Archaeologist, professor, and part-time action here carrying a whip and a hat; we all know who that is! Indiana Jones is a fictional character loved by many, and the Indiana Jones film series remains one of the best action films ever made. The first two movies make you fall in love with the character and his adventures, and it is not until the third movie in the series that the story of Indiana getting his famous hat and whip is revealed. So, why does Indiana Jones have a whip?
There are multiple reasons why Indiana Jones carries a whip with him. It’s a nostalgic weapon for him, a signature piece of equipment, and a multi-purpose tool. Trust us; if you aren’t well-versed with your Indiana Jones movies, you will be assumed to be living under a rock.
All The Reasons Indiana Jones Loves His Whip:
- Nostalgic Weapon For Indy:
The whip is a nostalgic weapon for Indiana Jones, as shown in the opening sequence of the Last Crusade.
A thirteen-year-old Indiana Jones swipes the golden crucifix from a gang of grave robbers and is being chased by them. In the midst of him trying to outrun the robbers, he lands on a circus train and into a car with a lion in it. There, he finds the whip which he uses to keep the lion at bay. He also gets a scar on his chin by hitting himself in the chin with the whip.
So, since then, Indiana Jones carries a whip with him, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that his nostalgia made him keep the whip with himself. It was a reminder that it was a whip that he used to fight off a lion for the first time.
- A Signature Piece Of Equipment:
Like Thor has his hammer, Indiana Jones has his whip and hat. It is a signature piece of equipment for him and is a defining addition to his personality. You cannot think of Indiana Jones without a whip and hat.
When the character was first introduced in the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the hat and whip became associated with Indiana Jones. Hence, it was also incorporated in every Indy movie that followed and became a signature piece of equipment.
Furthermore, a whip is an old weapon and screams ancient all over. Therefore, it is only fitting for an archaeologist to use a weapon that has a lot of history to it.
- A Multi-Purpose Tool:
Indiana Jones’s whip is not just a weapon, rather a multi-purpose tool, as shown in the four films. Throughout the films, Jones uses it not only to fight but also to hang over ledges, jump over large distances, climb, descend, and pull objects and people towards him (like he pulls Willie in the last scene of the series).
He also uses it to control animals (like the lion described earlier), disarm his enemies, and control the crowd, as shown in the market scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Furthermore, the whip is also a tool that can be carried and transported in luggage easily. Often, Indiana Jones’s enemies don’t regard the whip as a dangerous weapon until Jones starts using it skillfully.
As you can see, Indiana Jones’s whip is not only a weapon but a signature of his character, and a reminder of his past!
