McCay The Last Crusade Blog Prompt

In The Last Crusade, we see Indiana not just on a grail quest, but we see all the stages of his knight's journey from mercenary knight, through indentured knight, finally to Grail quest knight. Discuss three scenes that show these three stages. Why are all these stages reviewed?

Rogers- Temple of Doom

In Temple of Doom, we see a wide variety of character traits displayed by Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones. He is first seen as a bit of a James Bond-type of secret agent in the beginning scenes, in a standoff over a diamond and a damsel with a rich businessman. He is a bit of a playboy who searches for glory and fame, with little regard for any higher ideals or goals. We see a major change in the character of Indiana Jones largely on the bridge. After being faced with the true evils of the greed displayed by the villains, he shouts my favorite line, "Prepare to meet Khali... IN HELL!" He then slices the bridge in an attempt to save Willie and Short Round, along with the important stones. This is an important apotheosis for Indy. He realizes just how important the stones are to the villagers, and that there are some things more important in life than fame or money. Up until the point on the bridge, Indy had been largely just a personal hero for himself, rather than for all of humanity. It really impressed me that he found these higher ideals, not to mention that Temple of Doom is my favorite of the Indiana Jones movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFefdJvDVYQ

Ruffino-Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones begins Temple of doom with only two things on his mind, fortune and glory. Indie is then asked to retrieve a valuable stone which he does thinking only of what this stone could do for him, not concerning himself with the lively-hood of the village. Indiana does not believe in the stones power at first but he then begins to believe after he feels the power full force this new faith is what will ultimately save him on the rope bridge.

As he is dangling from the bridge the only thing that could save him was this new found faith in the stones power. He put his belief in the stone and it did not betray him Indie was saved and he was a changed man who now understood why the stone was so important to the villagers and that it truly belonged to them.

In conclusion to Indies journey he returns the stone and children to the villagers as requested. He is then asked why he decided tor return the stone instead of putting it in a museum as originally planed. His reply shows how he has progressed and how he thought of others and not just himself. His transformation was great but not yet over.

HENRY: TEMPLE OF DOOM

In order for some people to truly believe in something, it must be very tangible. For Indiana fortune and glory are two very tangible things, but beliefs in old customs and stories do not add up to fourtune and glory for him. He refuses to understand how the lost stones bring safety to the village, but he does understand that the retreiving of those stones can possibly bring him fortune. From the time Indiana Jones entered the village, he did not believe in their tales or beliefs in regards to the stones that were stolen, yet he embarks on his journey in hopes of a substantial reward. But as his journey continues, he begins to transform from a merchanary knight. Now his loyolaty belongs to the people of Shieva and their glory. The scene on the rope bridge serves as an apotheosis for Indiana Jones because he gains a higher level of understanding for the people of Shieva. He starts to understand that the stone serves a higher purpose when in the village, rather than in a museum. Now, instead of endangering his life for fortune his does so for the people. On the bridge he put his life on the line, and he knows that the only way to survive would be to believe in the stones powers. He does believe, whcihc is why he survives and he does not betray the people of the village. He returns to the village with the chhildren and the stone and hands it over to the chief. When asked by Willie on why he returned it, his mentality for the moment seemed to shift from fortune and glory to one that puts others above self.

Roberts-Temple of Doom

In the beginning Indiana is approached by a small village for help when one of their shrine stones goes missing. They believe that he was sent to them from Shiva to return it to them. Indiana is apprehensive and faithless until he realizes that the stone may be a Sankara stone which if retrieved would promise fortune and glory. His journey for the stone is not to help the village but to advance himself. Fast forward to the end. Indiana has drunk the blood of Kali, been rescued by Shorty, and now the original trio are trying to make their escape across a flimsy rope bridge. This is where Indiana's Apotheosis occurs.
Originally doubting the faith of the villagers from before Indiana now invokes the power of Shiva in order to defeat the villain. He no longer seems worried about his original goal of fortune and glory and instead threatens to dispose of the stones when Willie and Shorty's lives are threatened. Finally he is not upset when two of the three stones are lost to the crocodiles below. He has the one that was needed for the village's shrine. He returns it to the village and concludes his journey.

Cutler: Temple of Doom

In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the scene on the rope bridge is both an apotheosis for Indiana Jones and an initiation into a higher form of behavior. Before the bridge scene, Indiana was just in it for money and glory, living up to his categorization of the mercenary knight. However, on the bridge, he lets go of his opinion that the stone was just a ghost story. When he is stuck on the bridge with Short Round and the stones after escaping the Temple of Doom, his enemies have him surrounded. He decides to cut the bridge, sending the other men into their watery grave, and saving himself, Short Round and Willie. It seemed like a crazy action as he said "prepare to meet Kali in HELL!" but he did it when he realizes he can't act like a mercenary hero anymore.
He used the powers of the stones to go through an apotheosis into a higher form of behavior, both literally and religiously. The stones were a religion for the people of the village and he used them to connect with a higher being to save the stones and kill the antagonists. He also went through an initiation into a higher form of behavior because he no longer acted selfishly and for the fortune and the glory, but rather for the sake of the village and Willie.
When the climatic rope bridge scene ends, we see Indy in an entirely new way. He no longer wants money, but uses his skills as an archeologist in a good way to better more people.

