The Da Vinci Code Blog Task

# Task given by Dr. Dilip Barad.

·         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."

 ‘Da Vinci Code’ is worldwide bestseller book. Novel has generated spiritual debates, discussion and religious controversy. Brown's novels that feature the lead character Robert Langdon also include historical themes and Christianity as motifs. Novel challenges the “Established knowledge” of Christians. It questions widely accepted beliefs of Christian religion. But, this novel is a “Theology Fiction” and entirely based on Christianity. As writer has said on his website that aim of novel is to generate spiritual discussion. In this way it examines faith of Christian people. If someone truly believes in his God and religion then he will not get affected by any fiction. But on the contrary it strengths his faith in God and serves as positive catalyst.

 ·         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?

‘Genesis’, ‘The Paradise lost’ and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ all three books center on Christianity and God.  Paradise Lost completely based on ‘First disobedience of man’ and the calamity resulted from breaking the rules. According to my opinion ‘The Da Vinci Code’ seems more truthful though it is rejected as truth by established church and religious leaders. Because it portrays Jesus as human being rather than God.  As a normal human being he had relationship with Mary Magdalene. This narrative is quite convincing to the contemporary young mind. As a youngster we don’t want to become ‘Divine being’. Because once someone recognized as divine then high expectation of ‘Idealism’ gets automatically connected. Person no longer remains free to do anything as per his/her wish. But in the Novel Jesus represented as human being. Thus, his strength as well as weakness can be accepted. 

 ·         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 ‘Paradise Lost’ is great epic, entirely relied on Biblical gospels. It has done immense impairment to humanity. The very first thing is ‘Forbidden Apple’. What is the need for God to put prohibited fruit in Eden garden when everything is allowed to Adam and Eve.  Secondly, it is mentioned that Eve was created out of Adam’s rib. It shows ‘Dominance of patriarchy’ and ‘Subjugation of female’. Thirdly, Eve was punished more as compare to Adam. It questions contemporary religious practice that why church is quite rude to women. Free thinking women were harassed and killed by orthodox society. Scenario has not changed yet. Still free thinkers especially females are not accepted by orthodox society. Examples can be cited such as ‘Gauri Lankesh’ and ‘Malala’. Who has been killed and attacked. Novel has done great harm to humanity that is the character of ‘Silas’. He has been portrayed as blind follower of religion, even ready to kill anyone for the sake of God. It will mislead blind believer of religion.

 ·         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?

One can find vast difference among the portrayal of female characters in all these movies. Kenneth Branagh sexually objectified ‘Ophelia’ in movie. Which we don’t find in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh has shown many illicit love scene of  ‘Elizabeth’ in Frankenstein.  ‘The Scarlet letter’ does not maintain ‘feminine Sacredness’. Hester Prynne abused and out casted by conservative, patriarchal Puritan society. But Ron Howard has maintained feminine sacredness and he didn’t portray any single scene in movie which breaks Sophie’s decent manner. Rather he portrays her as independent, intelligent and capable of finding the secret message of Holy Grail.  

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

 Writer of the novel has made critique of his own religion through ‘Da Vinci Code’. It breaks the established notions of widely accepted religion. While reading such fiction many questions arise in our mind and we may ponder that our myths are right or wrong? Or just a story likes any other legend. Sometimes we may not have enough proof to believe in Myth but we have accepted it because it deeply rooted in our tradition and culture.

 ·         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 at that time Robert Langdon emerges as hero of the novel who wants to keep secret of Holy Grail and the life of Jesus Christ. But when we deconstruct the idea of faith and religion at that time Leigh Teabing emerges as protagonist of the novel. Leigh Teabing desires to expose the secret of marriage of Jesus. 

 ·         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 knownc.      3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

 Knowledge is the most powerful force, ability, energy, strength, on this earth for mankind. But it’s very difficult to recognize the knowledge. Novel explains the theme of ‘Knowability’ very clearly. Sophie tried to know the knowledge about Holy Grail but she is not capable of recognizing that she herself is key element of secret. It explores the gray relationship between knower and the known. Throughout Novel she tried hard to achieve the knowledge about Holy Grail and Marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It shows her path to achieve her objectives of knowledge.