I know I said that I have three more Cinematic Chiasmus articles to write, which were submitted by a reader of mine named Jay. I promise I’ll get to those. But I had such a powerful impression that I needed to write this one right now that I simply couldn’t ignore it.

While writing last week’s article about Indiana Jones, I suddenly felt sure that Raiders of the Lost Ark was a chiasmus. I rewatched that movie and found it to be true! Just in case you needed another reason to love this cinematic masterpiece, here you go.

The Chiasmus

Here is how this chiasmus plays out:

A. Indiana Jones and his men hunt through a jungle for a hidden treasure
 B. Indy disarms a traitor and makes him run away
  C. Indy and a companion enter a cave of death where a competitor met his fate
   D. Indy takes the idol
    E. The cave falls apart as punishment for taking the idol
     F. Belloq takes the idol from Indy
      G. Indy swims to a departing seaplane
       H. Indy tells Marcus that Belloq took the idol, and Marcus asks Indy to follow him
        I. Army intelligence officers talk to Indy about Hitler looking for the Ark
         J. Marcus visits Indy at home to talk about Marion and the Ark
          K. Indy leaves on a plane to find Marion and a clue to the Ark’s hiding place
           L. Indy fights Nazis in a bar containing Marion’s medallion
            M. Indy and Sallah discuss the dig underway for the Ark
             N. Indy fights Arabs, Marion gets stuck in a basket, and a truck explodes
              O. Sallah’s children save Indy from Nazis
               P. A door opens, and dates get poisoned in an attempt to kill Indy
                Q. Belloq and Dietrich argue about finding the Ark
                 R. Sallah lowers Indy into the Map Room to find the Well of Souls
                  S. Indy finds Marion alive, but he can’t free her yet
                   T. Indy spots the Well of Souls’ location from afar
                    U. Dietrich threatens to use crude methods of persuasion on Marion
                     V. Indy begins digging up the Well of Souls
                     V. Indy opens the Well of Souls
                    U. Belloq uses nice methods of persuasion on Marion
                   T. Indy gets up close with a cobra in the Well of Souls
                  S. Marion nearly escapes from Belloq, but is prevented by Toht
                 R. Indy and Sallah lift the Ark out of the Well of Souls
                Q. Belloq and Dietrich again argue about finding the Ark
               P. A door closes, and Indy is sealed in a tomb in an attempt to kill him
              O. Indy saves Marion from skeletons
             N. Indy fights Nazis, Marion gets stuck in a cockpit, and a plane explodes
            M. Indy and Sallah make plans to retrieve the Ark
           L. Indy fights Nazis on a truck containing the Ark
          K. Indy leaves on a boat with Marion and the Ark
         J. Indy and Marion rest in the captain’s quarters, while the Ark shows its power
        I. Captain Katanga tells Indy to hide from the Nazis who just showed up
       H. Belloq takes Marion and the Ark from the ship, and Indy follows
      G. Indy swims to a departing German submarine
     F. Indy threatens to blow up the Ark to prevent Belloq from having it
    E. Destruction rains down on the Nazis as punishment for opening the Ark
   D. Indy and Marion find themselves in possession of the Ark
  C. Indy and Marcus go to Washington, D.C. to discuss the Ark’s fate
 B. Indy lets Marion take his arm, and they walk away together
A. A nameless worker hides the Ark in a giant warehouse where it won’t be found

I’ll try to keep this one nice and brief because I don’t think these points need a lot of extra details.

A. Hidden Treasures

At the start of the film, Indiana Jones is on the hunt for a long-lost treasure in a vast jungle, surrounded by men who abandon him one by one.

At the end of the film, the Ark of the Covenant is deliberately lost in a vast warehouse, being pushed along by a single man.

B. Face to Face

Jones is betrayed by one of his men who pulls a gun on him. He whips the gun out of the man’s hand, and then he walks up to a cave entrance with Satipo. We see Jones’ face for the first time in this scene.

Jones is betrayed by men in Washington, D.C. who pull a fast one on him. He whips past Marion Ravenwood, and they walk away from the government building together. We see Jones’ face for the last time in this scene.

C. In the Lion’s Den

Inside the cave of death, Jones manages to evade numerous traps Satipo wouldn’t have noticed. Even when the idol he’s seeking seems to be within his reach, he hesitates before approaching it.

Back at Washington, D.C., Jones is frustrated to find that he’s stepped into a bureaucratic trap. The Ark that he spent so much effort seeking is now outside his reach, and he’s hesitant to let it go.

D. Jones’ Prize

Watched by Satipo, Jones approaches the idol on a podium and exchanges a bag of sand for it. Everything seems okay before a chaotic scene ensues.

After embracing Marion, Jones gazes from a distance at the sand-filled Ark, on a podium. Everything is peaceful after the fiery storm stopped.

