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Close Analysis: THE DA VINCI CODE by DAN BROWN
I. Condense
The novel started intensely; it was late night at the Louvre Museum when its curator Jacques Sauniere got attacked by an albino holding a gun. The albino demanded the curator to tell him where something so important was. The curator told the albino the same place the other three previously killed sénéchaux told the attacker. The albino shot the curator in the gut leaving a little time for Sauniere to stay alive. The problem is that Sauniere was the only one who knew a very significant secret that was why he had to pass it to someone else before the secret that he carried for so long would be gone forever.
Subsequently, during midnight, Robert Langdon was awakened in his hotel as requested by the DCPJ (Judicial Police) Lieutenant Collet. The lieutenant asked for Langdon’s help and showed him pictures of the curator’s body positioned in a peculiar way. Langdon was included in Sauniere’s date book which alarmed the Judicial Police. Langdon, together with the lieutenant, went to the Louvre for an interrogation; DCPJ captain Bezu Fache met Langdon at the entrance and started asking questions. There was supposed to be a meet-up between Sauniere and Langdon, but Sauniere failed to see him as he was shot; this caused Langdon to feel sad for he was really looking forward to meet the person whom he respected the works of.
They proceeded to the Grand Gallery where the curator’s body was located; they had to slide under a steel grate which was a containment security Sauniere activated by pulling the painting out from its place. Fache explained that it took Sauniere about fifteen to twenty minutes before he died after being shot in the stomach. Sauniere was seen naked with his arms and legs spread out; moreover, he drew a five-pointed star or a pentacle around his stomach using his own blood. The curator also died clutching a felt-tipped marker that can be used to place invisible marks on items. Fache grabbed a black light and what illuminated shocked Langdon. The black light revealed the curator’s last words which made no sense to them and showed the curator forming with his body “The Vitruvian Man.” His last words are the following:
13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5
O, Draconian devil!
Oh, lame saint!
Fache was more convinced that devil worship was involved because Da Vinci was known to have a tendency on darker arts. Fache was pressing Langdon for answers but the symbologist got exasperated for having nothing to say. Fache thought that Sauniere was trying to reveal his killer but Langdon wondered why he’d write all the riddles and symbols and not just the killer’s name; Fache agreed. On Sauniere’s office stayed Lieutenant Collet tracking Langdon using the digital tracker he had put on him. What Fache was really thinking was that Langdon was the killer and they were just playing games for Langdon to reveal his guilt.
Fache was interrupted by Agent Sophie Neveu, a cryptographer, telling him that she had broken the code; however, before telling him, she first handed a phone to Langdon for an urgent message from the U.S. Embassy, but the voice that Langdon heard was actually the cryptographer, Neveu, telling him not to react and that he was in danger. While Langdon was still listening to the voice message, Neveu was trying to convince Fache that the numbers on Sauniere’s code were actually a numeric joke which when put on order would form the Fibonacci sequence. Fache rejected Neveu which caused her to just leave. Langdon then asked to use the restroom; Fache was fine with it because all possible exits were sealed and guarded by the police.
Langdon obeyed Neveu’s orders to go to the bathroom. They met there and Neveu told him that he was Fache’s suspect for murder. This was confirmed when Neveu told Langdon about the GPS tracking dot Collet had put inside his pocket back in his hotel room. Sophie added that the reason why Fache was so sure that Langdon was the suspect is because there was a fourth line in Sauniere’s last words which overall states this:
13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5
O, Draconian devil!
Oh, lame saint!
P.S. Find Robert Langdon
Langdon got shocked and wondered why Sauniere would include his name. Neveu confessed that she knew Langdon was innocent and told him that the message was actually for her, Sauniere’s granddaughter—P.S. stands for her childhood nickname, Princess Sophie. Sophie Neveu reflected on everything that was happening. It had been ten years that Neveu and Sauniere had not spoken yet; it was because of what Neveu witnessed back in time—an odd activity his grandfather was doing. Sauniere had been trying to reach out for Neveu to explain why he was doing what she saw. The thing she saw was her grandfather doing sexual activity with other people.
