Did Jesus Marry Mary Magdalene? : a Study on the Function of the Christian Jargon in Dan Brown’S the Da Vinci Code
DID JESUS MARRY MARY MAGDALENE? : A STUDY ON THE FUNCTION OF THE CHRISTIAN JARGON IN DAN BROWN’S THE DA VINCI CODE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra English Letters
By
ELISABETH GRACE OKTAVIANI
Student Number: 024214002
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2006
i
TALENT IS 1% INSPIRATION AND 99% HARD WORKING
(THOMAS ALVA EDISON)
iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I realize that I cannot reach such a progress this far without the helps of many people around me. First of all, I would like to thank my advisor, Adventina Putranti,
S.S. for giving me some of her precious and comprehensive knowledge and for her supportive recommendation that I can manage my thesis well. I really appreciate what she had given to me from the beginning of my thesis. I would also like to thank my co- advisor, Johanes Harris Hermansyah Setiajid, S.S, M.Hum. for his precious suggestion.
I have to mention Mr. Krisno because he has lent me his The Da Vinci Code.
Here I will not forget to give my deep gratitude, love and honor for my beloved parents, who have given their big support, blessing, and wonderful love to me from the very beginning, that I know I could never reach this stage without their prayer.
Personally, I could also manage this thesis because of the supportive and wonderful friendship from my brother Ferry, my lovely twins Titin and Olive, my big sister Diah and also not to forget Swesti. There is also Tarzan, who really has given his support and prayed for my success that I would like to say my thanks. The last one but not the least,
I would also love to give my regard and thanks for the English Letters’ secretariat staff, and all the members of Writing VI class.
Finally, I dedicate this thesis for my junior in the Faculty of Letters Sanata
Dharma University. I really hope that this thesis can be useful for the further study as a valuable reference.
Elisabeth Grace Oktaviani
v TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE …..………………………………………………………… i APPROVAL PAGE ……………………………………………………… ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE …………………………………………………… iii MOTTO PAGE …………………………………………………………… iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………………………………………………… v TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………. vi ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………. viii ABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………… ix
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ………………………………………….. 1 A. Background of the Study ………………………………………………. 1 B. Problem Formulation …………………………………………………... 2 C. Objectives of the Study ………………………………………………… 2 D. Definition of Terms …………………………………………………….. 3
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW ………………………………… 4 A. Review of Related Studies ……………………………………………… 4 1. A Multitude Error in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code…………… 5 2. What If An Educator Had Written ‘The Lord’s Prayer? ’……….. 7 B. Review of Related Theories ……………………………………………. 9 1. Language Function……………………………………………….. 9 2. Style, Dialect, and Register………………………………………. 10 3. Jargon…………………………………………………………….. 12 4.Theories on The Use of Jargon…………………………………… 15 C. Theoretical Framework …………………………………………………. 18
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY …………………………………………. 20 A, Object of the study ……………………………………………………… 20 B. Approach of the Study …………………………………………………... 21 C, Method of the Study …………………………………………………….. 21
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ………………………………………………… 24 A. Christian Jargon in The Novel……………………………………. 26 1. Christian jargon of certain Characters or Groups in Christianity 26 a. Jesus……………………………………………….. 26 b. Mary Magdalene…………………………………... 28 c. Constantine The Great……………………………. 31 d. Priory of Sion……………………………………... 33 2. Jargon connected with certain symbols…………………… 36 a. Rose………………………………………………... 36 b. Holy Grail………………………………………….. 39
vi c. Chalice…………………………………………….. 42 d. Blade………………………………………………. 44 e. Pentacle……………………………………………. 45 f. The Last Supper…………………………………… 48 B. The Functions of The Use of The Christian Jargon………………. 51 1. Jesus……………………………………………………….. 52 2. Mary Magdalene…………………………………………… 56 3. Constantine The Great……………………………………... 59 4. Priory of Sion……………………………………………… 64 5. Holy Grail…………………………………………………. 67 6. Chalice…………………………………………………….. 70 7. Blade………………………………………………………. 73 8. Rose………………………………………………………… 76 9. Pentacle……………………………………………………. 79 10. The Last Supper………………………………………….. 81
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION ……………………………………………… 82
BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………… 85
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ABSTRACT
ELISABETH GRACE OKTAVIANI (2006). Did Jesus Marry Mary Magdalene? : A Study on the Function of The Christian Jargon in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code . Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
The focus of the study in this thesis is to analyze Christian jargon that talks about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code . The writer is interested in taking this topic of Christian Jargon in the novel because jargon itself is a kind of special terms, which has a unique meaning. The Da Vinci Code is taken as the context of this thesis because of its controversy. The writer then assumes that such Christian jargon has been used by the novel to talk about the issue. Related to the chosen topic, the writer can then construct two problems formulations. The first problem formulation in this thesis is to identify what Christian Jargon is used in The Da Vinci Code. This means to identify some words that fulfill the requirement as Christian Jargon in the novel, and to know their meanings. The second one is to know what functions of the Christian Jargon in the novel are. There are several steps that the writer takes to conduct this thesis. The first steps are to choose an interesting topic, determine the context of the study, and construct the problem formulations. The next step is to take some related theories and studies. Then, the writer use some basic theories of Christian jargon from the collected theories to collect the first data of Christian Jargon in the novel and limit them. This limited data of Christian Jargon is then analyzed. This step is meant to identify some words that are considered Christian jargon in the novel, their meanings and their functions in the novel. Finally, the last step is to conclude the answers for the both problem formulations. The result of the analysis shows that there are ten words of Christian jargon in the novel. They are Holy Grail, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Pentacle, The Last Supper, Chalice, Constantine The Great, Priory of Sion, Blade and Rose. Based on the context, these words are taken as the primary data of this thesis first because they have meanings that talk about the issue of Mary Magdalene and are familiar among Christians in the novel. For the second problem formulation, the writer finds out four possible functions of the Christian jargon in the novel. The first function is to strengthen the idea about the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Thus, the answer for the question “Did Jesus marry Mary Magdalene?” is positive from the point of view of the Christian Jargon and the novel. The second one is to share some new ideas of the novel that support the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. These Christian Jargon in the novel are also used identify those who agree or disagree to the idea of Mary Magdalene as the wife of Christ and sometimes to show a kind of skepticism toward those who disagree.
viii ABSTRAK
ELISABETH GRACE OKTAVIANI (2006). Did Jesus Marry Mary Magdalene? : A Study On The Functions Of The Christian Jargon in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code .Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Fokus penelitian di dalam skripsi ini adalah menganalisis jargon Kristen yang berbicara tentang isu pernikahan Yesus dengan Maria Magdalena di dalam novel The Da Vinci Code karya Dan Brown. Penulis tertarik untuk mengambil topik jargon Kristen di dalam novel tersebut karena jargon itu sendiri adalah suatu jenis istilah khusus yang memiliki makna yang unik. The Da Vinci Code diambil sebagai konteks dalam skripsi ini karena kontroversi yang ditimbulkannya. Penulis berasumsi bahwa jargon Kristen yang ada dalam novel ini, dipakai untuk berbicara tentang isu tersebut. Sehubungan dengan topik yang telah dipilih, penulis kemudian menyusun dua pokok permasalahan. Pokok permasalahan yang pertama di dalam skripsi ini adalah jargon Kristen apa sajakah yang dipakai di dalam novel. Hal ini dimaksudkan untuk mengidentifikasi kata-kata yang sesuai dengan ciri-ciri jargon Kristen di dalam novel, dan untuk mengetahui maknanya. Pokok permasalahan yang kedua adalah untuk mengetahui fungsi-fungsi dari jargon Kristen tersebut. Ada beberapa langkah yang diambil untuk menjalankan skripsi ini. Langkah pertama adalah memilih topik yang menarik, menentukan konteks skripsi, dan menyusun pokok-pokok permasalahan. Langkah selanjutnya adalah mengambil beberapa teori dan wacana yang berhubungan. Kemudian, penulis memakai beberapa teori dasar tentang jargon Kristen untuk memilih data tentang jargon Kristen dan mensortirnya. Data yang telah dibatasi kemudian dianalisis. Langkah ini dimaksudkan untuk mengidentifikasi jargon Kristen di dalam novel, arti-artinya, dan fungsi-fungsinya di dalam novel. Langkah terakhir adalah menyimpulkan jawaban untuk kedua pokok permasalahan. Hasil analisis myatakan ada sepuluh jargon Kristen di dalam novel The Da Vinci Code . Jargon Kristen tersebut adalah Holy Grail, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Pentacle, The Last Supper, Chalice, Constantine The Great, Priory of Sion, Blade dan Rose. Berdasarkan konteks dalam skripsi ini, kata-kata tersebut diambil sebagai data primer dari skripsi ini karena mereka memiliki arti-arti yang berbicara tentang isu pernikahan Yesus dan Maria Magdalena, dan akrab bagi orang-orang Kristen di dalm novel. Bagi pokok permasalahan kedua, penulis menemukan empat fungsi dari jargon Kristen di dalam novel. Fungsi pertama adalah untuk memperkuat ide tentang pernikahan Yesus dan Maria Magdalena. Sebagai hasilnya, pertanyaan “Did Jesus Marry Mary Magdalene?”dijawab positif oleh jargon Kristen. Fungsi kedua adalah untuk menyampaikan ide baru yang mendukung isu pernikahan Yesus dan Maria Magdalena. Jargon Kristen di dalam novel ini juga dipakai untuk mengidentifikasi orang yang setuju atau tidak setuju dengan ide pernikahan Yesus dan Maria Magdalena, dan terkadang untuk menunjukkan ketidakcocokan terhadap mereka yang menolak ide tersebut.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
This thesis takes the functions of the Christian Jargon in Dan Brown’s The Da
Vinci Code as the main topic of discussion. The writer is interested in discussing jargon because jargon often has unique meanings. It sometimes has unfamiliar forms and very specific meanings. Yet, it can also be very familiar in forms but has different ideas. Looking at this characteristic of jargon, the writer is curious to know how it will be if a literary work uses jargon.
