We use transformation as a catchall for one of the movie's most important themes: healing. Indy has to change on his adventure; specifically, he needs to recognize his misdeeds in the past (jerky boyfriend), make amends to the people he hurt (his formerly underaged girlfriend), and demonstrate that he's changed.
This is echoed by the Ark itself, which demonstrates a different sort of transformation. It can alter the environment around it, melt faces off of bad guys, and even sear the Nazi logo off of the box holding it. Those overt transformations signal a more subtle emotional transformation in Indy as he goes about keeping the Ark safe from the forces of evil. Could the Ark be causing that change as well? Maybe not the Ark itself, perhaps, but we're guessing the deity behind it has some say in the matter.
Questions about Transformation
- What kind of physical transformations does the Ark elicit in the world around it?
- Are there specific events or changes in the environment that can be attributed to the Ark, even though it isn't present at the time? What is it about these events that suggest the Ark's involvement?
- How does Indy indicate that his feelings have changed for the better?
- What are the roots of Marion's transformation, and how do we see it in the film?
Chew on This
The external changes wrought by the Ark are mirrored by the internal changes in the characters.
The Ark's external changes are not related to the characters' growth, which comes about solely through their own experiences rather than divine intervention.