E. Divine Punishment

After Jones takes the idol, the cave begins to fall apart all around him. The makers of that place intended to punish whoever disturbed their holy relic. Satipo leaves him for dead. Jones barely makes it out and sees that Satipo suffered a horrible death.

After Rene Belloq opens the Ark, destruction rains down all around him. The God of Israel intends to punish the Nazis for disturbing his mercy seat. Jones tells Marion to shut her eyes to save her life. They make it out alive while Belloq, and everyone else, suffers a horrible death.

F. Belloq Wins

The man Jones whipped earlier falls over, dead. Belloq has disguised himself as a friend of the Hovitos tribe. He forces Jones to hand over the idol. Jones runs away while the tribesmen are distracted. Belloq laughs as he looks at the idol, knowing that he beat his rival.

Jones knocks out a couple of German officers and steals their uniforms. He disguises himself as a friend of Belloq. Jones tries to force Belloq to let him and Marion go. He had hung behind the soldiers and run away while they were distracted. Belloq solemnly talks with his rival, knowing that Jones won’t blow up the Ark.

G. Jones Swims

Jones runs away from the Hovitos tribesmen and jumps into a river. His friend’s airplane is about to take off, and he swims to it and climbs aboard just before it rises above the water and takes them to the U.S.

Jones sees Belloq leave his ship with Marion, so he follows them into the water. A German submarine is about to depart, so he swims to it and stays on deck while it travels above water toward a remote Mediterranean island.

H. Jones’ School and Belloq’s Class

During his university class, Jones notices one of his female students has the words “Love you” written on her eyelids. After school, He tells Marcus Brody that Belloq took the idol from him. Marcus says some Army intelligence men want to talk to him, and Jones wonders if he’s in trouble.

Showing real class, Belloq saves Marion from a German officer named Dietrich’s brutality even though she is ready to throw punches. After that, he takes the Ark from Jones’ ship and brings it to a submarine. They fail to find Jones, and the captain lies that he killed Jones.

I. Getting Vital Information

Jones approaches a couple of Army intelligence officers in his university’s library. He learns that the Nazis have discovered the whereabouts of the city of Tanis, one of the possible locations of the lost Ark. They want to send Jones to seek out his old teacher Abner Ravenwood who’s hiding the headpiece of the Staff of Ra.

Jones approaches Captain Katanga on the bridge of the ship. He learns that the Nazis have discovered the whereabouts of the ship he’s on, which is where the recently found Ark is currently located. The captain encourages Jones to go get Marion Ravenwood and hide.

J. The Power of the Ark

Brody goes to Jones at his house and tells him that he got the job from the Army intelligence men. Jones worries about seeing Marion for the first time in years, thinking it won’t go well. However, Marcus is more concerned about the Ark and its astonishing power.

Marion enters the captain’s quarters and tells Jones that she got a new dress from the captain. Jones and Marion spend their first quality time together in years, and it doesn’t go well. Meanwhile, the Ark begins to showcase its astonishing power by burning the Nazi symbol on its box.

K. By Plane and Boat

Jones departs in a plane, unaware that he’s being tailed by a Nazi officer named Toht who’s working for Belloq. He is going to Nepal to try to find Marion, who possesses an invaluable clue that can lead him to the Ark.

Jones departs on a boat, fully informed that it’s captained by a man named Katanga, who’s a friend of Sallah. He’s going to England accompanied by Marion, who has been an invaluable asset in his quest to find the Ark.

L. Jones Triumphs

During a fight in a bar, Jones gets shot in the left arm and briefly works with a henchman to kill a common enemy before knocking him out. A bad guy gets the drop on him, but Marion’s quick thinking saves the day. Toht is forced to run away, and Jones emerges from the bar with Marion and the headpiece of the staff of Ra.

During a fight in a truck, Jones again gets shot in the left arm and briefly drives the truck with a henchman before knocking him out of the truck. A bad guy gets the drop on him, but Jones’ quick thinking saves the day. He forces Toht and Belloq off the road and emerges victorious with the Ark.

M. Making Plans with Sallah

Sallah’s wife is displeased to find a monkey playing with Marion in her house. Sallah tells Jones that the Germans are currently digging for the Ark in Tanis. He notes that Belloq is the brains behind their operation. Jones asks about the markings on the headpiece, and Sallah says a man he knows in Cairo may be able to help them.

Sallah is very pleased to find Jones and Marion alive and well in a tent. Sallah tells Jones that the Nazis are planning on taking the Ark out of Tanis in a truck. Belloq masterminds the preparation to move the Ark. Jones tells Sallah to find transportation for the Ark out of Cairo, and then he improvises a plan to get the Ark.