Further, the writer chooses to use Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Cod e as the context of the study because the writer is interested in the religious issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in it. Since the issue shares a different idea about Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the writer is curious to know what
Christian Jargon is used to talk about it. Therefore, in order to be specific, the writer determines to discuss the topic of Christian Jargon, use the novel as the context and the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene as the scope of study.
Related to the unique point of the jargon, the writer assumes that there are some possibilities for the novel to use such kind of Christian jargon to talk about the issue. Thus, it is interesting to know what Christian jargon is used by the novel to talk about the issue. Therefore what words of Christian jargon are used to talk about the issue of Jesus and Mary Magdalene become the first problem 2
formulation. This first problem also includes the discussion on the ideas or meanings behind the Christian Jargon, particularly the new ones that the novel tries to share through the use of the jargon.
The use of the Christian jargon in the novel may be meant for certain purposes. In other words, the Christian jargon has some other functions than just to talk about the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. In addition, the discussion on the functions of Christian jargon is interesting since it seems to have some other specific functions that may only work in the novel.
B. Problem Formulation
1. What Christian jargon is found in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code?
2. What are the functions of the Christian jargon in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci
Code ?
C. Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study are to identify what words of Christian jargon are found in the novel, the meanings of each jargon (the ones offered by the novel) in the novel. To be more specific, those meanings of the Christian jargon in the novel may only discuss as the meanings inside the novel. Moreover, the study wants to know what functions of the Christian jargon are. This means to say that the use of Christian jargon found in the novel may play specific roles in the novel
The Da Vinci Code . This may also mean that the jargon conveys certain meanings or ideas that probably different from the mpre common ones outside the novel. 3
Yet, the same as the first objective of this study, the discussion on the functions of the Christian jargon in this thesis may only take as the one inside the novel.
D. Definition of Terms
Jargon is usually defined as speech or writing containing specialized words or constructions. Jargon maybe a part of register as a social variety that concerns much with the set of language or vocabulary among certain profession or social group. On the other hand, jargon is also a kind of vocabularies or speech used by some experts of a certain field to deal with technical peculiarities.(Spolsky, 1998:
33)
Christian jargon is a speech or writing containing specialized words or construction, which is essentially part of the oral culture of Christianity with inadequate expression in the Christians publication. It is also used to deal with technical peculiarities of Christianity (Sutcliffe, 1994: 21) 4
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
It seems that many studies and theological researches have been done on Dan
Brown’s The Da Vinci Code . Most of the topics in those researches are particularly concern with the issues in the novel such as the divinity of Jesus, His marriage to
Mary Magdalene, Priory of Sion, and the fresco of The Last Supper . However, it seems that few studies take their concern on its language. Some of them are interested in the writing style of the author. Quite similar with the one on this thesis, some others are interested in discussing some of the unfamiliar words or symbols used in the novel. Nevertheless, those previous studies discuss more on the possible true concept of the words as a contra-argument text. In addition, the discussion on those words as Christian jargon is quite limited.
Since the topic in this study is particularly concerned with Christian jargon that talk about certain issue in The Da Vinci Code , some journals on jargon studies are also stated as comparative references to the study of Christian jargon in this thesis.
The writer takes a study from a catholic journalist, which discusses some details of the facts in the novel. It is taken as a referential study because it discusses some possible misused words, and manipulative historical evidences that may occur in the novel. The writer also uses Tom Dodge’s study that discusses the use of jargon and the possible consequences when it is interpreted by a person outside the group.
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1. A Multitude of Errors in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code
A veteran Catholic journalist - Sandra Miesel once did a study about the novel, in which she found some errors, and misuse of some words which are considered quite important in building the intrigues, and mystery of the novel. Miesel believes that some even many of Dan Brown’s claims about his research before writing the novel are less truthful. She also puts some examples of Brown’s errors that are related to his impeccable research for The Da Vinci Code . She says that Dan Brown’s claim about the motions of the planet Venus tracing a pentacle (the so-called Ishtar pentagram) and symbolizing the goddess, is actually not a perfect figure and has nothing to do with the length of the
Olympiad. The ancient Olympic games were celebrated in honor of Zeus Olympias, not
Aphrodite, and occurred every four years. Brown’s contention that the five linked rings of the modern Olympic Games are a secret tribute to the goddess is also wrong—each set of games was supposed to add a ring to the design but the organizers stopped at five. And his efforts to read goddess propaganda into art, literature, and even Disney cartoons are simply ridiculous (Miesel, 2003).
Those statements imply that some words such as pentacle, and Venus are interpreted differently by the novel, and these meanings are seemed to be less truthful.
Such kind of difficult words are the quite the common character of jargon, which is the center topic of this thesis. Moreover, the writer finds that some possible error or misused words in her study may have similar characteristics with the possible data of Christian jargon of this thesis. She has also somehow discussed some views on these particular vocabularies. Thus, her discussion helps the one on this thesis to compare some ideas that might occur in each jargon.
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Another point of study that can be taken from her study is the information about the details of Christian art and architecture. For example, one of the faults stated in her study is the treatment of Gothic architecture as a style full of goddess-worshipping symbols and coded messages to confound the uninitiated buildings. The claim also mentioned that Gothic cathedral may represent the body of the Goddess (Miesel, 2003).
These bizarre interpretations, according to Miesel, betray no acquaintance with the actual development or construction of Gothic architecture.
In the time of The Templars, Gothic architects had nothing to do with the cathedrals of their time, which were commissioned by bishops and their canons throughout Europe. They were unlettered men with no arcane knowledge of “sacred geometry” passed down from the pyramid builders. They did not wield tools themselves on their own projects, nor did they found masons’ guilds to build for others. Not all their churches were round, nor were roundness a defiant insult to the Church. Rather than being a tribute to the divine feminine, their round churches honored the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. (Miesel. 2003)
This information draws an assumption that some of the misinterpreted words in the novel are quite factual, yet less reliable in details. In addition, it is also possible for the Christian jargon in this thesis to have factual but less reliable interpretations since the some misinterpreted words in her study may be the same with some Christian jargon in this thesis.
However, the study in this thesis discusses more specific words that called
Christian jargon, while Miesel emphasizes on finding wrong words or the words that are less factual according to the real history or science. Although both studies take the same novel as the context of study, the one in this thesis put a more limited scope of study and data. It does not discuss unfamiliar words, but Christian jargon that talk about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
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In addition, this thesis is aimed to study the functions of the use of the Christian jargon in the novel, while the one by Sandra Miesel is aimed more to make a counter argument toward the novel. However, there is still a possibility that the result of this thesis may be used as a counter argument toward the novel.
2. What If An Educator Had Written ‘ The Lord’s Prayer’ ?
Tom Dodge’s “What If An Educator Had Written ‘The Lord’s Prayer’?” studies what would probably happen if jargon of certain group was used and interpreted by other persons from different field or group, also notices some usages of jargon that made it a quite special word to be used both in writing and speaking. In his study, Dodge also discusses the possibility of misinterpretation and the effect of it.
In his study he states that some organization such as the military and the government are renowned for their ability to bury simple statements under a ton of verbiage. The process, he says, seems to arise from the fear that official proclamations did not sound official enough. Thus, jargon is used to make something unpalatable sounded more acceptable (Dodge, 1971). There, he takes the example of the word
“collateral damage” in the 1991 Gulf War. The word is coined by the military to avoid having to admit that even the smartest bomb caused civilian damage. The other similar example is the transformation of the word “garbage man” into “sanitation engineer” that means to remove the sexist connotation of the original, and to cover up the verbal smell of garbage. In this case, many euphemisms such as “passed away” for “died”, “comfort station” for “toilet” and many others, give the in line impression of insincerity at the same time as generating wordiness.
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Other functions of jargon of jargon, according to Dodge’s study, are to intimidate and to confuse, but can also create an unintentionally comic if it was used in a context where it was clearly inappropriate. The example of this is that became the title of his study.
