Mystery Lies in Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code
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The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367 MYSTERY LIES IN DAN BROWN’S THE DA VINCI CODE Dr.N.Asharudeen, Assistant Professor, G.Nilanandhini, Research Scholar, Department of English Edayathangudy G.S. Pillay Arts & Science College Nagapattinam „Mystery‟ means something is hidden and difficult to understand but it can easily drag the attraction. This sort of fictional writings becomes more popular for the last two decades. The answer of every mystery lies in its complicated hints. Those complicated hints can definitely be a signs and symbolsthat cannot be easily broken by all.In the mystery novels, signs and symbols are used as inexplicableclues to solve the mystery. The main purpose of hidden things is not to let anybodyknow that but it should be secured by sacredness. It is believed that signs and symbolsare the tools that can secure the conspiracy and it seems the soul of purity can only unveil the secret. Conspiracy theory is the major role takes place inDan Brown‟s novels. It makes the plot so vibrant with complete excitement about apowerful community, anorganization or people employing together secretly.Dan Brown‟s The Da Vinci Codeis one of the mystery novels in contemporary American literature. The plot of the novel revolves around the Christianity religion engages with suspense and surprise.Zhenwu Zhu and Aiping Zhang point out that, “Brown had come up with his own series of thriller fiction filled with codes, mysteries and exciting settings” (1). These signs and symbols are created by covert societies to uncover their secrets intention. The ancient secret societies are represented inThe Da Vinci Code. Therefore, this novel Volume XI, Issue XII, December/2019 Page No:785 The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367 fallsunder the category of conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theory interprets certain events which are caused by the plotof the powerful people. Dan Brown is one of the prominent fiction writers in contemporary American Literature.He has used the role of great art made by reputed ancient artist, Leonardo Da Vinci. Brown has structured the plot with the belief and art works of Leonardo Da Vinci.The Da Vinci Code is a novel based on the mystery hidden in Da Vinci‟s arts. Robert Langdon isthe central character of all ofDan Brown‟s fictions and he is a detective and symbologist. He leads the plot along with main character of the context, SophieNeveu. In The Da Vinci Code, the grandfather of Sophie Neveu leaves clue using Da Vinci‟s work that Robert Langdon helpsher to unveil the truth of her family history. The clues are in the form of art, documents, symbols and objects which are connected with Da Vinci‟s artistic paintings. The symbols represent the sacred feminine as Mary Magdalene and her appearancein the Da Vinci‟s works in this novel. The novel begins with the murder of Jacques Sauniere who led a dual life as curator at the Louvre in Paris and a member of the secret society to secure the powerful wide belief of the world. Before he dies, he has left the clues devised for Sophie to lead it to find the truth of her family.After reading Harvard Symboligist, Robert Langdon‟s book, Sophie assuresthat Langdon could solve the puzzlesthat Sauniere made for his granddaughter, Sophie. Sophie works as Cryptologist to help the Police investigation. But she believes that the puzzles and secrecy can be unveiled only with the help of Langdon. Sauniere is killed by Silas a monk of Opus Deitoknowthe location of Holy Grail.Before dies, Sauniere planned to pass the clues of the location of Holy Grail through his painting by own blood, a pentacle on his stomach. He has drawn a circle and drags himself into the centre of the Volume XI, Issue XII, December/2019 Page No:786 The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367 circle like the position of Da Vinci‟s Vitruvian Man. He has also left a code, numbers and two lines of text on the floor by the invisible ink, the clues are; 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! P. S Find Langdon. (97) Saunierewants to save her granddaughter andthe secret from Opus Dei who is an extreme wing connected to the Catholic Church with headquarters located in New York City that‟s why he has left the clues. He wants his granddaughter to unveil the secret of her family without disclosing to the world. Opus Dei exhibits them as sincere and worksfor God, to the world. The head of Opus Dei is Bishop Aringarosa. The Opus Dei members seem to havinga goal to make the world better by working for God. The members can have