Book Analysis of Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: A Complex Story with Unique Symbolism

The Da Vinci Code has been written by an American author Dan Brown who is famous for his suspense and thriller. ‘Angels and Demons’ ‘The Last Symbol’ are some of his known work.

It starts with the discovery of the murder of a great Art expert and curator of the Louvre (the museum), Jacques Sauniere in his cabin. He somehow found the strength in his last moments to arrange his body in the shape of a famous artwork and leave a series of codes around the building.

These altruistic clues are interpreted by Robert Langdon, an American 'professor of religious iconology and symbology' from Harvard University and Sophie Neveu, a French 'cryptologist' who is the granddaughter of the curator. Codes lead to a quest to get the cryptex that holds the key to the location of the Holy Grail. Multiple references to the sacred feminine are made through various art forms including ancient sculptures, popular culture, nature and Mathematical concepts like Fibonacci sequence and PHI.

The book works on plot, where mostly all the characters Langdon, Sophie, Silas and Bishop Aringarosa, the church members, the Opus dei are all in the journey for the search of Holy Grail. The book takes us through different codes, symbol, with references to old Christian history. The Da Vinci Code makes a lot of references to Leonardo da Vinci, who is also named as a grandmaster of the Priory of Sion, whose authenticity is still disputed. The book relies heavily on the mood and the knowledge of the plot which works to grab the interest of readers, but reading the book while blindly believing the facts instead of taking it as a fictional story, would definitely destroys the beliefs of a person.

The theme focuses on the Holy Grail. An old age secret protected by the members of Priory of sion, which the Opus dei wants to reveal in front of the world. ‘The Holy Grail is the Cup of Christ.’

Throughout the book, Dan brown enlightens sacred feminine. Robert Langdon discusses the belief that Jesus (yes, the Christian Jesus) had a love affair and/or was married to Mary Magdalene, who was in fact pregnant with Jesus's child at the time of the crucifixion a fact supposedly known by the Church and covered up. The 'thing' everyone is being chased and killed for, is the secret of the location of the holy grail a location known to many who belonged to a secret society throughout history, including Leonardo Da Vinci. No, the holy grail is not, under this theory, the cup Jesus drank wine from during the Last Supper, but rather a metaphor for Mary Magdalene. She is the 'cup' that held Jesus's child: she is the true holy grail.

Da Vinci (and many others in history,) had made illusions in their works to 'the truth' of the grail. Da Vinci 'knew' the truth. How do we know? Dan Brown has a 'grail expert'. Da Vinci's great work 'The Last Supper' The author tells us about the hidden fact that in the Last Supper one of them is 'clearly' not a man, but a woman. Not only a woman, but it 'must be' Mary Magdalene! Mind blown!

However the details mention in the book is quite difficult to understand. It is difficult to explаin the religious symbology. It becomes even more difficult for us to understаnd why hаving such а deep knowledge of history аnd religion, 'The Bible did not аrrive by fаx from heаven.' People do not hаve аccess to such а level of informаtion. The fundаmentаl irony of Christiаnity ! The Bible, аs we know it todаy, wаs collаted by the pаgаn Romаn emperor Constаntine the Greаt. '

The author also has given facts on the male and female symbols were sacred, and their unity stood for the highest protection. These symbols have a deep sense, as it was believed that the human soul cannot be harmonized, unless it had both male and female elements. So, the author’s intentions are noticeable, he specially draws our attention to the meaning of these ancient symbols, and then shows how these symbols are understood in the modern world. “History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books—books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe.... By its very nature, history is always a one-sided account”

In fact in 2006, Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code was released as a film by Columbia Pictures with director Ron Howard. It was widely anticipated and launched the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Though it received overall average reviews. Writing it in a little bit confusing, complex style the author has tried to scratch and catch our minds. A good book for all the thriller lovers, but making sure to check the facts. As people believe in whаt is written without understаnding whether it is true or not. The plot turns are suspenseful, the mysteries and their solutions clever, even ingenious in some cases. This is a true nail-biter.

“Life is filled with secrets. You can't learn them all at once.”