Fache was starting to get impatient with Langdon being in the men’s room for so long, but Collet said that Langdon would have run if Langdon had known their set-up. Afterwards, an alarm resonated in the museum for Langdon’s breaking the wall. The police suspected that Langdon jumped on the truck below; however, Langdon and Neveu only tricked the Police by throwing the tracking device on the truck. Fache immediately rode his car following the truck’s direction. Actually, Langdon and Neveu were only hiding in the dark Grand Gallery.
Silas, the albino who killed the curator and other three people, was actually guided and commanded by a teacher. Silas was praised after informing the teacher that the four men told him the location of something that was kept hidden—which was the legendary keystone. Silas was actually close to the heart of the Opus Dei president-general Bishop Manuel Aringarosa. Opus dei is a Catholic congregation focused on making sacrifices to do the work of God. The unknown teacher was actually collaborating with Bishop Aringarosa too; the teacher informed Aringarosa about Silas being able to extract information about the keystone. The place that the four men said is the Church of Saint-Sulpice; Silas went there and met Sister Sandrine, who took care of the church. Silas found out that he was tricked; he killed the sister—and left.
As Langdon and Neveu aimed for the exit, Langdon realized what Sauniere was trying to convey. The Fibonacci sequence actually resulted the term PHI which is 1.618 because the quotients of adjacent terms all gives that number. PHI is actually the Divine Proportion; it is a fundamental building block in nature. In real life, it could be found anywhere. The proportions of the human body indicates the PHI, and it is shown in Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Afterwards, Langdon finally realized that the code is an anagram! The codes could be scrambled forming words with meaning:
O, Draconian devil! —– Leonardo Da Vinci
Oh, lame saint! —– The Mona Lisa
Now, Leonardo Da Vinci really had something to with the codes. Sophie could not help but check out the Mona Lisa painting for she thought that her grandfather might had left another clue there. Langdon wanted to accompany Sophie to the painting but he had to go to the Embassy for he would be safe from the police there; however, he realized that the initials “P.S.” have something more to say so he went back to Sophie. While Sophie was scanning around the painting, she got a key that she had seen before when she was a kid; the key has the initials P.S and a fleur-de-lis symbol.
fleur-de-lis
Langdon and Neveu assumed that Sauniere was actually part of the secret organization called Priory of Sion (which Langdon realized what P.S. means). Langdon gave Sophie a brief history of the organization telling that Leonardo Da Vinci was once the head master and that the organization had “reverence” for the sacred feminine. Langdon also explained that the Priory of Sion was fighting for what the church had done—they demonized the sacred feminine. The church only had men as priests for example; the churched introduced that the women should not be revered more or the same as the men.
Langdon and Sophie managed to escape the museum. At the back of the key, there was an address written which was a Swiss Bank. As Sophie and Langdon headed toward the bank, Langdon clarified the historical backdrop of the Priory of Sion and their outfitted power, the Knights Templar. He uncovered that the Priory safeguarded mystery information known as the Sangreal, or the Holy Grail. Langdon’s most recent manuscript was about this subject. They went there and retrieved something from the bank. To get something from that bank, two things were required—a key (which is the key they got from the painting) and a numbered password. Sophie and Langdon grasped that the number left close to Saunière’s body (Fibonacci sequence in proper order) must be the account number that would open the vault. Inside the vault there stayed a polished box made of rosewood. There is a Priory symbol for the Holy Grail on the lid—which is a hand-carved five-petal rose inlay. When they opened the box they found a cryptex, a message conveyance gadget designed by Da Vinci and made by Saunière. The cryptex, which must be opened with a password, is really the Priory keystone. The keystone was the way to the majority of the mysteries the Priory held about the the Holy Grail’s location. The glass cylinder which contained vinegar would break which would dissolve the papyrus and destroy whatever was written on it if anyone tried to break it. Sophie then realized—that his grandfather was probably the grandmaster of the organization.