Here, Dodge asked his reader to consider the witty and deliberate use of jargon in one version of the Lord’s Prayer. In this case he mentions that sometimes the inappropriate jargon can ridicule the reader, as the author may mean to make fun with the words.
Our father-figure who resides in the upper-echelon domain, May thy title always be structured to elicit a favorable response. Reward us today, bread and wise, And minimize our unfavorable self-concept, resulting from credit over-extension, As we will strive to practice reciprocal procedures. And channel us, not into temptation-inducing areas, But provide us with security from situations not to conducive to moral enrichment, For thine is the position of maximum achievement in the power structure, Not to mention the prestige-attainment factor that never terminates. (Dodge, 1971: 101.)
This study is then important because it helps the writer to get the general ideas of the functions of the jargon. As a referential study, this study also gives the information that sometimes the function of the same jargon is different when it is used by other people, especially those outside the group. This study also helps to enrich the basic theory jargon since it gives a definition of what jargon is. In his study, Dodge defines jargon as an unnecessarily technical language, which provides polysyllabic replacements for perfectly adequate simple words (Dodge, 1971).
Nevertheless, the study in this thesis is still different to the one by Tom Dodge because it takes a different context of study. Dodge takes the jargon in The Lord’s Prayer as the context of the study, while this thesis takes Christian jargon that talk about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in The Da Vinci Code . Tom Dodge
8 9 mainly discusses how jargon is functioned to make something sounds comical and ridiculous. The study in this thesis tries to see what functions are there in each jargon and how they work in the novel.
B. Review of Related Theories
Having the topic of Christian jargon, the writer is drawn to the concept of jargon, which is very much related with the field of sociolinguistic. Jargon itself particularly talks about specific terms, expression, and style of language, used in the communication with others to convey a specific or a certain meaning. Thus, it is important to know how the jargon is used to convey the meaning, what the functions of the jargon are, and in what way that the jargon functions well. Thus the theories on these areas are needed to provide a general concept of Christian jargon, particularly those appeared in Dan Brown’s The Da
Vinci Code .
1 . Language Function
Janet Holmes says that language can reflect the context of conversation in which it is used, which means that people can sometimes use the same language in another context but for different purposes. Indeed different purposes of talk could also affect the language form. Thus, it is also possible to distinguish a great variety of different functions, which a language serves. There are number of ways of categorizing the functions of speech and these categorization, according to Holmes are as follows.
Expressive utterances express the speaker’s feeling, e.g. I’m feeling great today.
Directive utterances attempt to get someone to do something, e.g. clear the table.
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Referential utterances provide information, e.g. at the third stroke it will be three o’ clock precisely.
Metalinguistic utterances comment on language itself, e.g. “Hegemony“ is not a common word.
Poetic utterances focus on aesthetic features of language, e.g. a poem, an ear – catching motto, a rhyme: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Phatic utterances express solidarity and empathy with others, e.g. Hi, how are you. (Holmes, 1992: 287)
The first three functions are widely known by many linguists, though the precise labels they are given may different. They derive from the basic components of any interaction – the speaker (expressive), the addressee (directive), and the message
(referential). Phatic is equally important for Sociolinguistics perspective for it conveys an affective or social message rather than a referential one. Thus whenever the analysis on the function of conversation and its message conveyed, this theory is very helpful in the way it describes what utterances used to characterize a certain message or function.
Indeed, among others Jargon is categorized more as an expressive, and referential type, because a jargon certainly provides specific information that can be used to characterize or represent certain people.
2 . Style, Dialect, and Register
Since Holmes’ categories of language function work much with sociolinguistics study, where people connected the use of linguistic aspect in social life or in a community, it is relevant to relate those categories of language functions with the form of language that is familiar in sociolinguistics study. In this case Ronald Wardaugh introduces at least three forms of language that are considered relevant with the categories of language function in Holmes’ theory.
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Wardaugh says that sociolinguistic particularly concerns with investigating the relationship between language and society, and the goal of studying sociolinguistic is to have a better understanding of the structure of the language and how the language function in communication (Wardaugh, 1986, 48-49). Wardaugh, mentions three forms of language that are quite commonly occurred in a spoken language. They are dialects, style, and register. These three forms offers a quite satisfactorily explanation of the practical use of Holmes’ theory about language function.
Dialect is particularly a language variety, in which same language may differ from the way the speakers used it. Dialect may also differ from it’s geographical aspects, or social aspects, such as ethnicity – social dialect. A social dialect, according to
Wardaugh, is one of the language varieties used to describe differences in speech associated with various social groups or classes. Yet, it is depended on a variety of factors, the principal ones apparently being social class, religion, and ethnicity. (Ronald
Wardaugh, 1986). In his book, Wardaugh also explains some of his findings about style in language. Wardaugh says that style is one form of the further complicated study on dialects.
You can speak very formally or very informally, your choice being governed by circumstances. We my try to relate the level of formality chosen to a variety of factors: the kind of occasion; the various social; age; and other differences that exist between the participants; the particular task that involved, e.g.: writing or speaking; the emotional involvement of one or more of the participant; and so on (Wardaugh, 1986, 48)
Here, Wardaugh may mean to explain that in every communication there are choices to make in order to make the good or appropriated, and focus conversation, which later also due to the fulfillment of the goal of the communication – to share the
11 12 message / information / ideas. A certain style with the same vocabularies as the other ones may convey a different interpretation, though the literal meaning is still the same.
There, Holmes theory of language function as referential utterances that provide certain information explain that dialect and style provide the information of the speaker’s origin, the identity of certain groups speaking the language, and the context of speaking.
Register on the other hand, according to Wardaugh, is a set of vocabulary items associated with a certain occupation or social group. Surgeons, airline pilots, sales clerk, and have course historian use a different vocabularies. Yet, the speakers can still control the variety of registers so, thus an economist can also be a mount climber, as well as the others. Here, the writer may assume that register may relate much with the definition of jargon, which will be discussed in the next sub-chapter.
3 . Jargon
Related to the definition of register in Wardaugh’s book, Bernard Spolsky says that such a special variety (register) marked by a special set of vocabulary associated with a profession / occupation / other defined social group and forming parts of its jargon. In other words, jargon maybe a part of register as a social variety that concerns much with the set of language or vocabulary among certain profession or social group (Spolsky,
1998: 33). Some other definitions also agreed that jargon is a terminology, much like slang that related to a specific activity, profession, or groups. Indeed, it develops as a kind of shorthand to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group, and can also have the effect of distinguishing those belonging to a group from those who are not (http://en.wikipedia.org/wilki/jargon ).
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Another definition, which is similar to the previous ones, comes from Longman
Dictionary of Applied Linguistics. It defines jargon as speech or writing containing specialized words or constructions. The word jargon is typically used by those unfamiliar with that particular type of language or by those who dislike it (Richards, 1985: 151).
Jargon is sometimes quite similar to buzzword, acronyms, and initials, but it is sometimes harder to recognize than these other informal types of language. Acronym and initials are usually a short of certain proper names (WHO, UNESCO, and etc) that are agreed by many people, and usually easier to recognize because of their capital letters, and most of us aware that they should be defined. Jargon is especially hard to recognize by writers of scientific and technical material. However, though useful to closely cooperating scientific and technical groups, jargon can also slow down readers of scientific and technical literature, cause them to lose interest and in the worst cases, mislead them. Thus, if a word or phrase is not defined in scientific or general dictionaries or is being used to mean something other than the meanings given for it in dictionaries, it’s probably jargon (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3).
Lingua Links Library, similar to the others, defines the word “Jargon” as a technical terminology or characteristic of a special group or activity. However, still these definitions of jargon are needed to be distinguished from slang, terminology, and buzzword, as jargon is quite often misunderstood with them.
To differ jargon from other linguistic terms, some of them would be explained briefly. Slang is defined as a very casual speech or writing. It is words, expression, and usage that were casual, vivid, racy, or playful replacements. It’s often short-lived in its
13 14 standard, and usually considered unsuitable for formal context (Wilkipedia Free
Encyclopedy). Slang is also defined as a non-standard or non-dialectical use of word in a language of a particular social group, and sometimes, the creation of the new words or important of words from another language. It is a type of neologism. Slang can be described as a way of depurating from standard language use, and very popular in adolescence. Slang functions in two ways, the creation of new language and new usage by a process of creative informal use and adaptation, and the creation of a secret language understood only by those within a group, intended to understand it.
As such, Slang is a type of sociolect aimed at excluding certain people, so that the non-initiate can’t understood the conversation, or as a further way to communicate with those who understand it. It differs from jargon in the way that such technical vocabulary of a particular profession, as jargon theoretically, isn’t used to exclude non-group members from the conversation, but rather to deal with technical peculiarities of a given field, which required a specialized vocabulary (Dumas and Lighter, 1978)
Slang in particular usually shares at least two of the following traits:
It’s markedly lower in dignity than the Standard English.
It tends to appear in the language of groups with low status, meaning they may have little power or responsibility.
It’s often taboo and would be unlikely to be used by people of high status.