Massiha Temple of Doom

Indiana goes from a willing mercenary to a village hero. In the beginning of Temple of Doom, all he wants his fortune and glory. When he’s first told in the village about the stone, he dismisses it as an old ghost story. Shorty tries to warn him that he will get killed if he goes, but Indiana’s fortune and glory motto holds true and lures him into the adventure. He just doesn’t realize how much crap he got himself into. You’d think after he almost got impaled to death and was chased after a creepy shaman and a couple hundred Thuggees that he would quit with the fortune and glory BS. But, it takes Indy being under the Kali influence, witnessing a sacrifice, and seeing child slaves, to finally realize this stuffs no joke. Fast forward to Indiana being on the rope bridge surrounded by Thuggee lead by their creepy priest leader. It’s at that moment he you realize he has to make a decision. As he’s dangling from the rope bridge he just cut, the creepy shaman decides to a pull used car saleman line and say just give me the stone and I’ll spare you guys cliché bad guy line. Indiana pretty much rejects him and at the point we don’t know if it’s because he wants the stones for himself or for the village. The shaman then gets angry as most rejected people do and tries to steal the stones. Mind you they are dangling over a crocodile infested river. One thing leads to another and Indiana starts a chant. He tells the shaman that he betrayed Shiva and that this is revenge. He starts chanting faster and thus ignites the stone. The shaman refusing to let the stone drop to the crocodiles, reaches out for the stone and consequently burns his hands and plummets down to the crocodiles, but not before Indiana can catch the

stone. It’s not til everyone is waiting for Indiana to climb up that we notice the change. He hoists the stone up first and that’s when we realize it’s not about the fortune and glory. It’s about doing the right thing. He realizes that the village needs it and that it does hold power. I guess not all things belong in a museum.

Morris- Bridge Scene

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom begins with the title character being up for anything as long as he will achieve "fortune and glory". When Indie is asked, or rather told, by the head of the village to go to Pankot Palace and retrieve the stone that had been stolen, Indie does it only because he realizes the stone's value to himself. He does not believe that the stone was the source of life for the village.

Once Indie sees the stone's power at work and even experiences it himself, he starts to believe in it. This new found belief is what saves him on the bridge.

When Indie is hanging on the bridge with Mola Ram, his only hope is his belief in the stone's power. Throughout his journey, he has seen what the stones can do, and he developed a belief in something more powerful than himself. He no longer dismisses the villagers' desire to have the stone back because he knows how powerful it really is. Indie surrenders himself to the power of the stone, trusting it will save him, and he is right. The stone catches fire and Mola Ram falls to his death.

To complete his journey, Indiana Jones returns to the village with the stone and the children as he was supposed to. Willie asks him why he returned the stone instead of putting it in a museum, and his answer shows that he has changed in his journey. He took others into consideration before himself. Although, he also says that he will keep looking for "fortune and glory" which shows that there is more to his transformation to come.

Frady - Apotheosis on the Bridge

In the events leading up to the scene on the bridge, Indy has begun to exhibit more and more compassion and selflessness. However, these traits were tempered with his drive for fortune and glory. On the bridge, however, Indy seems free of his selfish motives, willing to drop the Shankara stones into the crocodile-infested water below.

When his plan to use the stones as a hostage falls through, and Indy finds himself playing tug-of-war with Mola Ram while they dangle precariously from the severed rope bridge, he does something unexpected. Somehow, Indy channels the power of Shiva, chanting and making the stones grow hot enough to catch fire and burn through his satchel. It's not certain where this sudden arcane knowledge comes from, but it serves the purpose of implying Indy's apotheosis. Indy exhibits the requisite attributes: divine knowledge, compassion, and bliss. He now fully understands the spiritual significance (power) of the stones, and that it transcends their monetary significance.

Lazo - Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom features a different Indy than the chronologically later films. In Temple, Indy plays the role of the Mercenary Knight, not all that unlike Han Solo from Star Wars. His chief concern is money, or "fortune and glory." He holds little interest in the cultural or historical value of what he finds, as indicated by his dealings with the gangster Lao Che or telling Short Round that the power of the village's stone was a "ghost story."


In Pankot Palace, Indy descends into an underworld and witnesses the power of the Sankara Stones firsthand by the evil Mola Ram. Following his escape , he is cornered on a rope bridge above a river full of crocodiles. Indy cuts the bridge and fights Mola Ram, both hanging on for their lives. Here, he uses an incantation that makes the stones burn, Mola Ram falls, and Indy saves the village's stone. This is Indy's apotheosis. He now believes in the power and history of the relics. He understands the importance of the stone, not only in itself, but also the significance and value to the village. Fortune and glory become insignificant in comparison, and he is no longer simply a Mercenary Knight.

