The Da Vinci Code

• This blog is part of my academic activity given by Prof.Dr.Dilip Barad.Here is the blog link of professor's worksheet click here.

• “The Da Vinci Code” one of the greatest novel that talking about the myth or history of the Christian religion and very well discussed all the things by Dan Brown. In this novel he tries to discuss and also tries to define some historical movement of Christian religion. And he also mixes the art and religion both very well. The idea for The Da Vinci Code, a thriller that hinges on a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, first came to Brown while he was studying art history in Spain and learned about hidden symbols in Da Vinci’s paintings.

• Q-1.
• 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."

• Dan Brown asserts that his books are not anti-Christian, and it is right also because he wants to reveal the facts. He also says that he is on the spiritual journey as he portrays the characters who have faith in the religion. Through the murder mystery he unfolds the factual things about the Christianity. The painting of Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, which tells about the relation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Seemingly it is an entertaining story murder mystery, the puzzle, paintings of Da Vinci. As a part of spiritual discussion Dan Brown attempts to raise the issue of blind faith in religion, people like Bezu Fache, Silas, Bishop Aringarosa, who have faith in Opus dei. 

• Q.-2
• “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[1].” How far do you agree with this observation of Norris J. Lacy?

• Yes, the observation of Norris Lacy is true. We can say Akiva Goldsman has conserved the story line and it is much like novel. The grail related material, definite aspects of Leonardo's art and many things. The screen writer is successful to keep the core content through the use of all the symbols and secrets about the novel. We can find the scenes in Louvre museum so it is much realistic. Dan Brown's major materials for the novel is taken from the book 'The holy blood and the holy grail'. The idea of feminine sacredness is much live as Sophie Nevue leads to Robert Langton.

• Q-3. 
• You 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?

• The narrative of the da Vinci code is more convincing for the contemporary young generation. It is time of doubt and not believing in what is written and said. Genesis and Paradise lost tells story of God. It picturise punishment of God to men. So it keep people in fear while The Da Vinci code tries to prove Jesus as man in logical way. So Da Vinci code is more convincing in this era.

• Q-4.
• 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?

• Milton’s ‘The Paradise lost’ clearly presents that if we don’t follow the God then it will become harmful for us. Biblical narration also told that God at the center and the creator of Heaven, Earth and Hell. Milton gives voice to character of Eve and Adam. God created the Garden of Eden and told Adam and Eve that not to test the fruit of knowledge but they don’t follow this rule. First Eve tested and then Adam tested this fruit. So, here we can say that maybe they overpower the God or Satan (serpent) who intentionally convince to Eve. But rule is broken by them and God gave then punishment. Fall of Man is the damage for humanity. Because of this people believed that fall happens because of Eve. So, here Eve blamed for this fall but one question arise that Eve tempted for this fruit then why Adam also tested that fruit?  This idea is the damaging for humanity.
  
  
  Narrative of The Da Vince Code presents Christianity, Priory of Sion, Holy Grail, Story of Jesus Christ, Religion etc. But some of the characters damage the humanity like Silas murders Jacques Sauniere. Idea of pain that presents by character of Silas and it’s also presents image of Vitruvius man. Sign of Vitruvius image shows that we have to chastise our body by some kind of pain. Till the end of the novel Robert Langdon keep the secret of Sarcophagus. When he knows about that blood line of secret at that time he reached this place and kneels down. He also suggests Sophie Neveu that in critical situation Jesus Christ always with him. So, here we can say this type of narrative harm the humanity because it depends upon individual character because every person not believer of God.

• Q. 5
• 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 'Harmione 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?

• Sophie's character is portrayed more powerful and intelligent and in 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 powerful character but can't do anything in patriarchal society. Hermione is intelligent but she becomes part of male ego. Sophie is intelligent, not emotional, and she is not got insulted in any way.

• Q-6
• Do novel / film lead us into critical (deconstructive) thinking about your religion? Can we think of such conspiracy theory about Hindu religious symbols / myths?
•  In Hindu religion also there are established gods and goddesses. Rama and Krishna are prominent gods of Hindus but they can be man. Only source of their information are books. Books can be fiction also and after translation and rewriting it keeps changing. For example Valmiki has never used word God for Ram. But then also he is considered God. Any religion sustains on fear. So who gets advantages by religion they will keep people in fear. Most of the stories of Hindu religion tells the stories of how God punishes who do not worship them.
• Q-7
• Have you come across any similar book/movie, which tries to deconstruct accepted notions about Hindu religion or culture and by dismantling it, attempts to reconstruct another possible interpretation of truth?

• Yes, the movie like, Oh My God or P.K. which tries to question on the religion, It also tries to redefines what is been followed blindly by people. In the movie Oh My God we see that hero of the movie Kanjibhai who do the case against God because his antic shop was destroyed in earthquake. He believes that his shop destroyed because of god. So here we see that he question against God which break the stereo type mindset of the society and question against God also.

• Q-8
• When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges as protagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?

• When we do traditional reading of the novel 'The DA Vinci Code', Robert Langdon, Profecer of religious symbology, Harvard University emerges as protagonist and sir Leigh Teabing, a British historian as antagonist. Teabing will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel.

• Q-9
• Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
• a.       1) Identifying what is knowable 

b.      2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c.      3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

• Ann Gray describe three proposition on knowability that can we apply in the novel “ The Da vinci cod” because in the novel one of the major question is about ‘identity’ and ‘knowledge
  about the self’. Ann Gray’s three proposition of knowability.
• (A) This is an ontological question; it refers to the aspect of social reality to be studied but also deals with assumptions. We are willing to make about the nature of reality. This is very waste concept and one cannot claim that whatever we know is truth. Character like Silas dies in blindness about his knowledge.
• (B) Identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known.
• This is epistemological question and put simply asks how we know that we know. In the novel Silas don’t know who the teacher is but then also he works for him and killed so many people under the order of the teacher
• (C) What is the procedure for knowing?
• This is the methodological question so in this we come to know that there are many ways to find out the things. In this novel procedure for knowing we find in the character of Sophie Neveu. She knows about here self that she belongs to royal blood line of Jesus Christ after slowing many riddle.
•  So this three questions are very much related to the novel because one of the major thing of the novel is that; knowledge and knowability. So for that perspective understanding of these things from Ann Gray’s book is very helpful.