It tent to displace a conventional term, either as shorthand or as defense against perception associated with the conventional term. (Dumas and Lighter, 1978)
Terminology according to Wilkipedia Free Dictionary is specialized vocabulary. It was a set of expression and words, used by people involved in a specialized activity or
14 15 field of work. It’s a linguistic study of names or terms – a systematic study of names and terms. Terminology is distinguished from jargon in their degree of formality. Jargon is more informal and essentially part of the oral culture of a profession, with only limited expression in the profession publication. The everyday use of the jargon to describe any technical terminology incomprehensible to the layperson ignores this distinction between jargon and terminology.
Wilkipedia Free Dictionary also compares jargon with buzzword. It says that
Buzzword or fashion word or vogue word is an idiom, often neologism, commonly used in managerial, technical, administrative, and sometimes-political environment. Buzzword appears ubiquitously but their actual meaning often remains unclear. Buzzword is typically intended to create the impression of knowledge for wide audience. They tend to be non-controversial and universal. It distinguishes from jargon in their function of impressing or of obscuring meaning. Jargon ideally has a better well-defined technical meaning, if only to specialist. However, the type surrounding new technologies often turns technical term into buzzword. A buzzword may or may not appear in dictionary and if it did, the meaning may not match the conventional definition (Wilkipedia Free
Dictionary)
4. Theories on The Use of Jargon
In relation with the theory of jargon and its effect toward literary works or writing style, some parts of A. J. Sutcliffe’s study - the author of The New York Public Library
Writer’s Guide to Style and Usage, state that there are actually many aspects to good writing, and that word usage is one among the others. Sutcliffe mentions four different
15 16 levels of word usage that should be considered by careful writers. They are formal, standard, informal, and substandard. These levels refer to the intended audience for the writing, thus one level might not be appropriate to replace another one. In addition, jargon is known as technical slang, which is understood only by some groups. Thus, it may become an informal level of speech among the groups or a substandard level of word usage in certain fields of expertise, but a formal standard one for the outsiders, as they are unknown words (Sutcliffe, 1994).
In other words, Sutcliffe means to say that good writers, though their work may not be intended for wide, should also consider the use of some level of writing because their work may be read not only by those who were in the same field, or groups. Positive public opinion is indeed significant, and the writer should also think that their work could be useful to people outside their narrow fields of expertise. The author takes the example of NASA technical reports, journals, and articles, which all fall into formal category as it used quite some technical terms and stylized forms of expression. These writings are then simplified by avoiding some jargons to help some other researchers whose first language is not English to understand them
Taking the example from teenage jargon, Sutcliffe’s study also includes the discussion on the effect of jargon usage toward the reader. These are interesting since when the more universal and formal words are used to replace the jargons, the meanings are often distant or unapproachable.
My bad. That supervisor thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips . We had a cool researcher working on the project. I took the report to my crib over the weekend. Our new summer intern is straight edge .
16 17
Translated into more formal and universally understood writing, these sentences read: It was my mistake. That supervisor thinks he’s better than the rest of us. We had an excellent researcher working on the project. I took the report to my home over the weekend. Our new summer intern doesn’t use illegal drugs . (Sutcliffe, 1994: 22)
A. J. Sutcliffe also cautions that jargon may be appropriate in technical or specialized writing, where it is useful in conveying specific shared meanings, but rarely in writing published for more general audiences – experts, who used jargon, whether out of carelessness or a desire to impress, will fail to communicate and lose their readers.
Therefore, though useful to closely cooperating scientific and technical groups, jargon can slow down readers of scientific and technical literature, cause them to lose interest and in the worst cases, miss-lead them (New York Public Library Writer’s Guide to Style and Usage, 1994)
Another says that Jargon is used in specific field, for instance in sport (where technical sportsman terms but also sport-related metaphor for other events in life were used by sports’ fans for the aforementioned purposes) and in technical profession.
Oftentimes people will use jargon derisively mean to indicate disapproval with the use of words whose meaning are esoteric (not easy to understand) and thus exclusionary of people who do not understand their meaning and background
(http://en.wilkipedia.org/wiki/jargon ).
Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his study says that jargon is a part of shift attitude about language and mystery in which the listener and the reader demand clarity at all cost
17 18 and today is unimpressed by fancy words. His writing about unmapped regions of the globe, and unexploded regions of experience, an all-pervading sense of surveillance, both directed at the common reader, make them feel that any mysteries were being deliberately manufactured by jargon.
Another theory in Malcolm Cowley’s Sociological Habit Patterns In Linguistic
Transmogrification says that Jargon is used to make something unpalatable sounded more acceptable – the initial urge to create the jargon comes from the desire to make something unpleasant seems acceptable-and many euphemism give the similar impression of insincerity at the same time as generating wordiness (Cowley, 1994).
Cowley believes that the use of a jargon in a particular area of language is quite meaningful but also dangerous since there is less clarification among the users.
C. Theoretical Framework
The contribution of the theories of sociolinguistic about language varieties
(Jargon, slang, terminology, and buzzword), function of speech, and also scientific language is that they all help the writer to find out the characteristic of religious jargon both in general and in the novel, what influences do they give to the novel, what do they imply, related with the message of the novel, and how do the jargon effect is being created that it contributes or has such kind of importance toward the novel.
Though many discussion have been done toward the novel (from the religious approaches, the feminist approaches, the deconstructive approaches, and many others), still those discussion are related much with the issues of the novel, its controversial idea –
18 19 especially those related much with Christianity, and from the literary side. Little have been done from linguistics point of view, thus makes this study of religious jargon used in the novel, worth studied. Specifically the writer tries to prove that the religious jargon can even use to send a strong deconstructive religious meaning, and convey a smart deceitful truth and facts.
19 20
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The study of the Christian jargon in this thesis took one of Dan Brown’s thriller novels entitled The Da Vinci Code as the context of the study. The writer chose the novel because it talked more about Jesus and His affair with Mary Magdalene through hidden codes and symbols inside the masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci.
However, this new idea about Jesus was then developed and became such kind of religious issue. Further the writer assumed that some Christian jargon was used to talk about the issue. Therefore, the analysis would only be focused on the discussion of the Christian jargon in the novel.
The object of the study in this thesis was Christian jargon in The Da Vinci Code .
In particular, it wanted to analyze the Christian jargon that talks about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. This jargon would specifically talk about the role of Mary Magdalene as Holy Grail, the royal member of the house of David, the wife of the Christ, and the mother of the true descendant of Jesus. Here, the writer would try to find out what Christian jargon is used in the novel to talk about the issue.
It was managed to find out what meanings of the jargon are. Since jargon sometimes had more than one meaning, it was also managed to see what differences between those meanings.
20 21
B. Approach of the Study.
Basically the study in this thesis took the basic of qualitative research because the writer did not take the whole Christian jargon in the novel as the data. The writer took only the Christian jargon that could represent the topic of the study in this thesis.
Moreover, the topic of the study was developed from the interest of the writer toward a particular kind of language called jargon. Seeing that a qualitative research could be begun and developed from experiences, issue, life, or work contexts; the writer was then developed this study from the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary
Magdalene.
In addition, the study in this thesis used the method of a qualitative study because more hypotheses is used than observation to construct the analysis. The study was also limited by the novel- The Da Vinci Code as the context of the study. In other words, the writer would not concern much with the amount of the data, but more on the quality of the data. Thus, the data of the study would only be the Christian jargon that talks about the marriage of Mary Magdalene in the The Da Vinci Code . Along with the characteristic of a qualitative research that the research had a setting that provided richness and boundaries, this context would give the setting that could provide an environment to interconnect the data.
.
C. Method of the Study
The study on this thesis would follow the procedures of a qualitative research. It would also used a contextual data, in which Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code was the source of the data. The first step would be choosing the interesting topic that would
21 22 be discussed in the thesis. After that the writer determined the scope of the data, so that it would not be too large or too small. In this case, the writer chose to use Dan
Brown’s novel as the context of the study. Finishing the second step, the writer then moved to the third step. It was to construct the problem formulations. In this case, the thesis had two problem formulations. The first one was to identify the Christian
Jargon, and the second one was to identify the functions of the jargon. By the end of this third step, the writer would probably start to have a hypothesis.
The next step was to find the appropriate basic theories on jargon, and some related studies. These theories and studies would help the writer to get some ideas of what jargon is and what the functions of the jargon are. Further, the writer should also find some theories or studies that could give a general view about Christian jargon.
Those studies and theories were taken mostly from the internet, and previous related studies. Using these theories and studies, the study went further with the step of collecting the data. This first data was collected based on the basic theories of jargon.
Then it was selected again based on the information about Christian jargon and the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene because the data should be more specific and representative. Thus, by the end of this step the writer would have ten words as Christian jargon that were representative enough to be used as a primary data of the study.
The further step was to analyze the primary data. The writer first compared the data with the theories of the characteristic of jargon to find out whether they were match or not. After that, the writer analyzed what ideas that the Christian jargon gave.
Here, the analysis would compare the ideas of the jargon in the novel with the ones
22 23 outside the novel. The result of this first step was the answer of the first problem formulation.
