Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

It has become clear throughout all of our Grail Quests that the Grail is unattainable. I found it particularly interesting that Indiana- the "superhero" or "action figure" who always wins (or, really, takes the treasure) in the end- actually does not get the Grail in the end. I think it is an indication that no person can have it- not even Indy! (And it's Indy's job.) While the Grail is often viewed as a representation of religion or an understanding and appreciation for the maternal, I feel that all of our quests so far have had included an even deeper meaning behind the Grail: the maturing of the main character. In all three of our quests, the main character has been immature, brash, and naive in regards to appreciation of the feminine. Indiana is impulsive and often acts like a teenager, especially with the woman with whom he sleeps and then falls into the trap of. He does not appreciate his family- much like our other two 'knights'- and, likely because he seems to have no living mother figure in his life, must come to acknowledge his father. He also embarks on an "impossible" journey. This journey, though- through all three of the quests- is actually seeking to end the human habit of ignorance and immaturity. Indeed, all three of our 'knights' set on "pointless" journeys- though here, the journey is the most important part. The real point is not for them to eventually possess the Grail, but that they grow into a better human being while on the journey. Being able to let go of the Grail is the ultimate test of the quest- the ability to let something go when they know they should. Persse had to learn to let go of his infatuation with Angelica's image, and to become an adult who acted responsibly rather than impetuously. In Indiana's case, he came extremely close to getting the Grail- but his father knew that Indiana had to act like an adult, be smart (and stop endangering his life), and let it go. In letting the Grail go, Indiana is actually attaining it after all: he has matured into a true man, a worthy 'knight'- which was the point all along. He- and the other knights- have to recognize that there is more beyond the dangerous quest, and that one should work to live a life that is good and charitable, rather than one that is focused on attaining immortality.