Guerry- Temple of Doom

Jack Sparrow of the archaeological world, Indiana Jones takes what he can and gives nothing back. He desires for nothing more than "fortune and glory"; the noblest of motives in the eyes of the corrupt. The servant of one and the servant of none, Indy places immediate fiscal satisfaction and aspirations for celebrity status above all. For him, wrestling with his conscience involves first determining if he can command an appearance fee. It takes the booby trap artist from The Goonies and a woman more annoying than a Stage 5 mosquito, combined with the sketchiest bridge in cinematic history to convince him a lifestyle change is necessary.

On the bridge, Indy finally puts his faith in that oversized, finger-painted piece of gravel he went to so much trouble retrieving. The results are effective and immediate. He satisfies the sweet-toothed crocodiles under the bridge, using the stones to cast down brown sugar heathens left and right. He enters the desolate waste of space that is his soul, finds himself disgusted, and makes a choice. Deciding then to Change, he goes from ignorant Conservative to a darker flavor of Liberal freedom. His actions center now on the welfare of the people, rather than himself. Choosing to help the poor people of the village by not selling the holy stones, he is allowed to use the power invested in them to save himself and his friends.

Pre-bridge, Indy was the apotheosis of selfishness. His actions were devoted to self-promotion and gratification. Post-bridge, Indy changes into a morally conscious member of society. The change is something new, yet not completely unwelcome for him.

Ramon- Temple of Doom

The difference in belief and believing is a great one. It is one thing for someone to be aware of a certain belief a group has, but believing is the key to success in a journey. To make reference to sport, a team must not only execute a system of play the their coach has set for them, but they must also genuine belief in that system for a sense of confidence among the members an a cohesive unit to become truly successful. That is directly equated to the apotheosis Indiana Jones goes through in Temple of Doom. In the beginning of Act II, Shorty is told by Indiana that the villagers merely told him a ghost story about the stone’s importance to the village. At this point, Indiana is a pure mercenary (like we see in the bar in Episode IV: New Hope). Jumping to (pun) the scene on the bridge, Indiana emerges from a state of belief to believing in the power of the stones.

In a hermeneutic arc, one goes through constant states of refection and experience. Not all of these experiences come from “good.” Here Indiana’s believing comes from his journey to the underworld, where “evil” reigns. It is through our experiences with ‘evil” that we grow to a sense of “good.” Once Indiana experiences the underworld, he is drawn to the side of “good” for which he must fight to protect. Indiana uses the divine powers of “good” as a catalyst to overcome Mola Ram, thus overcoming “evil.” In the hero’s journey, he is sent to bring back an item from the underworld to the people he is a part of or sent to be a part of. The hero’s journey would not be complete if Indiana would have taken the stone to a museum. 

Triay - Temple of Doom

In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, we see Indiana Jones differently than in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Set one year before the events of Raiders, Jones is portrayed as a Mercenary Knight, letting his loyalties fall to whomever presents the most money. The opening scene demonstrates this, as Jones strikes a deal with a Chinese gangster that betrays him by poisoning him and taking Jones's payment (the diamond), setting in motion the events of the film.

Jones and his side-kick Short Round with the club singer Willie Scott eventually find themselves aiding a desperate Indian village whose magical stones have been stolen by a religious cult known as the Thuggees. Jones begins to see within himself the path to virtuousness when he agrees to help the Indians. After eating some monkey brains, heavy flirting, and a death by ceiling fan, the group finds themselves within the Temple of Doom.

Eventually, Jones retrieves the three magic stones and saves all the enslaved children. As he is escaping the Temple of Doom, he finds himself trapped on a bridge with the stones. The Thuggees are closing in on him, swords drawn. It is at this moment that Indiana Jones (as the Mercenary Knight) enters "the wasteland" within himself. He realizes that his role as the Mercenary Knight must come to an end. He has seen the good works he has done by saving the children and retrieving the stones, and he realizes that he cannot be a sympathetic Mercenary. He must decide what path to take. This apotheosis leads Jones to abandon his mantra of "fortune and glory" and let his loyalties lie within the path of virtue.

Koeferl- Harrison Ford's apotheosis on the bridge

Indiana Jones is trapped- enemies are closing in on him from both sides of the bridge. This represents the two paths that he can take. We do not yet know whether he will try to sell the stones or give them back to the village people (he still has all three stones). Back in the temple, Jones throws a rock at one of the Thuggee in an attempt to help the children. As he's escaping the temple, he makes the decision to rescue the children as well as themselves. Although he cares for the children, we know that he also cares about his fortune and glory. On the bridge, we know that Indie is going to try to survive one way or the other, but it is not until he accesses the power of the stones that he understands the significance of the religion. He realized that the remaining stone was more important to these villagers than to anyone else (even himself!).