Similar step was taken to answer the second problem formulation. First, the writer analyzed each data to find out what would be the functions of the Christian jargon.
Then, the writer tried to see whether those functions were applied only in the novel or there were other applications and new functions outside the theories. After finishing this step, the writer could then conclude the whole analysis and answer both problem formulations.
23 24
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer discusses and analyzes the collected data, relates them with the theories, and concludes the answer to solve the two problems of the thesis. Having the focus on the Christian jargon that talks about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the writer has found ten words that are considered as Christian jargon in the novel.
Some general characteristic of jargon that are taken from Chapter II such as jargon as a social variety that concerns much with the set off language or vocabulary among certain profession, some experts or a social group and is often used to deal with technical peculiarities (Spolsky, 1994:33), a terminology that related to a specific activity; profession or groups, a kind of shorthand to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group; which can also have the effect of distinguishing those belonging to a group from those who are not
(http://en.wilkipedia.org/wilki/jargon ), or a word or phrase which sounds technical yet is not defined in scientific or general dictionaries and is being used to mean something other than the meanings given for it in dictionaries (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3).
Here, it is possible for some data to have only some of the whole characteristic of jargon. The analysis then goes further with the discussion on the meanings or ideas of each Christian jargon. The writer will try to find out what meanings of the Christian 25
jargon are. This discussion will also include the meanings of the Christian jargon from the point of view of Christianity.
The next analysis will try to find out what functions of the Christian jargon are. In this part the writer analyzes each Christian jargon to see how they contributes certain roles in the novel. In addition, it is possible that each Christian jargon has more than one function in the novel. Using the theory on the function of the jargon, the writer will also analyze which function of the Christian jargon that is more effectively used in the novel.
Since this thesis uses the basic steps of a qualitative research, the primary data of this study is the one that represent the topic of the study. The writer takes ten words of Christian jargon based on certain criteria. First, following the definition of
Christian jargon in Chapter I, these words are speech or writing that are part of
Christian oral culture, and deal with technical peculiarities of Christianity (Spolsky
1998: 34). In this thesis the technical peculiarities relates to the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Interestingly the Christian jargon in the novel is discussed not by Christian characters but a non-Christian cryptographer, a religious iconography professor, and a religious historian who somehow shows his dislike ness toward Christianity with Christianity. However, still the context of this thesis is The
Da Vinci Code, so that all of the requirements above are the ones happened in the novel.
These words of Christian jargon in the novel are divided into two big categories. The first one is Christian jargon that talks about certain famous characters, 26
or groups of Christianity in the novel. They are Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Constantine the Great, and Priory of Sion. The second category is Christian jargon of the novel that talks about certain symbols in Christianity. Rose, Holy Grail, Chalice, Blade, and
Pentacle are included in this second category. In addition, there is one more Christian
Jargon in this category that represents the topic and quite relevant with the context of the study although it refers more on Christian religious event. This Christian jargon is
The Last Supper
.
A. Christian Jargon in The Novel
1.Christian Jargon of Certain Characters or Groups in Christianity a. Jesus
Following the definition of jargon as a technical language that is difficult to understand (Dodge, 1971: 101), the name Jesus does not sound technical since it refers not to a certain Christian concept, but rather to a certain character. In addition, the possible users of the jargon are not only Christian groups, but also some experts or religious historian who maybe are not Christian themselves. In the novel there is a character named Sophie Neuve who recognize Jesus as a very famous character in
Christian Bible. She described Him as the Son of God. By saying her opinion about the identity of Jesus, it can be said that she is quite familiar with the name, and has some knowledge about it although she is not Christian.
“How well do you know the New Testament?” Sophie shrugged. “Not all, really. I was raised by a man who worshipped Leonardo Da Vinci.” (Brown, 2003: 249) 27
However, another character of the novel who is a famous religious historian,
Leigh Teabing, seems to have another idea about Jesus. According to his expertise, the knowledge of Sophie Neuve about Jesus is a cover up for the true reference of
Jesus.
“My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal’“ “Not the son of God?” (Brown, 2003: 253)
This means that according to this religious historian character, what nowadays
Christians and Sophie Neuve know about Jesus is all wrong references. Unlike
Sophie Neuve that recognizes Jesus as a great mortal prophet whose teachings have influenced so many people up to the present time, Leigh Teabing says that He is a human indeed who could fall into temptation and sins, and not at all a divine being.
Since Sophie Neuve of the novel is a Christian who practically recognizes and uses the name Jesus to refer to a certain concept in Christianity-Son of God, it requires the first criteria of Christian jargon as a speech that becomes the part of Christian oral culture.
In the novel, Jesus is also a husband and indeed a father of one daughter. This issue will be discussed further when we analyze the next Christian jargon-Mary
Magdalene. The novel also believes that Jesus is a feminist, a pro-women prophet whose teaching is inspirational for a lot of people.
“Jesus was indeed a great and powerful man. Constantine’s underhanded political maneuvers don’t diminish the majesty of Christ life. Nobody saying 28
that Christ was a fraud, or denying that He walked the earth and inspired millions to better lives.” (Brown, 2003: 254) “The scrolls highlight glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda-to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.”(Brown, 2003: 255) “At this point in the gospels, Jesus suspects He will soon be captured and crucified. So He gives Mary Magdalene instructions on how to carry on His church after He is gone.” (Brown, 2003: 268) “Behold,’ Teabing proclaimed, ‘the greatest cover up in human history. Not only that Jesus Christ married, but He was a father.“ (Brown, 2003: 270)
Although Jesus in Christian Bible is the same name with the one in the novel, it refers to a different character. It is true that Jesus is a great mortal prophet who has human characteristics, but he is also the Son of God and indeed God himself who manifest into human (St. John1: 1-2) and has been crucified in the mount of Cavalry.
Jesus in the novel becomes Christian jargon because first, it characterizes certain character in the novel as Christian. Secondly, it talks about the issue of marriage of
Jesus and Mary Magdalene, in which the true identity of Jesus is debatable. Thirdly, according to one of the Christian character in the novel-Sophie Neuve Jesus is a name that technically refers to Son of God-a divine being, while the other characters use it as a practical name for the husband of Mary Magdalene-a mortal being.
b. Mary Magdalene
Similar to Jesus, Mary Magdalene is a name of a female character in Christianity.
It is taken as Christian jargon because it is considered as one of the typical character in Christian Bible which is hardly found in others 29
(http:/en.wilkipedia.org/wilki/jargon) and because it is used to mean another thing, which is not the one in common (Sutcliffe, 1994:3). In the novel, once again Sophie
Neuve represents the common knowledge of the nowadays Christian
“That, my dear,” Teabing replied, “is Mary Magdalene.“ Sophie turned. “The prostitute?“ “Magdalene was no such thing. That unfortunate misconception is the legacy of a smear campaign launched by the early Church needed to defame Mary Magdalene in order to cover up her dangerous secret-her role as the Holy Grail.” “Therefore, any gospels that described earthly aspects of Jesus’ life had to be omitted from the Bible. Unfortunately for the early editors, one particularly troubling earthly theme kept recurring in the gospels. Mary Magdalene. More specifically, her marriage to Jesus Christ.” (Brown, 2003: 264)
The other version of Mary Magdalene by the religious historian in the novel says that Mary Magdalene is a descendant of the royal blood of the house of
Benjamin – one of the Israel most influential tribes, one of the most loyal devotees of
Jesus, and indeed His beloved wife, the woman who has a daughter with Jesus.
“As I said earlier, the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is part of historical record.” (Brown, 2002: 265) “Sophie read the passage: And the companion of the savior is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth.” “As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word companion, in those days, literally meant spouse.” (Brown, 2003: 266)
Some of the quotations in the novel also say that Mary Magdalene is the holy woman whom the church has always tried to eliminate by putting her as a prostitute, as she endangers their political maneuvers. Mary Magdalene, according to the novel, is also the Holy Grail who brings descendant of Christ. In addition, as she is married 30
to Jesus, the novel also defines her as the true descendant of Christian church.
Therefore, this name requires the criteria of Christian jargon because it is a speech or word that are familiar among Christians and is used in the novel to technically talk about a prostitute in Christian New Testament and to the wife of Christ-the God of
Christians.
“According to this unaltered gospels, it was not Peter to whom Christ gave directions with which to establish the Christian Church. It was Mary Magdalene.” (Brown, 2003: 268) “My dear, Mary Magdalene was the Holy Vessel. She was the chalice that bore the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ. She was the womb that bore the lineage, and the vine from which the sacred fruit sprang forth!” (The Da Vinci Code, 2003: 270)
Following the theory of jargon saying that the jargon is practically said by those who are unfamiliar with it, Mary Magdalene is also jargon for Christian outside the novel. The reason is that she is known not as both definition stated in the novel.
The Holy Bible defines her as the woman who has been freed from seven evil spirits that overruled her (Luke 8: 2). She is also known as one of the women witnessing the crucifixion (Matthew 27:61), attends Jesus’ burial, anoints Jesus’ body with two other women (Mark 16: 1), and sees His resurrection for the first time (John 20: 10-18).
