My Comments on Worksheets: The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code

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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."
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?
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?
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?
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' - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?
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?
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?
8. When we do traditional reading of the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University emerges asprotagonist and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Historian as antagonist. Who will claim the position of protagonist if we do atheist reading of the novel?
9. Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

respected Sir,
Here is my interpretation about the movie because I did not read original novel.
• Dan Brown is very right, not only this but any work of art tries to generate debate on spiritual and religious costumes (like recent Indian movies). The central scene of the movie/novel is debate between Robert and Leigh- (climax), which indicates what writer wants to show. Brown makes his hero very faithful and believer of spirituality, even he does not want to break faith and in the last scene he kneels down. It shows that the novel is not anti-Christian and brown does not break spirituality, but with character of Robert Langdon, he shows internal and external struggle of spirituality and also generates debate about that.
• Dan Brown’s novel is fiction. Anyone can claim that the elements which are connected and described are wrong not truths. Because it is imaginative, imagination-perspective of one man so, it must not be truth, what the writer already said that it is an entertaining story… Dan Brown only supposes or tries to give his idea that, these dotes can be joined that way also. So, any person can deconstruct the novel but some proofs are required.
• Obviously, as ‘The Da Vinci Code’ is written in contemporary time and with very interesting points, it is near to young mind. But according to me, Paradise Lost- Milton’s narrative is more convincing and truthful even today.
• Bible bounds religion or people through religion. It also makes man to God. But the most harmful thing is it attacks female as unworthy and reason for downfall of human kind. Paradise Lost tries to show logically with giving Eve some space. But it also decreases women. Many ways ‘The Da Vinci Code’ breaks human faith with showing history of Christianity. Though it tries to show feminine sacredness somehow it also harms women with objectifying them. We cannot say now, let some more years pass…
• All characters are portrayed as an object, they needs man’s help or love. They are presented as secondary characters accept Hester Prynne. Ophelia and Elizabeth both are much similar, whose strings are in men’s hand. Hester is only one who is hero or doer of all actions than other female characters.
• Of course this type of novel or movies leads to deconstruct religion or doubting it. It raises debate in minds. But to find conspiracy about Hindu religion, it takes more time and vast reading. one example is ‘100 Ramayanas’. It is said that, ‘BhagvadGita’ is not there in Mahabharata but added… there are other examples related with deconstruction of Hindu Gods.
• Leigh Teabing will become hero with atheist reading of the novel as he wants to reveal truth even with the cost of destroying human faith.
• Well, it is very difficult to explain this concept of knowability. And we can apply this concept everywhere. Knowledgs is very vast concept and one cannot claim that whatever we know is truth. Character like Silas dies in blindness about his knowledge. Bezu Fetch who is believer of Opus Dei, insider will work in blindness. It matters from where we try to get knowledge. The best way to get knowledge is to doubt our own knowledge.