'Da Vinci Code'

This activity is part of thinking activity on 'Da Vinci Code' to view the activity click here

'Da Vinci Code' is known for the best selling novel of 2003, by Daniel “Dan” Brown. His novels are treasure hunts set in a 24 hour period, and feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 52 languages, and as of 2012, sold over 200 Million copies. Two of them, The Da Vinci Code and Augels and Demons, have been adapted into films.

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."

Yes, we can say that this novel is not Anti-Christian novel. If we see it from the side of protagonist Robert Langton who believe in Jesus,when in childhood he fell down into well, and that time he remembered God and he saved, and feel positive about God. So, we see this novel at side of religious perspective. And at the end of the novel Robert did not reveal the secret to the world, because he did not want to break the faith of people, and that's why he become a secret keeper of Mary Magdalene's Sarcophagus. So, the main protagonist or hero of the novel is Robert Langton so from his side we can say that the book may be used “as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith.

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?

Observation of Norris J. Lacy is very true. Because when we read novel we find many trivial things in that. But Akiva Goldsman remove that trivial things from the movie. He took the importance things in the movie. Akiva Goldsmith took three good things about film, 1) Ian Mckellen is Leigh Teabing. He manage to give his character a bit of depth. 2) The movie features many of the novel's 'appealing settings, most notably the Louvre. 3) We have to appreciate the film in part because of what it is not; that is, we must be grateful for the absence of much of (mis) information found in the novel. So, the observation of Norris J. Lacy is in the fever of movie and agrreable.

3. (If)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?

As per my point of view, among all three, Da Vinci Code can be more convicing in the contemporary young mind. Because young mind or contamprory time wants suficient evidence to belief in those things which wre doboutfull. May be we can believe in the truth which is in the novel but at the end of the novel Robert become secret keeper and do not reveal the truth to the world. It is not seems truth, and we can say that the picture of last supper is also not reliable because Da Vinci also made that picture from other pictures of last supper, so none of those are reliable. As same Ginesis and Bible connected to each other, Eve is the Cause of downfall ofhuman being in the Bible and character of Eve potrayed as marginalised character. But in th eMilton's 'Paradise Lost' Character of Eve is quite powerful and Eve make many arguments and powerfull wills also. So, we can say that there is no any story that is purely true, So, we can say that none of three is truthful or reliable to believe.

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?

There is many difference between all the main female characters of the selected work like Hamlet, Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein, Harry Potter and Da Vinci Code. In Kenneth Brenagh's Hamlet ophelia is portrayed not much powerful, she became made because of his love and his father. Her madness lead her to death. She took suicide. In Frankenstein by Kenneth Brenagh character of Elizabeth is not powerful, she suffer a lot for her love and also killed by monster. Demi Moore as a Hester Pyrnne she also portrayed as a powerful women and her character, but she became a victim of Victorian society, rules and patriarchy. Hermione Granger in Harry Potter is a strong character, but she used as desired object of male ego the object to be owned to show superiority over the others. That is why she becomes bone of contention between Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. While Sophie's character is a powerful and strong character in comparison to all above given female characters.

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 bollywood movies like P.K and Oh My God! Is questioning about existance of god and all the religion and about faith in God. We see Da Vinci Code on the side of religious perspective and we also find many unreliable fact about Jisus Christ and his relationship with Mary Magdeline. So, it make us in thinking bout what is really truth. And in Hindu religion we can also think or doubt about Lord Rama and Lord Krishna and every other myths, that really all are reliable or not?

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?

We do traditional reading of the novel 'Da Vinci Code'. Robert Langdon, Professor of religious symbology, Harvard University emerges as a hero and protagonist of the novel. Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Because we see the novel on the side of religious perspective. Because Robert believe in God and at the end of the novel he doesn't reveal the truth of Mary Magdalene's Sarcophagus. And he became a secret keeper of the truth. But if we read this novel on the side of atheist perspective Sir Leigh Teabing became a protagonist of the novel, because he want freedom not God, he want to break the faith of people that's why he wants to revile the truth.