Some others say that she is the prostitute whom Jesus saves from brutal judgment
(Luke 7: 36 – 8:2). Indeed, there is no direct description of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute in the Bible.
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher. Matthew 27:61 (Holy Bible King James Version, New Testament, 31) And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint him. Mark 16:1(Holy Bible King James Version, New Testament, 50) 31
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom seven devils. Luke 8:2 (Holy Bible King James Version, New Testament, 60) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:18 (Holy Bible King James Version, New Testament, 103)
c. Constantine The Great
Constantine The Great is considered Christian jargon is a quite famous character whose role in the history of Christianity is significant toward the development of the
Christianity. Thus, it may be familiar only among Christians or Church historian.
Although the use of this name in the novel does not mean to exclude certain people, it may be still quite hard for common people outside Christianity to recognize the name.
History admits that the role of Constantine in supporting the growth of the early church is quite important. According to church historian Kenneth Scott Latourette,
Constantine is a fourth century Roman Emperor who confessed a changing experience that caused him to reverse a longstanding persecution policy against
Christians. His Decree of Milan (AD 313) had extended the toleration granted other religions of the day, including Christianity. Yet, before this edict, Christians was regarded as enemies of the state because of their confession that Christ, rather than
Caesar, was King of all kings, and Lords of all lords. The Roman considers the
Caesar as the head priest of the cult of Sol Invictus and also pontifex maximus (the commander and the chief of the priest of the faith). He is believed to be the one responsible for convening the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) that help church leaders develop consensus about the doctrine of Christ. Hence, the king himself did not take a 32
hand in determining the constitution. History regards him more as the one who served as an advocate for reconciliation and agreement among the members (Abanes, 2004,
37).
Quite similar to the Christian history, the novel offers a portrayal of Constantine as the emperor who becomes Christian and then helps the members of the Council to build the doctrine of Christ. It also considers him as a great Roman King - the Sol
Invictus and pontifex maximus . Yet, for the novel he is indeed a pagan emperor who led and determined the convictions about the doctrine of Christ in the Council of
Nicaea.
“The Bible, as we know today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.” “I thought Constantine was a Christian.” Sophie said. “He was a lifelong pagan who was baptized on his deathbed, too weak to protest. In Constantine’s day, Rome’s official religion was sun worship - the cult of Sol Invictus, or the Invisible Sun – and Constantine was its head priest.” (Brown, 2003: 251). “During this fusion of religions, Constantine needed to strengthen the new Christian tradition, and held a famous ecumenical gathering known as the council of Nicaea.” (Brown, 2003: 252)
Moreover, the novel also puts him as the one who is in charge for the discrimination toward women in Christianity up to the present time. Based on this idea, it says that the role of a woman in Christian organization is now very small because Constantine made it so to strengthen male power.
“The Priory believes that Constantine and his male successors successfully converted the world from matriarchal paganism to patriarchal Christianity by waging a campaign of propaganda that demonized the sacred feminine, obliterating the goddess from modern religion forever.” (Brown, 2003: 133 )
33
This version of Constantine refers to a pagan Roman king whose policy of making Christian as a religion of the state is intended to save the state from the multitude growth of Christian followers, a Roman king who held the Council of
Nicaea to determine the divinity of Jesus for the sake of politic issue.
“Three centuries after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Christ’s followers had multiplied exponentially. Christians and pagans began warring, and the conflict grew to such proportions that it threatened to rend Rome into two. Constantine decided something had to be done. In 325 AD, he decided to unify Rome under a single religion. Christianity.” (Brown, 2003: 251) “By officially endorsing Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchangeable.” (Brown, 2003: 253)
Thus, Constantine The Great is Christian Jargon in the novel because it is used to identify one of the most important people in the history of a modern
Christianity. It is also a technical word to talk about one of the ironic fact about modern Christianity, and in particular about the issue of the marriage of Jesus and
Mary Magdalene. In other words, Constantine in the novel is more a factor of the fall off the Goddess worship than character who has a great influence.
d. Priory of Sion
Looking at the phrase Priory of Sion, people may consider about certain religious group of monks or nuns. However, the novel does not seem to have similar ideas. Indeed, those ideas may be hardly understood that make Priory of Sion jargon in the novel. This means that only certain group of people can recognize the phrase as something other than a group of monks or nuns. Thus, Priory of Sion can be called 34
jargon since it is a specialized phrase used by specific group
(http://en.wilkipedia.org/wilki/jargon).
Priory of Sion, based on the novel, is a European secret society found in 1099 in Jerusalem by a French king named Godefroi de Bouillon. The novel states that the king made this secret brotherhood in order to protect his family secret, a secret that is able to disturb the base of Christian foundation. The novel strongly assumes that the documents speak the truth about Mary Magdalene (her role as Jesus’ wife, the mother of His child, and His successor). Interestingly, Plantard occurs in the novel as one of the family names that are assumed to be the descendants of Jesus and Mary
Magdalene. Later, the strongest idea of Priory of Sion is the secret keeper of Mary
Magdalene true identity.
“The Priory of Sion’, he began, ‘was founded in Jerusalem in 1099 by a French King named Godefroi de Bouillon, immediately after he had conquered the city. “ “Fearing his secret might be lost when he died, he founded a secret brotherhood – the Priory of Sion – and charged them with protecting his secret by quietly passing it on from generation to generation.” (Brown, 2003: 171) “Nonetheless, Christ’s line grew quietly under cover in France until making a bold move in the fifth century, when it intermarried with French royal blood and created a lineage known as the Merovingian bloodline.”(Brown, 2003: 278) “Only two direct lines of Merovingians remain. Their family names are Plantard and Saint-Clair. Both families live in hiding, probably protected by the Priory,” (Brown, 2003: 280)
There are also some other different versions of Priory of Sion. Literally, the word priory directly means a religious house governed by a prior or prioress (Gadsby 2001:
1121). It is usually associated with a chapel or church. Yet, History records it as a social club that originally found by a non-Semitic French people named Pierre
Plantard. He was once put in jail because of manipulation in 1953. It is said that 35
Plantard and his three friends established a small social club named Priory of Sion in
1954 which aimed to raise the number of low cost houses in France, but it ended in
1957. It is said that Plantard kept the name and used it for several of his works. Along
1960s and 1970s, he made a series of documents saying that France royal family got
Mary Magdalene’s bloodline. He changed his own name into Plantard de Saint Clair, which finally ended to the statement that he was a royal family. In 1993 Plantard was taken into trial for another public manipulation, connected with his documents that put the name of French President (Francois Mitterand) best friend, and he admitted that he only created the entire detail story, and scenario in all of his documents including the ones saying about Priory of Sion and Mary Magdalene. France national court was recorded to have released Plantard because he was mentally ill person
(www.priory-of-sion.com)
To conclude, Priory of Sion is certainly an unfamiliar organization. Based on the theory that jargon is a word or phrase used by certain groups to deal with technical peculiarities, it becomes jargon as such a definition or even a name of religious group is unfamiliar outside the novel. Etymologically it refers to a kind of religious house, yet a technical word to name a secret brotherhood whose job is to protect the Holy
Grail-Mary Magdalene in the novel. Thus, it fulfills the next requirement of Christian jargon in the novel as it is used to technically talk about the issue of Mary Magdalene
(Spolsky, 1998: 33). In the novel, it is believed that the member of Priory of Sion is a group of people who agrees with the issue. Thus, according to the novel, by using the 36
name priory of Sion and knowing it references, someone can be recognized as a pro-
Magdalene people.
2. Jargon Connected with Certain Symbols
This part discusses the jargons that related with a certain symbol, which probably has dual meanings, creates confusion, or used by only certain people or groups who share similar knowledge to deal with some technical problems. Many people from various fields may use the same symbols, but their interpretation may be different one another. Indeed, most of the Christian jargon in this category shares new meanings. The words that are considered as Christian jargon in this category are
Rose, Holy Grail, Chalice, Blade, Pentacle or Pentagram, and The Last Supper. a. Rose
The word rose is indeed widely known all over the world for it often shares similar names in some languages. Common dictionary defines the word rose as a shrub or bush with prickles or thorns on its stem, and bearing a beautiful and usually sweet smelling flower (Gadsby, 2001: 1233). Before the novel, it has been commonly used as a symbol for something related with beauty, love, passion, and womanhood.
According to Rev. Theodore A. Koehler, theuse of rose as symboland jargon in
Christianity is indeed not unfamiliar. The use of rose as symbol in Christianity is said to be rooted from the Greco-Roman custom. Rose speaks of beauty, the season of Spring, and also the fleetness of life or death. Thus, it also symbolize paradise as the next life.