Theology and religious beliefs are rhyming elements in the Indiana Jones series. In both Temple of Doom and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indie is confronted with religious artifacts and until the end of each of these films, he doesn't believe in any "mumbo jumbo" spiritual beliefs. An apotheosis is the "exaltation of a subject to a divine level". In the end of the bridge scene of Temple of Doom, Indie comes to believe in the power of the stones, and actually uses them to cast the antagonist into the crocodile-infested ravine. In that moment, Indiana Jones experiences an apotheosis and reaches a godlike level.

It might seem like Indie used the stones only to survive and not because he actually believed in the stones' power or in any religion (this is what I thought at first). However, he wouldn't have been able to use the stones if he wanted to keep them for himself or if he was planning to turn them in for personal wealth or glory. If that were the case, he wouldn't have truly believed in the religion. Indie was able to overcome the priest because the priest had betrayed Shiva, and Indie was trying to return the stones to the village. He was fighting for the right reasons, and the priest wanted the stones for the wrong reasons. He could use the stones only because he believed in the power of the religion.

Kuebler-Temple of Doom

In this scene Indiana Jones seems to transform from grave robber to a brave archeologist with a purpose. Before this his mission was for personal gain and fortune. It was in this moment that he realized that he could not just hand the stones over to the evil shaman of the dark tribe. When he exudes such bravery it becomes apparent that he is no longer in this for himself as he is risking his life for his friends and the people of the village.

If one looks they can see the discomfort in his eyes when he realizes that he must make a choice and that it must be one of a higher calling. Putting one's life on the edge like this usually creates a change. This is truly noticed when he throws two of the three stones into the river and begins to show faith in the magic of the stones. The shaman is cast into the water as one who has broken the faith and turned his back on shiva. What was once an adventure for fortune and glory has now become one of life and renewal of character.

As Indie climbs up the latter after his near death fall and struggle with the shaman the party can see the change that he has undergone. He hold up the stone with pride that he was able to save one stone in order to return to the village. When they are in the village Willie asks Indie about his fortune and glory and he responds that the adventure is not over yet. This shows that he has not fully transformed but is on the road to becoming a "knight." He then proceeds to take his "prize" and catches Willie with his whip, showing that he no longer cares for the gold but wishes the hand of a maiden, much like any knight of the round.

Hutchinson- Temple of Doom

Throughout Temple of Doom, we watch Indiana Jones go on a quest for the sacred rock that was stolen from the village. It is clear from the beginning that Jones isn't searching for the rocks to help the people of the village but to find "fortune and glory" for himself. It is his mantra, always he says he is after "fortune and glory." Being a scholar, he doesn't actually believe in the sacred powers of the stone that were described by the villagers. However, he does understand the historical value, and he hopes that finding the stone will secure the fame and wealth he's been craving.

Fortunately for the people of the village (and the audience for that matter), Indy starts to develop a conscience. His journey brings about a change in him that finally breaks through in the scene on the bridge. The creepy priest guy gives him a chance to save himself and Shorthand and Willie if he gives up the stones. Naturally, Indy says no, but it's still unclear whether that's because he wants the stones, or he wants to return them to the villagers. It isn't until Indy and the creepy priest are dangling perilously from the severed bridge that Indy's change comes to fruition.

The creepy priest tries to take the rock from Indy's satchel, but Indy's belief brings the rock to life, burning the priest and sending him to his immediate doom. Indy realized that the priest betrayed Shiva, and that he had fallen (quite literally) from the faith. He saw the path the priest's actions had taken. He saw that there was more death than life, and more suffering than prosperity. He freed the children from the mines. He knew that he was their only chance for salvation. He knew that the priest took the stone, it would never end. Indy was the savior, and this realization brought belief. The belief brought the power needed to save the village's children. No longer is it just about Indiana Jones and "fortune and glory," it is about the communities and the people.

McCay Temple of Doom Blog

The scene on the rope bridge serves as an apotheosis for Indiana Jones, and it also serves as an initiation into a higher form of behavior, leading Indie to realize he should not sell the village's sacred stone. Discuss how the incident on the bridge changes Indie.