Langdon and Sophie, together with Andre Vernet who let them escaped the bank from the police, went to Leigh Teabing, a close historian friend of Langdon, and requested his help in opening the box which contained the cryptex. Teabing revealed to them that the Bible didn’t come straight from God but was modified by Emperor Constantine. He said that Jesus’ divinity was chosen by a vote, and that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Together they had children which means that the royal bloodline could still be alive. Teabing showed them The Last Supper. He revealed that the Holy Grail is really Mary Magdalene’s body. He said that he was speculating that the reason why Saunière and the others may had been slaughtered was because the Church speculated that the Priory was going to uncover the secret.
Collet was able to know their location because of the bank’s armored van that they used to go to Teabing’s house—the vehicle had a tracker. Collet arrived at the house, but everyone had escaped including Silas who was tied after he went to the house to steal the cryptex. They were headed to England using Teabing’s private plane.
As Teabing was at the back of the plane, Langdon took the opportunity to talk to Sophie about the sex rite she saw years back. Maybe Saunière needed Sophie to find him so he could explain to her what she saw that day. It was a ritual that was a sacred marriage. Langdon tried to explain to Sophie that what she saw was a sacred ritual and not perversion. The Church only made people think that sex was something disgusting and sinful—which was related to the sacred feminine; the church just changed things in the Bible or what God really wanted to say to everyone.
Sophie then deciphered the code to the first cryptex and the code was “SOFIA”. There came another clue that told something about a tomb where a knight was buried by a pope. They must find an orb that should have been on the knight’s tomb. In addition, there was a second cryptex inside the first cryptex.
While on the airplane, Collet discovered a secret room at Teabing’s House. They found out that they were spying on Sauniere. Remy, who was Teabing’s servant, was actually included in spying Sauniere. This stated that probably, Teabing and Remy were the reason behind the killings of four men including the curator.
Teabing’s plane was surrounded by police; this was caused by Fache. Fortunately, Teabing tricked the police and went away from the airport. They then went to look where the clue wanted to bring them. They went to a temple church which they thought what the clue conveys; however, Remy, turned out to be their foe. Remy hostaged his own master Leigh Teabing. All this time Remy was just listening to all the clues. Teabing being taken by his servant, made Langdon and Neveu wanted to help him.
Remy, who was also following the teacher, was asked to leave Silas to an Opus Dei house in England. The teacher instructed Remy to meet the Teacher. Silas did not really know who the teacher was; only Remy knew. The teacher—was actually Leigh Teabing. Because Remy disobeyed some of the teacher’s rules, the teacher decided to kill him. Silas, on the other hand was just taking rest after completing his task.
Langdon and Sophie went to a library to discover the message of the new clue. The library had a computer where you can search for anything. The clue again included these lines: “In London lies a knight a Pope interred. His labor’s fruit a Holy wrath incurred.” Therefore, they searched for the words London, Knight, and Pope. They computer searched deeply and allowed them to know what the clue wanted to tell. The clue was actually about Isaac Newton.
Silas, who was resting, heard the police coming to the Opus Dei house. He realized that he had been betrayed. Silas fought with the officers. Consequently, he grabbed his gun and accidentally shot Bishop Aringarosa. Aringarosa believed the teacher’s promise on him that he would be given immense power after retrieving the keystone which was why he took actions with Silas. They had both been deceived.
Langdon and Sophie went to Westminister Chapel where Isaac Newton was buried. The teacher was already at Newton’s tomb when they arrived. Teabing could not figure out what to do next; he could not unlock the clue, unless if he would ask for Langdon’s and Neveu’s help. The teacher noticed Langdon and Neveu around so he reached for his gun.
Langdon and Neveu reached Newton’s tomb. There they found a note saying that someone had Teabing and they had to go to the public garden in the Chapter’s House direction. They were trapped. Subsequently, they found themselves being aimed by Teabing’s revolver. They were startled. Teabing started talking—explaining why he was aiming at them. He actually wanted to reveal the truth but the Priory of Sion did not want to. He was offering a deal; he asked if Langdon would want to join him to discover and reveal the secret. Langdon did not make a decision. Sophie wanted Langdon to just smash the cryptex which worried Teabing. Langdon looked at the window and saw an apple tree with five-petaled blossoms. Langdon threw the cryptex up into the air and Teabing tried to catch it; however, the glass inside the cryptex broke after landing. Teabing sobbed but he saw that the cryptex had already been unloked; the word apple can be read on the cryptex. Teabing begged Langdon to tell what was inside and Langdon said that only the worthy find the Grail. Teabing was then arrested by the police.