The application of this meaning is showed in Roman feast for death - Rosalia. 37
As rose always springs forth from a thorny bush without injuring the mother, rose is usedby Christian to speaks of the virgin Mary. She is described as the rose, which is chosen from the guilty race of Eve, to bring new life for human being. In particular, rose as the queen of flowers is used by Roman Catholic Church to name
Mary, Queen of heaven and earth. However, rose does not become a private symbol only for Mary. For the Chatholic Church in particular, it becomes an attribute of the martyrs and many other holy women such as Casilda of Toledo, Elizabeth of
Portugal, Elizabeth of Hungary, Rose of Viterbo, Rose of Lima. Some people also use rose to symbolyze Christ, like the one appears in German Christmas song - es ist ein 'Rose' entsprungen . ( http://www.udayton.edu/mary//rosarymarkings36.html)
Rose is required as Christian jargon because it has some meanings that may not be found in dictionaries. Indeed, most of the interpretation in the novel refer to rose as something other than a flower. Thus, it can also be said that Rose is jargon because the meanings given to it in the novel may be used only by certain groups and has certain different meanings.
The novel gives a quite different explanation of rose. It says that rose is not only a symbol of womanhood, but also a premiere allegory for female sexuality. To be specific, a blossoming rose is a symbol of women’s genitalia – vagina, where every human being enters the world.
“The rose has always been the premiere symbol of female sexuality.” “And in modern times, the flowering rose’s ties to womanhood are considered more visual.” 38
“What Robert is fumbling with is the fact that the blossoming flower resembles the female genitalia, the sublime blossom from which all mankind enters the world.” (Brown, 2003: 275)
In the novel, a particular rose named Fleur de lis – The five-petal rose, is used as an allegory for Holy Grail, and an identity symbol for a secret brotherhood called
The Priory of Sion. The fleur de lis shows their devotion to the worship of divine goddess and femininity, reminds their main follower to the responsibility of keeping the secret of the holy goddess Mary Magdalene. To relate it with secrecy, some interpretations of rose as a symbol of hidden meaning or secret are actually quite ordinary. The novel indeed explains that the use of rose as the symbol for secret is rooted from Roman culture of hanging rose in the meeting place to indicate that the meeting is confidential.
“That’s strange, because my grandfather always told me the rose meant secrecy. Hanging a rose is an ancient Roman custom.’ ” “Sub rosa,’ Langdon said. The Romans hung a rose over meetings to indicate the meting was confidential. Attendees understood that whatever was said under the rose – or sub rosa - had to remain a secret.” (Brown, 2003: 219)
Further more, not only that rose is a symbol for secrecy, and womanhood but also Holy Grail. It is believed to be close related with guidance to the truth – the truth about Mary Magdalene. In another word, fleur de lis means the hidden secret of Mary
Magdalene. Because of this, Priory of Sion chooses the flower as their symbol.
“Langdon quickly explained that the Rose’s overtone of secrecy was not the only reason the Priory used it as a symbol for the Grail. Rosa rugosa, one of the oldest species of rose, had five petals and pentagonal symmetry, just like the guiding star of Venus, giving the rose strong iconographic ties to womanhood. In addition the rose had close ties to the concept of true direction.” (Brown, 2003: 220) 39
“That is the priory symbol for the Grail. Mary Magdalene. Because her name was forbidden by the church, Mary Magdalene became secretly known by many pseudonyms-the Chalice, the Holy Grail, and the Rose.” (Brown, 2003: 275)
On the other hand, Christians never use a rose as a symbol of guidance to a secret truth, because Christians believed that Jesus Himself is the way, the truth and the light that none can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Indeed, no verse in the Bible saying that rose is an allegory for Mary Magdalene or femininity.
There, the theory of jargon as a replacement word is working. Rose is not at all an unfamiliar word, but in the novel, it becomes uncommon because such a group like
Priory of Sion has used it to technically means secrecy in order to keep certain word or meaning a secret. Although technically Christian jargon does not means to exclude certain people (Dumas and Lighter, 1978), the use of the word rose to talk about
Mary Magdalene in the novel may still create certain gap for those who have another different meaning of the word.
b. Holy Grail
For the novel, Holy Grail is the center of the whole story and plot, the secret that the priory has kept for hundred years, and it is not a cup. The historians in the novel explain that Holy Grail is not a physical cup or secret documents as people have said. It is indeed a person, and the person is Mary Magdalene.
Sophie scanned the work eagerly. “Does this fresco tell us what the Grail really is?” “Not what it is,” Teabing whispered. “But rather who it is. The Holy Grail is not a thing. It is, in fact…a person.” (Brown, 2003: 256) 40
“Who is she?” Sophie asked. “That, my dear”, Teabing replied, “is Mary Magdalene.” (Brown, 2003: 263)
Further, Mary Magdalene is called Holy Grail because she carries Jesus’ bloodline. To complete it, the novel says that Holy Grail is originated from the word
Sang Real (Latin), which means royal blood. This royal blood is Mary Magdalene from the house of Benjamin, the wife of Christ who comes from the house of David.
“The legend of the Holy Grail is a legend about royal blood. When Grail legend speaks of the chalice that held the blood of Christ…it actually speaks, in fact, of Mary Magdalene – the female womb that carried Jesus’ royal bloodline.” (Brown, 2003: 270) The word Sangreal derives from San Greal – or Holy Grail. But in most ancient form, the word Sangreal divided into a different spot” “Sang Real.“Sang Real literally meant Royal Blood.” (The Da Vinci Code, 2003: 271)
In earlier sources and in some later ones, the grail is something very different.
The term "grail" comes from the Latin gradale , which meant a dish brought to the table during various stages (Latin "gradus") or courses of a meal. In Chrétien and other early writers, such a plate is intended by the term "grail." Chrétien, for example, speaks of "un graal," a grail or platter and thus not a unique item. Wolfram von
Eschenbach's Parzival presents the grail as a stone, which provides sustenance and prevents anyone who beholds it from dying within the week. In medieval romance, the grail was said to have been brought to Glastonbury in Britain by Joseph of
Arimathea and his followers.
A more familiar interpretation refers it to the cup that Jesus used in the event of Last supper, but Holy Grail itself does not come exactly at the Last Supper. It first 41
appeared in 1170 in Perceval, a romantic writing about the legend of King Arthur and
His kingdom of Camelot. The legend of king Arthur and His round table knights says that Holy Grail is the cup that brought the power of salvation and everlasting life
(Fisher, 2005: 9). Interestingly, Holy Grail is also an allegory for something that you try very hard to get or achieve but never can (Gadsby, 2001: 683). It may relate to the story of never-ending pilgrimage inspired by the legend of King Arthur and his journey to find it. Thus, it is quite understandable if non-Christian or people with insufficient knowledge of it would find it difficult or different
(http://en.wilkipedia.org/wilki/jargon).
In spite of the legend, Christians really believe that Jesus in His last supper with His disciples used a cup to drink wine. This cup indeed is the one assumed to be
Holy Grail although there is no word in the Bible saying that this particular cup is
Holy Grail. Thus, it is then considered jargon (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3). Jesus’ famous statement reminds that the disciples have to celebrate the event as a remembrance of
Him.
“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.’ “Luke 22: 20 (Holy Bible Concordance – King James Version, New Testament: 77)
However, Christians never call the cup a holy cup, because they talk more about the wine that symbolized Jesus’ blood. Even in Catholic Eucharist, a Eucharist cup may receive different treatment, but likewise the other Christians, the wine (the blood of Christ) and the bread (the flesh of Christ), are still the center of the celebration. In addition, Holy Grail is taken as Christian jargon for its connection 42
with one of the most important religious events in Christianity, but the novel refers it not to a Eucharist cup but a woman. According to the novel; only those who are interested in learning the history of Holy Grail or feminine goddess can understand its reference to Mary Magdalene. In the novel Holy Grail is believed to be used as a technical replacement for Mary Magdalene, and the womb of a sacred woman who carries the child of Christ, so that the secret of Jesus and Mary Magdalene remain unveiled.
c. Chalice
Chalice is basically a kind of cup used in Christian religious services. Yet, this word is rarely used in conversation even by Christians. Since it sounds specific and quite technical since there is a quite limited scope to use it in conversation, Chalice is considered Christian jargon (Spolsky, 1998:33). It is also first considered Christian jargon as the novel seems to add other interpretations that relates to Christianity, yet different in meaning (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3).
According to the novel, the primal interpretation for chalice is indeed a woman named Mary Magdalene. To explain the concept of Holy Grail as Mary
Magdalene, the novel starts the series of symbol lecture from the word chalice. A
Chalice literally means a wine cup that usually used for the Eucharist in a weekly ceremony in church or any other religious ceremonies. Related to the most famous religious communion in Christianity-The Last Supper, it is logical to say that the wine cup that Jesus used in the event of the Last Supper is also a chalice. However, 43
there is an opinion by Frank C Tribbe saying that chalice as the Holy Grail object is created or placed by the early Christian writers. These writers are said to have adapted, modified and expanded the original text.
In the novel, the term chalice is explained as the ancient symbol for femininity, womanhood, and fertility. In particular, chalice is the symbol of women’s vagina, because the shape of the ancient symbol for chalice was V, and usually occurred as - just like the shape of women’s womb. As it has mentioned before that chalice symbolize Mary Magdalene, the chalice is then the womb that brought Jesus’ bloodline – the mother of Christ’s child (Brown, 2003: 257).