family even they practice asceticism but they all should very cautious about their goal. Langdon investigates the crime of Sauniere‟s death and he realises that Sauniere‟s effortimitates Da Vinci‟s painting, the Vitruvian Man. The replication of the painting clarifieshis naked posture. The Vitruvian Man is a famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. It depicts the idolised nude man in widespread eagle position and Langdon finds somethinginscribedinside circle and square. It is an inspiration of the proportion of human body conveyed in the book De Architectura by Roman Architect, Marcus Vitruvius. According to ancient religion, PHI (1.618) is the proportion which is followed by nature. Da Vinci has employed the divine proportion in the work, The Vitruvian Man.The artist like Da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, Michelangelo and many others employed the divine proportion in the layout of compositions. Many famous artistic creations like pyramids contain PHI in Volume XI, Issue XII, December/2019 Page No:787 The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367 architectural dimensions. This number is very special in pagan religion. In the painting, the circle around the man is the feminine symbol of protection. The circle and naked man‟s body signify the harmony between male and female. Langdon assumes that the Vitruvian Man is the first sign by Sauniere which meanshim to search intensely in other works of Da Vinci that helps them to solve the mystery. Sauniere positioned himself in the shape of five pointed star. He has also drawn a pentacle on his stomach with own blood,pentacle is the five pointed star. The pentacle is the pagan religious symbol. It is a pre-christian symbol that relates to the worship nature. Each five point of the star represents the five elements that are important in the composition of every living being and essential for sustenance of life. The five elements are fire, water, earth, air and spirit. It is considered to be magical and divine by many cultures. The pentacle is always associated with divine powers and is used for symbol of protection from evil forces, demons etc. Later, inverted pentacle becomes the symbol of evil. So the people like Fache in this fiction often misunderstand that pentacle is the symbol of devil worship. Sauniere has written near his dead body, it is anagram.Anagram has rich history of sacred symbolism. The anagram written by Sauniere is “O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint!” which is the perfect anagram of “Leonardo da Vinci! The Mona Lisa!” (135). After untying the puzzles in the symbols and signs of Sauniere made, Langdon and Sophie move towards the painting of TheMona Lisa which holds the next clue. TheMona Lisa is the most famous art in the world which is the masterpiece of Leonardo Da Vinci. It is famous for her enigmatic smile. Langdon states that Da Vinci believed in the sacred feminine and Mona Lisa is the expression of his belief. “Da Vinci made Mona Lisa look much larger from left side than from the right side” (163). According to historians, ancient Volume XI, Issue XII, December/2019 Page No:788 The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367 people have the concept of assigning sides for male and female. The left side signifies female and right side for male. As Da Vinci was attracted with feminine principles, he drew Mona Lisa brings more majestic to the art from the left rather than right. The picture of Mona Lisa represents the fusion of both male and female because it seems that Da Vinci believed both male and female elements are important in enlightening human souls. In the painting, the curator has written six words which is „So Dark The Con of Man‟. „So Dark The Con of Man‟ is the perfect anagram of Madonna of the Rocks. Sophie reaches the clue and finds a key behind the Madonna of the Rocks. Madonna of the Rocks shows the Virgin Mary, Christ, Saint John and an Angel in the dark landscape with the backdrop of mountains, caves and water. The key is made of gold with head shaped as an equal armed cross, triangular shaft and the indentations. The key is carved with initials P. S. and embosses a flowery symbol or fluer-de-lis symbol. Sophie remembers this key that she saw in her childhood. The equal armed crosses are considered to be peaceful crosses. The cross symbol is equal and balanced in both vertical and horizontal manner. According to Priory philosophy, the cross with four arms of equal length signifies the natural union of male and female. The Priory of Sion is the secret fraternity used fleur-de-lis as their logo. The fleur-de-lis is a stylish lily flower of three petals bound together near their bases.