Rogers- Princess Leia: Goddess, Temptress, Princess

Princess Leia is clearly a character who serves to move the plot in one way or another. She is in a bit of a position of a damsel in distress at times, like when she's a prisoner of Jabba in Return of the Jedi. She also takes on a bit more of a protagonist role for some scenes, like when she saves Han from the dungeon in the same film. One thing that could not be more certain is that she is a goddess incarnate to the two main characters, Han and Luke. They are both very interested in her. It probably helps that Star Wars has hardly any other female characters, so it's natural these two would engage in heated competition over her. One moment from Return of the Jedi that sticks out is when Leia kisses Luke to make Han jealous and motivate him. She knew that kissing Luke, Han's rival for her affections, would make him take action and take care of business against the Empire. The picture I've selected for this blog honestly shows so much about the relationship between Han, Luke, and Leia, their goddess. You can see that Han is a man of confidence and knows what he wants. Leia is attracted to his machismo, and depends on him for leadership at times. This is on display clearly from her touching his arm. Luke seems like a more thoughtful, contemplative character. Leia is also drawn to this, as she seeks solace in someone so sensitive. Leia is integral to the plot of Star Wars, because she creates a lot of the tension between two characters who otherwise get along quite well, and she provides motivation for the both of them; as any true goddess would.

Butcher - Leia the Goddess in Return of the Jedi

In The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Campbell posits that the goddess exists for the hero to act as a driving force for his journey. When we first meet Leia in Episode IV: A New Hope, she is an image of beauty, dressed in white, desperate to escape the clutches of the Empire. She is anything but the stereotypical damsel in distress. Although a prisoner of Darth Vadar, she alone takes action to help in her own rescue. This is far from the typical fairytale images of women like Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty. A goddess is a ruler, a deity, a supreme being more powerful than a earthly human. Leia remains a strong character throughout each film, and is always at the forefront of the rebellion, as a main character to the plot. As a superhuman character, a goddess, is often in control, and escapes danger time and again. This can be said of Princess Leia. She is bold enough to attempt to rescue Han in Return of the Jedi, even though it results in her capture. Even in the process of being saved, she is always active. When Luke comes to rescue Leia and Han from Jabba, she ends up strangling Jabba with her own chains to escape. Perhaps this is a visual metaphor indicating that she cannot be chained.

In each Episode she becomes increasingly important. In the larger picture, her relationships with Han and Luke motivate both heroes. Leia constantly puts her life on the line for Han and Luke, and in return both men find themselves constantly protecting and fighting for her. For example, in Return of the Jedi, Darth Vadar entices Luke to lash out at him when he insinuates that she could turn to the dark side. She is definitely an intriguing character, and it is interesting to watch the development of Han and Luke around her.

Finally, here's a funny picture of Leia and R2....

Ramon- Who is Leia?

First, what is the goddess and what is the temptress? In relation to our Darth and Obi Wan discussion, there is a light and dark side to Leia’s character unrealized to her because these traits are formed due to the actions of Luke and Han. The goddess is or light or our spiritual, where the hero is driven by her presence and the benefit for the greater good. On the other hand, the temptress drives or distracts the hero in his journey. Leia is not to such an extreme as Calypso is to Odysseus, but to the hero (namely Luke) she is the prize. In A New Hope, it can be easy to label Princess Leia as the Goddess to Han and the temptress to Luke. In Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the relationship between Han is that of indifference. We see that right off the bat with them bickering in the corridor. However, Luke is still obsessed with her. Once before I said that Leia was the goddess to Han and Luke, but in terms of Episode V, she is the erotic temptation that is driving the heroes to succeed. To my remembrance, there was no happy ending in this film. The heroes are separated, with our civic hero in Han being held captive by the opposition.

Playing devil’s advocate here with myself, the moment where Luke leaves his training to go save his friends. At this moment, Leia is changed in Luke’s mind from temptress to goddess, or at least that is information we can imply by his tone of voice and assertiveness. Leia character, since it relies so much upon the actions of Luke and Han towards her, is once that is very difficult to come to any sort on conclusion on what her role in the films are.

Just for some humor. Some of you may have already seen this terrible spoof, but its always worthy of a few chuckles.

Ruffino-Leia: Goddess & Temptress

Leia plays the role of not only the goddess but the temptress as well and that is why she is such an essential part of both Luke and Han's journey as heroes. In the words of Campbell the goddess must give purpose to the hero and that is precisely what Leia does throughout the films. In A New Hope Leia gives both Han and Luke purpose, which is to rescue her, however this is not all that Leia offers. She plays the part of the temptress when Han is lured back to help the rebels, although this is unnecessary for him to do he does so simply because he know that Leia is there. She also manages to get both Luke and Han interested in the rebel cause and eager to take part in the rebel war, giving our heroes yet another purpose. In The Empire Strikes Back Leia continues her role as goddess but also adds in another role, temptress. There is an interesting dynamic between Han and Leia they begin to like each other, which is a double whammy seeing as Leia is now preforming as a goddess by providing Han with the challenge of winning her over.
Leia has to be rescued multiple times during the films and each time she is rescued something good comes out of it, Luke continues on his journey, or they become friendly with the Ewoks who will later become their comrades. Leia is quite possibly the most important character because without her the heroes would be without direction or motivation. Her role as both goddess and temptress is essential.

Bauer: Goddess Leia

In the Star Wars Trilogy, Leia plays two important roles in the hero's journey. She is both the temptress and goddess as Campbell would describe. Although her interactions with the two hero's are slightly different, she still plays both roles for each.

