they are killed. This is best evidenced by Jones' and Ravenwood's survival, as they show the proper respect to the Ark by not looking.
The spirits that emerge from the Ark are implied to be angels. First appearing from inside the Ark after it was opened, the spirits first look traditionally angelic before changing to become more sinister and deadly, killing all of the Nazis present at the ritual. However, as they are an extension of the Ark's power, Raiders of the Lost Ark doesn't explicitly detail their nature.
Why The Ark Of The Covenant Was Hidden Away
The final shot of Raiders of the Lost Ark is the warehouse in which the Ark is hidden by the U.S. government. This is later revealed in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to be Hangar 51, a government storage facility for important artifacts of supernatural or extraterrestrial importance. The reason that the Ark was hidden away is only revealed in subtext: its power has proved to be incredibly dangerous and it needs to be studied by "top men." Whether those in charge of Hangar 51 ever intend for the Ark of the Covenant to see the light of day isn't made clear, but it's taken to the warehouse specifically to keep it safe from those who would seek to harness its power for their own ends.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark Is About Science Vs Religion
Raiders of the Lost Ark's depiction of the tangible power of God gives the franchise a supernatural tone (as well as spawned an interesting Indiana Jones theory about the archaeologist becoming an angel). However, the film itself is primarily concerned with the balance of science and religion, and the cross-section of the two. Raiders of the Lost Ark's science is Jones' archaeology, the science of history. As the film's story concerns the search for and discovery of one of the most important religious artifacts to exist, Jones is confronted with a crisis of faith - he's forced to put his scientific beliefs aside and trust in the power of the intangible in order to survive.
Throughout the film, Indiana Jones is tested in both his knowledge of the past and folklore, but also in his ability to respect the things he doesn't understand. It's only by ing these tests that Indiana Jones knew not to touch the Ark, proving that knowledge without faith wouldn't have served him well enough. In his reconciling of the juxtaposition between science and religion, Indiana Jones establishes himself as a worthy hero, while others were undone by their reckless treatment of the forces they chose not to try to fully understand.
The Real Meaning of Raiders Of The Lost Ark's Ending
The real meaning of Raiders of the Lost Ark's ending is a statement about power. The Ark represents power beyond the average human's reach, and in striving to make use of it, those involved find themselves in serious danger. However, Indiana Jones' respect for that power, and his refusal to attempt to twist it for his own ends, is what makes him the film's true hero. The Nazis' thirst for power proves to be their undoing, which represents the abuse of power. The U.S. government taking the Ark and hiding it among the Indiana Jones movies' many artifacts represents control, or the appropriate use of power. Indiana Jones himself represents the average person, and Raiders of the Lost Ark sees him accept that the power is not for him.
Though its specific message is left relatively open to interpretation, Raiders of the Lost Ark's ending is seemingly a warning. It implies that attempts to seize the unpredictable or uncontrollable are always doomed to fail, and that the most appropriate course of action is to respect that certain things are beyond human understanding. This sees Raiders of the Lost Ark's ending take on a slightly more sinister note, but as the film depicts God as having tangible power on Earth, it's perhaps the proper note for the film to end on.