N. Big Explosions

In Cairo, Jones and Marion get ambushed by Arabs. Marion ends up trapped in a basket, and Jones shoots a swordsman with his pistol. An Arab accidentally impales his fellow fighter. Jones shoots at a truck, and it explodes with a basket that Jones believes has Marion inside it.

In Tanis, Jones and Marion try to ambush a pilot. Marion ends up trapped in a cockpit and shoots a bunch of soldiers with a turret gun. A big German accidentally gets shredded by his own plane’s propeller. Jones shoots at the cockpit to pull Marion out of it just before the plane explodes.

O. Quick Rescues

Jones sulks at a bar after watching the truck Marion was in get destroyed. Little does he know that he’s surrounded by people who want to see him dead. It looks like all hope is lost until Sallah’s children come out of nowhere and pull him to safety.

Marion seeks Jones after watching him crash through a wall. Little does she know that she’s surrounded by dead people. It looks like all hope is lost until Jones comes out of nowhere and pulls her to safety.

P. Date with Destiny

Jones looks through a door, which is opened shortly after by a mysterious man who poisons some dates. Sallah notes that the Nazis have their own headpiece, which showed them where to find the Well of Souls. They have the wrong height for the staff of Ra. Sallah saves Jones’ life by grabbing a poisoned date out of the air before it lands in his mouth.

Jones looks up at an opening to the Well of Souls, which Belloq is about to close on him. Belloq notes that he didn’t need to find the Well of Souls because Jones found it for him, and now the Nazis have the Ark. They throw Marion into the pit from a lethal height. Jones saves her life by catching her before she lands on the ground, and she almost gets poisoned by a snakebite.

Q. Belloq and Dietrich

Belloq complains to Dietrich that he shouldn’t have reported to Berlin that they were close to finding the Ark. Belloq fails to notice that his calculations could have been wrong, and they’re digging in the wrong place.

Dietrich complains that Belloq is as stubborn as Marion, and Toht thinks he’s grown too close to her. Belloq notices a group of men digging somewhere he hadn’t told them to, and he realizes they’re digging in the right place.

R. Finding the Ark

Sallah helps Jones climb down into the Map Room so he can find where the Well of Souls is located. A beam of sunlight shines down through the headpiece of the staff of Ra and shows him where the Ark is. Jones calls out to Sallah and climbs out on a Nazi flag.

Sallah helps Jones lift up a giant stone covering off of the Ark’s hiding place in the Well of Souls. Light gleams off the surface of the Ark as Jones and Sallah carry it to a box and place it inside. Jones asks those above him to carry it up with a rope.

S. Marion Almost Escapes

Jones accidentally walks into a tent that Marion happens to be in. She is tied up, and Jones begins to untie her, but he changes his mind. He knows that if she disappears now, he won’t be able to sneakily get the Ark. He promises to come back and get her once he’s done.

Belloq accidentally walks into a trap set by Marion. She gets him drunk, and she pretends to be helpless, but she has a clear mind. She grabs a knife she had hidden and uses it to sneakily get away from Belloq. But Toht arrives behind her and attempts to make good on his promise to get information out of her.

T. Near and Far

From a safe distance, Jones identifies exactly where the Well of Souls is located directly ahead on a hill.

Too close for comfort, Jones drops into the Well of Souls and finds himself directly in front of a cobra.

U. Methods of Persuasion

Dietrich suggests to Belloq that Marion should be persuaded to reveal the Ark’s location. Belloq shows he has feelings for her, and Dietrich says he has the perfect man for the job. Toht approaches them.

Belloq unties Marion and suggests she eat something because they’re far away from civilization. Belloq watches her undress, and she says she has no loyalty to Jones. He sends his guard away.

V. Opening the Well of Souls

During the day, Jones, Sallah, and a group of workers climb a hill to the spot over the Well of Souls. Jones makes the first shovel strike into the sand. The music swells, showing that Jones is full of excitement at the prospect of finding the Ark.

At night, Sallah’s men strike stone, and they reveal the entrance to the Well of Souls. Sallah pries open the covering, and he and Jones are the first to look down into it. Foreboding music plays, and Jones is horrified to see lots of snakes below.

Indy-niable

I think I did a pretty good job of being brief while hitting all the right points I wanted to address. Isn’t it incredible how a movie you’ve seen a dozen times can be viewed in a whole new light? That’s what I love about each Cinematic Chiasmus article I write.

And this one felt incredibly pressing to write. I dropped everything else and just did it. I’ll try to do a better job of following promptings like that in the future. I don’t want to drag my feet when I feel inspired, whether it’s in writing or life.

Anyway, it’s undeniable at this point that Raiders of the Lost Ark is a symmetrical film. That’s just one more reason it deserves its reputation as a classic.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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