History Characters / IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade

* EvilCounterpart: Donovan is essentially the evil counterpart to both Henry. They're both obsessed with finding the Grail, but where Henry is abrasive but ultimately noble, Donovan is urbane but selfish to a sociopathic degree. They've known each other for years prior and Henry comments that he always knew Donovan was sleazy but never imagined he'd stoop so low as to work with the Nazi's.

** [[StupidEvil Ignorance]]. Donovan sought the power of the Grail for his own selfishness, but he didn't possess enough knowledge surrounding it. All he knew was that the Holy Grail was a sacred artifact and that it would give eternal life to anyone who drinks from it. This would ultimately come back to bite him at the end of the film when he finally manages to locate the Grail room, where the Grail Knight warns him that the true grail will bring him life while a false one will kill him. [[spoiler:Due to his lack of knowledge of Grail lore, Elsa was able to trick Donovan into drinking from the wrong cup, [[KarmicDeath making him age rapidly until he dies.]]]]

* DetectEvil: It's implied that he can sense Donovan's evil, just as he can tell Indy's goodness, even if he has no way of knowing who either man is, nor the context of their quest.

** To Belloq. While they're both working for the Nazis out of greed, Belloq was an expert in various cultures. Donovan is ''not'' an expert and more of a materialistic connoisseur who relies on Elsa's expertise. Belloq also showed legitimate appreciation for the Ark as a historical find and respected Indy as a fellow expert and was genuinely polite and respectful while Donovan doesn't care about the Grail beyond his own gain and his manners are just a facade.

* TheSociopath: Initially appearing a somewhat normal person, Donovan reveals that he has no qualms in hurting innocents or allying with anyone if it gets him what he wants.

* FateWorseThanDeath: While he doesn't look particularly unhinged, he still had to spend something like 800 years alone in a room without sunlight and only water to drink. Of course, he still had the run of the chasm and the rest of the Temple, but it's really not much of an improvement.

* EternalEnglish: He's supposedly from the Middle Ages and has spent the intervening centuries in a room by himself, yet he speaks in perfect modern English.

** To Belloq. While they're both working for the Nazis out of greed, Belloq was an expert in various cultures. Donovan is ''not'' an expert and more of a materialistic connoisseur who relies on Elsa's expertise.
** To Mola Ram. Mola is devoutly religious - albeit to a GodOfEvil - and fully understands the power and purpose of the religious artifacts he's after. Donovan is not a practicing Christian and doesn't understand the purpose of the Grail, only what it can give him.

* EvilCounterpart: Donovan is essentially the evil counterpart to both Henry. They're both obsessed with finding the Grail, but where Henry is abrasive but ultimately noble, Donovan is urbane but selfish to a sociopathic degree.

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: PlayedForLaughs. He naturally has no idea of what his minions are up to in quest for the Grail, so when by sheer chance Indy accidentally hand delivers the Grail Diary straight to the dictator, Hitler does not know what the book means and thinks Indy is a loyal German officer seeking an autograph, so he signs the book and hands it back without ever realizing what he was holding, the key to finding the Grail.

* EpicFail: By sheer chance Indy accidentally hand delivers the Grail Diary, which Hitler had his men looking for the entire film straight to the dictator, but due to the circumstances Hitler thinks Indy is a loyal German officer seeking an autograph and so '''''signs the book and hands it back''''' without ever realizing what he was holding.