A New Hope, Luke and Han Solo both set out out to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire who has captured her. Campbell writes of how the goddess must give purpose to the hero. In the beginning his major purpose is to rescue her for reward or honor. However, upon rescue, she involves both Han and Luke in the rebel cause and the war. She has added new purpose to the journey for each. At the end of the first movie, we see her send off Luke into battle. In The Empire Strikes Back, she seems to be in charge of much of the operation of the base on Hoth. Also though, she and Han start to fall for each other. Althogh this may seem to be as if she is the temptress, she is also giving Han purpose in his journey, to win her over. In her talks with Luke, she discusses what it is he has to do. In the beginning of the third movie, she must be rescued again by Luke so that he may continue his journey. The rebels are also on a planet occupied by the Empire and she goes missing. It is up to Han and Luke to find her and their journey leads them to the Ewoks which will later help them in their fight. Leia is the first to find them so if she had not gotten lost, Luke and Han may never have made friends with the Ewoks and been able to finish their journey.

Leia is also the temptress. In the first movie, this is most prevalent when Han returns to help the Rebels because she is their. Although he was initially involved for money, she has made him want to come back. In the third movie, she is enslaved by Jabba and needs to be rescued by Luke. There are many instances where Leia is the reason for the actions taken by the hero even though it may seem out of the way or unimportant.

Leia is both the goddess and temptress. She gives purpose to Han and Luke's journey and becomes the cause of many of their actions. Leia is essential to the hero's journey.

Gooch- Princess Leia's role for the Hero

In the entire Star Wars trilogy Princess Leia plays a pivotal role in continuing the journey of the hero. She is both the inspiration for his mission and a distraction from his destiny. Unlike the heroes, Luke and Han, Leia remains constant in her conviction and her bravery for the cause. Through out the history of film, women are often portrayed simply as the damsel in distress. In Leia’s case, while she may be introduced in this fashion her character grows further and we come to see the power that she holds as a great authority figure in the fight against the empire. This empowerment gives her the ability to be more than just a girl to save, but also the woman who inspires the work of an army, and who especially sparks the action of the two leading men.

Her role as the goddess, especially for Luke, is the most obvious role she plays. The audience is constantly reminded of her importance and purity as she is almost always shown in her glowing white outfits. Despite her constant fight against the evil of the dark side, she remains pure and unwavering. It is the vision of her calling for help that first intrigues Luke to embark on his journey, and once they meet, his love is one of the inspirations for him to keep going. Although, her relationship with Han is not as glorified as it is for Luke, through her constant challenges for him not to give up the fight and her bravery in their journey together (especially in “The Empire Strikes Back”) she is his goddess and inspiration not to return to the man he was before.

Her role as the temptress is one that is slightly more hidden. It seems inconceivable that such a strong and brave character could ever serve as a contributor to the hero’s doubts, but it is not by her flaws that she becomes the temptress. It is through the weakness of the hero that she becomes, as Campbell explains, a symbol “no longer of victory, but of defeat.” In his failures, Leia becomes Luke’s reminder of all that he has left to learn. While Luke has to save her from danger in all three films, it is in “The Empire Strikes Back” that Luke abandons his training and his call to be a Jedi in order to save her. In the final film he also risks his mission to defeat Darth Vader so that he can save her from Jaba’s cave. All of these efforts distract Luke from his mission and in each challenge he becomes weaker and doubts his ability to be the Jedi he is called to be.

Madere: Leia as Goddess and Temptress

In this photo from Star Wars: A New Hope, Princess Leia is very clearly the Goddess that Joseph Campbell discusses. She is dressed in white (as she is for most of both the first and second movie), she looks regal and, with the light cast down upon her in this scene, she looks almost angelic.

Leia's role as Goddess carries over from A New Hope into The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. She is still very much a driving force behind the Rebellion, as seen in the beginning of the movie in her role as executive of the Rebels' movements on Hoth. She also serves as Goddess for both Luke and Han personally. For Luke, as in A New Hope, she gives him a means and reason to fight and fulfill his role as Campbell's Contemplative hero in the story. In Han's case, she provides a search for something more fulfilling than just material wealth, which eventually blossoms into love. In this way, she becomes Han's savior in his quest for a more meaningful life and fulfillment of his role as the Civic hero. She also actually is Han's savior when she poses as a bounty hunter in order to rescue him from death at the hands of Jabba the Hutt.

However, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Leia becomes, both literally and figuratively, a Temptress. For both Han and Luke, Leia is an object of lust and reason for competition. However, this role changes in her interactions with Luke once they learn they are brother and sister. He then must overcome this loss and others associated with his family and past in order to continue on his quest. For Han, he must overcome the reasons for his original attraction to Leia--lust, money, greed, power, the winner over Luke in the battle for her affection--in order to achieve something more pure and wholesome with her.

