Skip to main content

Thinking activity : the Da vinci code

About Author: Dân Brown


Daniel Gerhard Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author best known for his thriller novels, including the Robert Langdon novels Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Origin (2017). His novels are treasure hunts that usually take place over a period of 24 hours. They feature recurring themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and, as of 2012, have sold over 200 million copies. Three of them, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, have been adapted into films.

Post viewing Task :

★ Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

-) Yes, I agree with Brown's views on ‘Da Vinci Code' that novel is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" We can do another reading book that Robert Langdon is in search of his own truth and at the end on the path of quest he is alone and at the end, he finds truth which symbolically presented that where is the Sarcophagus. So, Robert Langdon is representative of many individuals, who are in search of the truth of their own self. 

Although it is obvious that much of what Brown presented in his novel as absolutely true and accurate is neither of those, some of that material is, of course, essential to the intrigue, and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman has retained the novel's core, the Grail-related material: the sacred feminine, Mary Magdalene's marriage, the Priory of Sion, certain aspects of Leonardo's art, and so on” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

-) Lacy’s observation is reasonable. What film is trying to show as fact those are just composed theories. But it held the viewer's attention as it is unfolding in a very interesting way and till the end suspense get created by one another situation. One can say that it beautifully tricked those who don’t have enough historical sense and proofs to prove Brown’s narration wrong or in other words those who don’t know what is Theology Fiction at all. Also, there are many things in the novel is not accurate and fact like there is no realism and reliable proofs about the existence of Priory of and novel have not shown real Opes Die. Similarly, there is no such proof about Mary Magdalene.

★  (IfYou have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

-) In modern time many people are becoming rational and raise their question against religious. People are searching for the logical answer and argument upon religion. From my perspective 'The Paradise Lost' is truthful because of the character of Eve is against the condition of God and she breaks down God's structure or arrangement. Then Milton gave the voice of Eve and Satan than Adam and God. Their voice has put forward to in recent time.

★ What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

 -) The Paradise Lost, the character of Eve and Adam punished by God. The garden of Eden Eve tempted and she tasted the fruit of proficiency. Then Eve and Adam both break the rules and punished by God. In biblical reference who was against God then God became angry and avenged. Fall of Man is the damage for humanity.

★ What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Hermione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

-) Apart from Sophie Neuve, other female characters have powerless they don't raise her voice or any argue of them. Sophie's character is portrayed as more powerful and intelligent and in a decent manner than other women characters. Ophelia was powerless who used by his father and Hamlet. Elizabeth in Frankenstein has no power. Monster kills her though he has enmity with Frankenstein. Hester Pryne is a powerful character but can't do anything in a patriarchal society. But, the portrayal of Sophie Neuve is strongly connected with the theme of women sacredness and director faithfully made not any changes in this theme. In the movie part, the seen of driving Sophie is more potent than Robert and her aura is very influential.

★ Does novel/film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols/myths?

-) Yes, this kind of novel and film lead us into critical thinking. We can find the loose stone about religious theory, there is no proof about the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they are husband and wife.  I couldn't find any specific conspiracy theory about Hinduism but there are myths and belief in Hinduism which can deconstruct with a logical argument. Hindus are blindly following the rituals behind their illogical statement. 

★ When we do a traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as the protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as the antagonist. Who will claim the position of the protagonist if we do an atheist reading of the novel?

-) If we will do an atheist reading of this novel the position of antagonist and protagonist will change. Robert Langdon who find the ultimate truth of Sarcophagus but didn’t reveal to the world and became secret keeper. While to reveal this truth to the world and destroy the blind faith of people from Christianity was the prime aim of Leigh Teabing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Butterfly poem by Arun Kolatker

Here I discuss about  a poem is a literary form composed in verse. It normally gives account of personal feelings, emotions and imagination. The poem The Butterfly There is no story behind it. It is split like a second. It hinges around itself. It has no future. It is pinned down to no past. It’s a pun on the present. It’s a little yellow butterfly. It has taken these wretched hills under its wings. Just a pinch of yellow, it opens before it closes and closes before it o where is it. When I was in B.A I studied various poems. For example The Butterfly which was written by  Arun Kolatkar, an Indian poet wrote about the place- Jejuri, a temple town. Jejuri is a poor place and the hills in Jejuri show the barrenness of the place. His style is simple (English) in contrast with Mahapatra where he uses English and his ideas very effectively. Whatever he sees in Jejury they have a story of their own. The poet says there is no story behind the butterfly, the very being he gets
Post a Comment
Read more

Assignment of Analysis of Song: Sweetest Love I Do Not Go

Name: Monika Makwana Roll No: 28 Paper- 1: The Renaissance Literature Topic: Analysis of Song: Sweetest Love I Do Not Go Enrollment no: 2069108420190027 Email I’D: makwanamonika76@gmail.com Academy: SMT. S. B. Gardi Department of English Analysis of Song: sweetest Love I Do Not Go      A metaphysical poetry Song: sweetest Love I Do Not Go written by John Donne. The poem is Love Poem. John Donne’s most poems based on theme of Love and his beloved. In this poetry poet tells his beloved that he was not leaving because he was tired of the relationship, instead, he must go as a duty ,Eventually, the sun departs every night but returns every morning and he has a much shorter distance to travel. In the third stanza he suggested that his duty to leave was unstoppable cannot lengthen his life, while bad fortune will shorten it, actually, fighting bad fortune only shared one’s strength will it, as the Sighs and Cries the lover complains that if, he was really within her, she was one l
11 comments
Read more

Themes of The Old man and the Sea

Name: -  Makwana Monika Paper no. 10 - The American Literature. Topic : - Themes of the old man and the sea Roll no :-21 Enrollment no: -   206910842020190027 Email ID: - makwanamonika76@gmail.com Submitted to: - S. B. Gardi department of English Introduction 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a novel, written by the famous American author Ernest Hemingway. He was an author and journalist. Here we talk about the themes of this novel. First we discuss about the novel the old man and the sea. It is a short heroic novel by Ernest Hemingway. It was awarded in 1953 by Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This novel old man and the sea was his last major work of fiction. This story is on battle between an old experienced fishermen and a large marlin. The story of these novels is centre on an aging fisherman and who engages in epic battle to catch a giant Marlin. This novel is written in 1951 in Cuba . And it published in 1952. In is one of the famous works of Ernest Hemingway.
Post a Comment
Read more