The last cryptex had this statement: “The Holy Grail ‘neath ancient Roslin waits.” They thought that the last clue was very easy; they immediately knew that the Holy Grail was in Roslin Chapel. Langdon and Sophie arrived there, and Neveu experienced déjà vu. Sophie remembered that her grandfather brought her there when she was a child. The docent, who guided them in the chapel, was actually her brother. Langdon figured this out and thought that Neveu’s grandmother lived in that place. Neveu saw an old woman sobbing; it was only then that Neveu knew that some of her family were still alive. They had an emotional reunion. Her grandmother said that she could not wait to explain to Sophie some things—especially the truth about their family.
Marie Chauvel, Neveu’s grandmother, talked to Langdon on the porch. She revealed that their family carried the most direct surviving royal bloodline—Jesus’ bloodline. They only had to split up the family to protect the children. She also said that the Priory did not want to reveal the Grail to the world, but it confused Langdon because she still encouraged him to continue publishing his manuscript about sacred feminine. Langdon asked where the Grail really was because the clue highly spoke of the Roslyn Chapel but Chauvel said that it was not really there. Chauvel said that she would not tell Langdon but she was sure that he would figure it out in the future. Chauvel asked Langdon to keep the secret.
Langdon left Rosyln so that Neveu could have time to rebond with her family. Langdon and Neveu kissed; they agreed to date. Langdon headed to Paris the next morning. In Louvre, he finally realized what the Grail really was. He went to the Louvre Pyramid and looked down at the mezzanine. This was what can be seen there:
The inverted pyramid was a chalice. (represents femininity)
Below it is a tiny pyramid which was the blade. (represents masculinity)
That is the Holy Grail, which represents Mary Magdalene and endorses sacred feminine. That is the secret.
Robert Langdon kneeled with reverence.
The secret of the Royal Blood, the Holy Grail was kept for the better.
II. Culture Reflected
The novel showed/used symbols like the Pentacle and the Star of David, the fleur-de-lis, etc. Like in our society, symbols can be used as logos, warnings, or meanings of something.
Art is showcased in the novel. People like Leonardo Da Vinci became famous because of paintings. Painters have always been acknowledged in our society. In addition, artworks, especially paintings, may have minimal to very deep meanings that can be easily noticed or not. The painters of our society mostly put what they feel or believe on their artworks.
The presence of organizations is evident in the novel. Like in the novel, there are a great number of various organizations. Those organizations can either be benignant or malevolent. It can also be inferred that organizations sometimes hide themselves from other people. Moreover, there are a great number of circumstances in the novel where secrets are present. It is normal for the people in our society too to have secrets.
Topics about religion are discernible throughout the whole novel. The novel included different types of religion like Christianity, Paganism, Satanism, etc. The novel showed that even Christians may have different beliefs from each other. Some Christians, for example, may do corporal mortification or not as shown in the novel.
The novel manifested the distribution of power in the society. The church, or the Vatican, is shown to be powerful in the novel—like in our society.
The inclusion of family matters is conspicuous in the novel too. In the novel, a grandfather/grandmother would take care of his/her granddaughter/grandson if parents were dead. The bloodline of families is also given importance in the novel; Jesus’s offsprings are considered to be powerful or famous. Like in our society, the royal families are given more protection. Broken families are also shown in the novel. Families may get broken because of deaths or disputations.
The idea of feminism is apparent in the novel. The novel showed that the society often made men look more dominant than women. The novel gave example by emphasizing that the priests of the Church are all male. The novel accentuated the idea of sacred feminism where women should be balanced with men.