Guerry, Matthew - Leia in ROJ

In Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia takes on both the role of temptress and goddess. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an ugly goddess, though my knowledge of the subject is admittedly flawed. In her capacity as temptress, Leia uses her femininity to motivate both Han and Luke, especially against one another. Competing for her affection, they attempt to outdo the other, thereby further completing their quest to save the galaxy. She tempts Luke away from his training with Yoda when Jabba captures her. Her golden bikini serves to show her as a sex object, increasing the rush of “gold” to the heads of her captors. This blatant personification of the concept of the “temptress” is far from ignorable. The rivalry continues until Luke figures out that Leia is his sister. After a moment of awkwardness, in which he no doubt recalls the passionate kiss they shared, he comprehends the bond he had previously misunderstood. It is this revelation that changes Leia’s role for Luke, from temptress to goddess.

Solo, on the other hand, views Leia as both a goddess and a temptress… "Goddress"? His frustrated romantic interest toward her is obvious; his irritation at her hidden motives and stubborn personality shows often. His love for her helps him transform from a swashbuckling mercenary to an out and out action hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJRMwdmFYWg

I tried to upload this from YouTube but could not find a YouTube option.

HENRY: A New Hope IV

Starwars: A New Hope was a very good movie! There were so many scenes full of suspense and I enjoyed them very much. From the beginning, Luke encountered adversary in regards to his uncle and getting to the ship to save Princess Leia. Now, Han was such an interesting character and trouble or tough situations seemed o follow him everywhere. Princess Leia is very tough and smart as well. She ran into conflict once she was captured by Darth Vaders, yet she still kept the faith. But once the three of them get together, there is a lot of trouble ahead and behind them. Han, Luke, the droids, and Obie Won arrived on the ship to save Princess Leia but they got into a lot of trouble! One obstacle that the trio faced while on their journey to save the Rebels was getting out of sight from the guards on the ship. First, Luke was such a baby but he starts to come around and take his powers seriously. His seemed a bit intimidated by the Princess and Han, but he let his guard down and helped them to escape. Han who seemed to be selfish, was one of the main reasons they were not captured. He decided to take control of the situation and follow the guards in hopes of destroying them. But, this did not work so he allows the Princess, Luke , and Chewy to retreat into the hiding place while he fends off the guards by himself. Now, the real story is Princess Leia and the way in which she behaved. She is such a firecracker and shows it every step of the way. When they first started to run away from the guards, she seemes to become frustrated and takes the gun from Luke and finds a hiding place. Well, she creates a hidding place by shooting intothe wall. But at that moment I saw the leader come out of her. Which seemed like a natural instinct to her, rather than an action for the moment. Overall, all three of these characters evolve in this two hour movie and contriubute to saving the rebels.

Cutler: Princess Leia as a Goddess and a Temptress

In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia is both a goddess and a temptress. She is one of the most complex characters in the trilogy because of the thin line she walks between these two identities. As a goddess, Leia gives purpose to the hero's journey (according to Joseph Campbell) and she does this for both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. For Luke, she gives him purpose to be a Jedi Knight and fight for the Rebel cause. For Han, she is an object of desire and goes from being a rich princess for whom Han will receive a reward from to someone he really loves and cares about. He fights for the Rebel cause partly (maybe mostly) for Princess Leia.

She also acts like a temptress. When it is revealed that Leia and Luke are brother and sister, Luke's bond with Leia is immediately compromised because he now knows that there will be nothing between them and that she can use the force like he can. Leia also acts as a temptress to Han because they are obviously in love and it compromises their ability to fight for the rebel cause. However, they are able to overcome this and destroy the Empire. Leia's role in the trilogy is to compliment the male hero while he finds purpose and meaning for his journey. She also acts like a goddess and a temptress for both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.

Lazo - Return of the Jedi

Princess Leia serves two different roles for the two different heroes of the original Star Wars trilogy. Joseph Campbell writes that the hero will have an encounter with a temptress and a goddess. For Luke and Han, Leia fulfills these roles.

According to Campbell, the temptress attempts to lure the hero away from his quest. Luke's quest throughout the trilogy has been to learn the ways of the force, become a Jedi Knight, and defeat Darth Vader, his father. While on the forest moon of Endor, Leia tells Luke that he should run away and not face Vader. She's trying to protect Luke, but he knows what he must do. Luke knows that he cannot become a Jedi without facing his father. Leia tempts Luke not just to run from Vader, but in doing so, he would also be running from the Force and his quest to become a Jedi.

Meanwhile, Star Wars has another hero in Han Solo. For Han, Leia plays the role of the goddess. According to Campbell, the goddess represents a powerful bond of love. This is best seen in The Empire Strikes Back when Leia tells Han she loves him, and he says, "I know." However, this love is also seen throughout Return of the Jedi from when Leia rescues Han through the Battle of Endor. Han and Leia's love for each other is probably the most important reason for Han's transition from money-loving rogue to a hero fighting for good. Leia gives Han a purpose throughout their struggles against the Empire.

