Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Marcus Brody/Abner Ravenwood

Indy doesn't need a guide or mentor, since he's been around the block a few times and come back with his share of shiny trinkets as a reward. That doesn't mean he didn't once have an older figure to help him along his way, or even someone who still hangs around to dispense nuggets of wisdom before Indy goes off to fight the forces of evil. For the former, we have Abner Ravenwood, whom we never see because he is dead.

But picking up the slack is Marcus Brody, who's known Indy long enough to give him some sage advice when he feels it's warranted. Brody is often more friend than mentor, and as we see when Brody cautions him about the Ark, Indy's more than happy to ignore his advice. Still, he's the closest thing to an elder statesman in this movie. Raiders stresses the unusual nature of his status by leaving him on the sidelines for most of the movie and limiting his influence to advice that largely goes unheeded. But hey, no one said being a guide/mentor was easy, especially for a hero who's already learned to follow his own path.