A key scene from the Raiders of the Lost Ark novel explains how Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood escaped a terrible fate at the climax of the movie. The film fails to explain how Indy knew not to look upon or touch the almighty Ark of the Covenant, but readers of the book adaptation know that a lesser-known character is responsible for imparting a piece of life-saving advice to Harrison Ford’s heroic archaeologist.
On a mission to stop the Nazis from finding a powerful artifact, Raiders of the Lost Ark sees Indiana Jones and Marion journey to Cairo and connect with Jones’ old ally Sallah el-Kahir, a professional excavator. Sallah leads them to the home of the scholar and astronomer Imam, who is able to translate the writing on both sides of the Staff of Ra fragment. From Imam’s translation of the markings, Indiana and Sallah learn that René Belloq and the Nazis are digging for the Ark in the wrong location, as the Nazis only have the directions from one side of the staff’s headpiece. Despite this important revelation, the movie scene is best known for the moment Indiana narrowly escapes death, when Sallah snatches a poisoned date out of the air and warns Indy of the “bad dates.”
However, the conversation with Imam is even more significant in Campbell Black’s novelization of Raiders. The astronomer goes on to warn Indiana of the fatal consequences that await anyone who opens the ancient artifact and releases its divine force. He adds that simply looking upon the holy power of the lost Ark of the Covenant will result in death and destruction. In the moment, Indy is too preoccupied with the knowledge of the Nazis’ error to pay much attention to Imam’s warning; however, Imam’s words come back to Indiana just in time for the professor to save himself and Marion from the wrath of the Ark.
In the penultimate scenes of the film and novel, Indy and Marion are bound and helpless while Belloq and the Nazis prepare to test the power of the Ark before taking it to Germany. As chaos rages around them, Indy shouts for Marion to keep her eyes shut, which ultimately spares them both from meeting the same gruesome fate as their enemies. With the vengeful spirits of the Ark unleashed, the Nazi forces are burned and their faces melted by bursts of flame and bolts of radiant energy.
The book scene adds further context to this climactic sequence by calling back to Indiana’s meeting with Imam. As Belloq lifts the lid of the Ark, Indy’s mind races as he tries to recall some tidbit of information he might have overlooked. In the nick of time, he remembers the prophetic words of Imam, who claimed that anyone who turned their faces upon the light of the Ark would be annihilated. This timely realization allows Indy and Marion to avert their gazes and escape a similar end. Although it wasn’t fully explained in the movie, this dire warning from a character who only briefly appears is the reason Indiana Jones and Marion survive the closing moments of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Key Release Dates
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release Date:2023-06-30