Hutchinson - Leia

Joseph Campbell describes the goddess as the woman who gives meaning or purpose to the hero's journey. Throughout all three Star Wars movies (IV, V, and VI), it is blatantly obvious that Leia is the goddess to both heroes, Luke and Han. Both men fall for her, and it is this burning love that drives them to defeat the empire. However, in Return of the Jedi, Leia’s role as the goddess is given new meaning. Luke now feels the need to defeat the empire for a whole new reason – he is trying to save his sister. Darth Vader had mentioned nothing of Leia when he revealed his true identity to Luke, implying that he had no idea about Leia. This gave Luke even more fervor, because now it was his responsibility to keep Leia’s existence secret. If the force ran strong in both him and his father, the force must surely be strong within Leia too, and he couldn’t let the Emperor try to capture her and use her for his own gain. Luke even goes off on his own to fight Vader, so that he can try to save him, but also so that he can end this war once and for all. Likewise, ever since Han and Leia declared their love for each other, she has been the constant spark that keeps Han going. When they land on Indore, and they all split up to find the storm troopers, Han freaks when Leia doesn’t return with Luke. He is determined to find her, even if it means putting their plans on hold for a while. This search ultimately ends in their being captured and brought to the Ewok village, where fortunately Leia is already residing. Han’s need to find Leia drives this string of events, which culminates in them defeating the Imperial Military, because the Ewoks have come to save the day. However, Leia could also be seen as the hero's temptress. In Return of the Jedi, Leia and Luke are the ones who save Han from Jabba. This has to be slightly jarring for Han, seeing as he is the one who usually does most of the saving. He also sees Luke and Leia together and comes to the completely wrong conclusion that they are in love. Part of his mind has to be thinking that while he was frozen, Leia left him for Luke. This is something he must overcome, because they have yet to defeat the Empire. Luckily for Han, though, Leia sets him straight.

Frady, Jacob - Leia Organa as Goddess/Temptress in Return of the Jedi

Princess. Sister. Daughter. Rebel leader. Leia Organa is many things in the Star Wars universe. However, her most important roles are those of the Goddess and the Temptress. In Return of the Jedi, Leia once again steps into her Goddess shoes.

Hope they smell better than her bounty hunter boots.

When Luke figures out that she's his sister, he's understandably dumbfounded. However, this news comes with the added bonus of allowing Luke to finally realize the true nature of their relationship. He can now accept the powerful, all-encompassing love he has for his sister, a love that is equivalent to the unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his mother.

As a result, Luke experiences a loss of the sense of duality he felt with Leia and realizes that they are both a small part of something much larger than either of them: the Force.

Leia plays the Temptress more than once in Return of the Jedi. Once actively and once passively.

She is tempting...

First, she implores Luke to flee Darth Vader, because his conspicuous Force presence can lead Vader to sniff out their location. She doesn't know that Luke must confront his father before his training can be completed, and so she tries to lead him astray (albeit without malicious intent).

Pictured: Malicious Intent.

In her second incarnation as Temptress, Leia is not even present. When Luke and Vader face each other in battle as the Emperor looks on with glee, Vader is able to ferret out Leia's existence and true identity from Luke's thoughts. When Vader reveals to Luke that he now knows about Leia, Luke loses his composure and gives in to his anger, making him more vulnerable to the siren song of the Dark side of the Force. So, because of Leia, Luke nearly fails his final trial on the path to becoming a Jedi. Thankfully, Luke proved true to the Jedi way, and, with his father's help, was finally able to stop the dark reign of the Emperor for good.

Roberts-Leia's Role in Return of the Jedi

Within Joseph Campbell's monomyth it is custom for the hero to come into contact with both a goddess and a temptress at some point in his journey. In Star Wars Return of the Jedi Princess Leia acts as both a goddess and a temptress to our hero Luke.
The goddess traditionally "gives purpose and meaning" to the hero's journey and shares a special bond with him as well. In Return of the Jedi Luke returns to Dagobah to visit the dying Yoda and is visited by Obi Wan's apparition who reveals that Leia is in fact Luke's sister. She, like Luke, is also able to use the force, however, the audience has not seen her do so. The two now share a familial bond which make their previous kiss in The Empire Strikes Back a little more uncomfortable but secures her a spot as Luke's goddess. He even acts out, in an un-Jedi like manner, when Vadar threatens to turn Leia to the dark side.
The scene on Endor where Luke tells Leia that she is her brother is the same scene in which she acts like Campbell's described temptress. The temptress tries to get the hero to stray from his journey. Luke decides that he needs to face Vadar once more but Leia tries to keep him from going. This meeting with Vadar would ultimately complete Luke's journey. Luckily, Luke chooses to go instead despite the warnings from Leia.