III. Deep
I have not read more than ten novels yet. Of those less than ten novels, this novel is a very exclusive one. It was my first time to read a suspense novel, and it made a big impact on me. Let me correct that; it actually made a massive, tremendous, colossal impact on me.
On the very first few chapters of the novel, I was already hooked. The author constructed the novel in a way that the readers would actually look for the answers. The first few chapters got my heart racing and my nerves shouting. I had never been hooked to a novel before. The novel got me more hooked when the topic of religion and secret organizations appeared. I was always curious about secret organizations that include the most prominent people around the world. Why am I already in senior high school when I read that book? I started to wonder whether I missed too much of what reading can give; however, I believe it is not too late. This book made me want to read so much more! But why?
As I was reading the book, I was reflecting about my life. I compared my preliminary knowledge and beliefs to that of the book. I realized that there could still be a lot of things about religion that were kept as secrets. It caused me to become more curious about everything around me.
I can say that the author was very smart in making the book. He managed to put in his novel not just the different remarkable techniques of narrating but also the different topics about life! The topics he included were things that anyone would most probably like to know about. I can only say that the harmony of techniques, ideas and history made that book a spectacular one! The book will make people reflect on their lives. The issues and ideas on the book will enable people to become aware of what really is happening in our society. The book not just entertains people, but teaches and inspires them as well!
Striking Lines:
“Saunière’s left index finger was also bloody, apparently having been dipped into the wound to create the most unsettling aspect of his own macabre deathbed; using his own blood as ink, and his own naked abdomen as a canvas, Saunière had drawn a simple symbol on his flesh—five straight lines that intersected to form a five-pointed star.”
“As Langdon loaded his slide projector, he explained that the number PHI was derived from the Fibonacci sequence—a progression famous not only because the sum of adjacent terms equaled the next term, but because the quotients of adjacent terms possessed the astonishing property of approaching the number 1.618—PHI!”
“Despite PHI’s seemingly mystical mathematical origins, Langdon explained, the truly mind-boggling aspect of PHI was its role as a fundamental building block in nature. Plants, animals, and even human beings all possessed dimensional properties that adhered with eerie exactitude to the ratio of PHI to 1.”
“Correct. And did you know that if you divide the number of female bees by the number of male bees in any beehive in the world, you always get the same number?”
“Nobody understood better than Da Vinci the divine structure of the human body. Da Vinci actually exhumed corpses to measure the exact proportions of human bone structure. He was the first to show that the human body is literally made of building blocks whose proportional ratios always equal PHI.”
“Symbols are very resilient, but the pentacle was altered by the early Roman Catholic Church. As part of the Vatican’s campaign to eradicate pagan religions and convert the masses to Christianity, the Church launched a smear campaign against the pagan gods and goddesses, recasting their divine symbols as evil.”
“I know.” The woman placed her tender hands on Sophie’s shoulders and gazed at her with familiar eyes. “Your grandfather and I were forced to say so many things. We did what we thought was right. I’m so sorry. It was for your own safety, princess.”
“The words hung in the huge space, and Sophie felt an odd vibration, as if her bones were reverberating with some new kind of truth. Descendants of Jesus who survived into modern times. Her grandfather’s voice again was whispering in her ear. Princess, I must tell you the truth about your family.”
“Like the murmurs of spirits in the darkness, forgotten words echoed. The quest for the Holy Grail is the quest to kneel before the bones of Mary Magdalene. A journey to pray at the feet of the outcast one. With a sudden upwelling of reverence, Robert Langdon fell to his knees.”
“I would love nothing more than to meet you in Florence, Robert. But on one condition.” Her tone turned serious. “No museums, no churches, no tombs, no art, no relics.”
Recommendations: I recommend this book to be read by every person in the world, except for children. I believe that the best age to read this book is 15 years old and up. The reason why I recommend this to be read by everyone is because a lot of things could be learned from the book; most things about religions, secrets, puzzles, mysteries can be reaped from the book. The topics of the book are so significant that knowing them can change your view in life. Reading the book can make every people aware of some of the most important things in life.
Ratings: 4.8 out of 5 stars