In The Last Crusade: Donovan’s Motivations and the Quest for the Holy Grail

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Walter Donovan sends Indiana Jones on a mission to find his father, Henry Jones Sr.

Donovan’s Motivations

In the movie, Walter Donovan sends Indiana Jones on a quest to find his father, Henry Jones Sr., in the hope that Indiana will be more successful in locating him. Donovan believes that Henry, as a Grail scholar, possesses crucial information about the Holy Grail's location. However, Donovan's motives go beyond mere curiosity. He is keen to gain access to Henry's knowledge and to use Indiana as an unwitting pawn to help him in his quest for the Grail.

Donovan’s Involvement with the Nazis

It is important to note that while Donovan is in cahoots with the Nazis, his knowledge about Henry's exact location is limited at the time of sending Indiana on the quest. The Nazis had captured Henry, and Donovan’s plan is to use Indiana as a means to locate the Grail and bring Henry back under their control.

Donovan's manipulation of Indiana relies heavily on Indiana's dedication to his father. By exploiting this emotional connection, Donovan is able to further his own goals, which are ultimately centered around the Holy Grail.

The Quest for the Holy Grail

Donovan's primary goal is the Holy Grail. This is evident from the very beginning of the movie when he sends Indiana on a mission that is directly related to finding the Grail, not Henry. Henry realizes that the Nazis were manipulating him and he decided to send his Grail Diary to his son, Indiana Jones, believing that the Nazis would keep him alive to continue the search. This plan proved to be a stroke of genius for Donovan, who recognized that Indiana’s only course of action would be to follow his father's trail and complete the quest for the Grail.

The Journal and the Clues

Henry's capture by the Nazis meant he couldn't recall any details about the Grail’s location. He mailed the Grail Diary to Indiana to ensure that it would not be lost and to keep the quest alive. The Nazis were unaware of the importance of the diary at this point, thinking that Henry had not discovered anything significant.

Donovan, seeing the value in Indiana as a successor to his father, decided to use him to continue the search for the Holy Grail. Indiana's capture provided an additional incentive for Henry to complete the quest, as he knew Indiana would seek the Grail in order to rescue him.

The journey led Indiana to a series of clues and finally to the Holy Grail. The first clue, which led him to the grave site of a Christian brother, was just the beginning. Each clue furthered the quest and brought Indiana closer to the Grail.

Nazis’ Involvement and Tragedy

The Nazis, led by Marcus Brody, eventually discovered a map that led them to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. Donovan's betrayal became evident when he shot Henry to force Indiana into completing the final trail. At this point, only Indiana and Henry knew the hint of the trails, making Donovan's actions even more shocking and tragic.

Conclusion

In summary, Walter Donovan sent Indiana Jones on a quest to find his father not to locate Henry directly, but as a means to further his own agenda related to the Holy Grail. Indiana's capture and the Grail Diary were key elements in Donovan’s plan, making it clear that the ultimate goal was always the Holy Grail, not the personal reunification of father and son.

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