Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is my utmost favorite Indiana Jones film. It's insanelyl abstract, as it deals with voodoo and magic, and depicts humans having their hearts ripped out after dining on snakes and chilled monkey brains. The story resides in India and brings forward gods like Shiva and Kali. A magic rock is stolen from a small village and our hero, Dr. Jones, is on a quest to retrieve the so-called magic rock. In discovering this rock, he can in turn, save the small village and achieve what he tells his sidekick, "fortune and glory". The rock will bring him fame among natives and will earn him a name in the archaeological world.
The stories are all the same, throughout history. And it may come as a shock, but Steven Spielberg was not the first man to come up with the selfish thoughts of achieving "fortune and glory". In fact, the idea of grasping this concept is very evident in Homer's Iliad. In book 6, when Hector returns to Troy, his wife, Andromache, begs and pleads with him not to go into battle for a slew of reasons -- they have a son together who needs a father figure, Andromache loves him; her entire family has been slaughtered, and Andromache doesn't want to become a slave to some Argive captain. But Hector, without thinking of Andromache's feelings tells her that if he dies in battle, too bad so sad...for her. She'll just have to slave away so he can achieve his own glory.
"But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy
and the Trojan women trailing their long robes
if I would shrink from battle now, a coward.
Nor does the spirit urge me on that way.
I've learned it all too well. To stand up bravely,
always to fight in the front ranks of Trojan soldiers,
winning my father great glory, glory for myself."
(Book Six)
King Agamemnon would do anything to get Achilles to fight in the war when his troops are being gravely slaughtered by the Trojans. So, what does he do? He offers the same thing to Achilles. Gifts are to be given of all kinds. Tripods, citadels, the finest women of Lesbos...and although all those things are lovely, Achilles has his own ideas regarding "fortune and glory". Before avenging his best friends' death, Achilles chooses to fight in the war at Troy, believing his name will live on for thousands of years. He knows he will die in Troy -- his mother told him that would be the price he would have to pay in going to fight. Even with this thought in the back of his mind, Achilles will win his glory. . . . and his fortune as well. . .although The Iliad is public domain now, so I don't believe he'll be receiving any sort of compensation. And, there's the fact that he did die.
But what about the gods? They're all selfish shits too. It's like a sporting event. The gods seperate into their own little "cliques" and cheer on their favorite team. (Goooooo TROJANS!) And why? It all started because of selfishness. So Paris chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess. Okay, whoopty-doo. Is it really necessary to start an entire war over someone's beauty? Athena, Hera...get real. But no, they're feelings are hurt and so they join the Argives in order to get some sort of revenge. And what is it about Zeus? Perhaps the war is his way to take down the growing mortal population? Sounds a little Biblical to me, but instead of a flood, an "old testament" Zeus lets people kill people for nine years, going on ten.
Whatever the reasons, it seems to me that the biggest connection from person to person is fortune and glory. Everyone wants success. Recognition. Acceptance. Hera and Athena both wanted to be the most beautiful. (Paybacks are Hell, Trojans). And in some way, it saddens me. The Iliad, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and the story of contemporary people is all the same. We all seem to be selfish; only looking out for ourselves. Yes, it makes for interesting stories but is the lifelong stress really worth it?
The stories are all the same, throughout history. And it may come as a shock, but Steven Spielberg was not the first man to come up with the selfish thoughts of achieving "fortune and glory". In fact, the idea of grasping this concept is very evident in Homer's Iliad. In book 6, when Hector returns to Troy, his wife, Andromache, begs and pleads with him not to go into battle for a slew of reasons -- they have a son together who needs a father figure, Andromache loves him; her entire family has been slaughtered, and Andromache doesn't want to become a slave to some Argive captain. But Hector, without thinking of Andromache's feelings tells her that if he dies in battle, too bad so sad...for her. She'll just have to slave away so he can achieve his own glory.
"But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy
and the Trojan women trailing their long robes
if I would shrink from battle now, a coward.
Nor does the spirit urge me on that way.
I've learned it all too well. To stand up bravely,
always to fight in the front ranks of Trojan soldiers,
winning my father great glory, glory for myself."
(Book Six)
King Agamemnon would do anything to get Achilles to fight in the war when his troops are being gravely slaughtered by the Trojans. So, what does he do? He offers the same thing to Achilles. Gifts are to be given of all kinds. Tripods, citadels, the finest women of Lesbos...and although all those things are lovely, Achilles has his own ideas regarding "fortune and glory". Before avenging his best friends' death, Achilles chooses to fight in the war at Troy, believing his name will live on for thousands of years. He knows he will die in Troy -- his mother told him that would be the price he would have to pay in going to fight. Even with this thought in the back of his mind, Achilles will win his glory. . . . and his fortune as well. . .although The Iliad is public domain now, so I don't believe he'll be receiving any sort of compensation. And, there's the fact that he did die.
But what about the gods? They're all selfish shits too. It's like a sporting event. The gods seperate into their own little "cliques" and cheer on their favorite team. (Goooooo TROJANS!) And why? It all started because of selfishness. So Paris chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess. Okay, whoopty-doo. Is it really necessary to start an entire war over someone's beauty? Athena, Hera...get real. But no, they're feelings are hurt and so they join the Argives in order to get some sort of revenge. And what is it about Zeus? Perhaps the war is his way to take down the growing mortal population? Sounds a little Biblical to me, but instead of a flood, an "old testament" Zeus lets people kill people for nine years, going on ten.
Whatever the reasons, it seems to me that the biggest connection from person to person is fortune and glory. Everyone wants success. Recognition. Acceptance. Hera and Athena both wanted to be the most beautiful. (Paybacks are Hell, Trojans). And in some way, it saddens me. The Iliad, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and the story of contemporary people is all the same. We all seem to be selfish; only looking out for ourselves. Yes, it makes for interesting stories but is the lifelong stress really worth it?
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