“Sophie, legend tells us the Holy Grail is a chalice-a cup. But the Grail’s description as a chalice is actually an allegory to protect the true nature of the Holy Grail. That is to say, the legend uses the chalice as a metaphor for something far more important.” “A woman.” (Brown, 2003: 258) “When Grail legend speaks of the chalice that held the blood of Christ… it speaks, in fact, of Mary Magdalene-the female womb that carried Jesus’ royal bloodline (Brown, 2003: 270)
Yet, there is also other interpretation of a chalice in the Bible. It is the pain and great suffer that Jesus has to experience until His death on the crucifixion. The
Bible says that Jesus asked His Father to take the cup-chalice from Him when He prayed in the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:42). In Christianity the most familiar reference for the word chalice is a Eucharist cup that is usually used in religious ceremony. In spite of the logical explanation given by the historian in the novel,
Christians do not use the word chalice to symbolize womanhood, or femininity. In
Christianity, chalice is not a replacement word for cup or grail, because Holy Grail 44
cannot be changed into Holy Cup or Holy Chalice. Yet it is a replacement word for womanhood in the novel, which make this word requires as jargon (Dumas and
Lighter, 1978)
d. Blade
Common dictionaries identify the word blade as a flattened cutting part of knife, sword, chisel, and other sharp tools (Gadsby, 2001: 121). Thus, it is actually a familiar word. Yet, since the novel has used it to mean something in Christianity, which is vague for those who have their own previous knowledge, it is taken as
Christian jargon
The novel treats the word blade quite similarly with the word chalice. It interprets Blade as manhood or masculine or men’s penis. It also believes that such a shape of chalice and blade are the original symbols for man and woman. While chalice is connected with Venus, blade is connected with Mars, and the symbol for blade is exactly the opposite of chalice. The symbol is usually occurred as an equal sides triangle , which the original one is ∧∧∧. This was believed to be the metaphor for a rudimentary phallus that indicated men’s genitalia or penis (Brown, 2003: 258)
Although blade is easily understood to be the symbol of manhood, the symbol for man in the present time is rarely called blade (Dee Han, 2005). These ideas could have been known only by the certain people or, like what the novel says, the typical knowledge of Grail historian. Hence, it is possible that people know them only after 45
they read the novel. Furthermore, being a word that is used technically to mean something else other than it usual meaning (Spolsky, 1998: 33) and has a meaning that is not mentioned in common dictionary (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3), the word blade can considered as jargon.
e. Pentacle / Pentagram
Pentacle is usually described as a star with five pointed sides. It is actually a very common symbol used and known by many people, but since the word star is more widely used in daily communication, Pentacle then sounds quite technical.
Here, Pentacle is in line with characteristic of jargon as a technical word with certain specific meaning (Wardaugh, 1986: 50). Moreover, since it speaks about Christian issue but with different meanings in the novel, it becomes more difficult to be understood. This makes it fulfill another characteristic of Christian jargon as a word or phrase with typical meaning shared only among certain group to deal with technical peculiarities (Spolsky, 1998: 3).
Through the historian character, the novel says that pentacle is an ancient symbol of Pagan. The symbol is considered sacred because it represents Pagan’s belief of balanced world – yin and yang, masculine and feminine, black and white.
“‘The Pentacle’, Langdon clarified, is a pre-Christian symbol that relates to nature worship. The ancients envisioned their world in two halves – masculine and feminine. Their gods and goddesses worked to keep a balance of power. Yin and Yang. When male and female were balance, there was harmony in the world. When they were unbalance, there was chaos.” (Brown, 2003: 39) “ This pentacle is representative of the female half of things – a concept religious historians call the sacred feminine or the divine goddess.” 46
(Brown, 2003: 40)
In the novel, Pentacle / pentagram is also explained as a representation of the
Goddess of female sexual love and beauty in ancient Greek myth – Venus. It is because Venus planet traced a perfect pentacle across the ecliptic sky every eight years. Thus, the ancients made it the symbol of perfection, beauty, and the cyclic qualities of sexual love. In addition, the novel also believes that pentacle becomes a symbol of evil because church has changed its sacred meaning into evil.
“As a young astronomy student, Langdon had been stunned to learn the planet Venus traced a perfect pentacle across the ecliptic sky every eight years. So astonished were the ancients to observe this phenomenon, that Venus and her pentacle became symbols of perfection, beauty, and the cyclic qualities of sexual love.” (Brown, 2003: 40) “‘I assure you,’ Langdon said, ‘despite what you see in the movies, the pentacle’s demonic interpretation is historically inaccurate. The original feminine meaning is correct, but the symbolism of the pentacle has been distorted over the millennia” “Symbols are very resilient, but the pentacle was altered by the early Roman Catholic Church.” (Brown, 2003: 41)
Some early Christians, in particular the Hebrews and Jews, also familiar with such kind of symbol named the Star of David, which in the ancient times became the seal of King Solomon. It is said so because this symbol had once become the secret symbol of stargazing priest and was later adopted by the Israelite king – David and
Solomon. Jewish people used to believe that the star was the one guided the tree wise men when they wanted to see baby Jesus (Fisher, 2005, 25). As a consequence, it was believed to be the symbol for the right guidance for life. Nevertheless, this Star of
David is actually a star with six pointed sides, instead of five. 47
In fact, up to the present time, there are actually two kind of pentacle or pentagram. One is the upright pentacle is identified with Wicca’s symbol. The other one is the satanic inverted pentacle that sometimes identical with Satan called
Baphomet. An upright pentagram or pentacle is a five pointed star with one point aligned upwards. An inverted pentagram is a five pointed star with two points aligned upwards. The upright pentagram is generally defined as an upright pentagram surrounded by a circle.
This kind of pentagram is in fact among the most widely used religious symbols. Ancient pagans, ancient Israel, magicians, Wiccans, and indeed Christians have used Pentacle. This symbol is originally the symbol of Kore, Cara or Carnac, the goddess who are worshipped over an area, which extends from present-day England to Egypt and beyond. Kore was worshipped within the Coptic Gnostic Christian religion in Alexandria, Egypt, during the 4 th century CE. The festival to celebrate her is held yearly on January 6 th and has adopted by Christian church as Feast of
Epiphany. The date is still celebrated as Jesus’ birthday in Armenian churches.
During the times of the Old Testament, the pentacle was the first and most important of the Seven Seals-an amulet whose seals represented the seven secret names of God.
Each point of the pentagram is also interpreted as referring to the five books of the
Pentateuch-the first five books in the Hebrew Scriptures-The Torah. In Christian times, the five points of pentacle have been interpreted as representing the five wounds of Christ (two wrists, two ankles, and one side). Constantine himself had used the pentacle in his seal. In the era of Constantine the pentacle has been referred 48
to the Star of Bethlehem-The three King’s Star. It is believed that when the Christian church burned alive or hung hundreds of innocent people, the meaning of pentacle was changed. It became to symbolize the head of a goat or the devil in the form of
Baphomet (http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_defn.htm).
The followers of Wicca themselves have intentionally modified their pentacle in order not associate it with satanic religion. Related it to Christianity, there are also more than just one interpretation of pentacle or pentagram. Liberal Christians view the upright Wicca’s pentacle as an elegant, spiritual symbol that represent life, while the inverted one is seen as primarily representing a self-centered religion. The
Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Christians, on the other hand, treat these two pentacles the same. In their opinion, pentacles are satanic symbols
(http://www.kwu.edu/campuslife/woodcarvings ).
The pentacle in the novel is probably the inverted one that it refers to
Baphomet-the evil. Yet, it could also be the upright one, since the historian directly refers it to the worship of the goddess in ancient pagan belief. Thus, it is quite inappropriate to use both interpretations toward the same pentacle, because each of the pentacles has a contrast meaning.
f. The Last Supper
Basically The Last Supper has two strong references. The first one is one of the most famous events in the Bible where Jesus and His disciples eat together before
His crucifixion. The other one is a famous fresco made by Leonardo Da Vinci. In the 49
novel both references are used. Indeed, it adds some other meanings that are quite uncommon that makes The Last Supper one of the Christian jargon in the novel.
Indeed, it is a typical knowledge of Christian that is quite unfamiliar for other people outside Christianity. Thus, it is also Christian jargon because it is a specialized phrase of a specific group (http://en.wilkipedia.org/wilki/jargon)
Based on the novel, The Last Supper is a tribute to Mary Magdalene. It is a hidden code made by Leonardo Da Vinci to give a clue about Jesus and Mary
Magdalene as a couple, that has been successfully hid from every blatant eyes by Da
Vinci. Even so, the novel still considers that most Christians also believe that Holy
Grail is mentioned for the first time in the last supper. It becomes more complicated when Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper is said to be not about Jesus but sacred feminine (Brown, 2003: 103).
“Tomorrow, I’ll show you his fresco The Last Supper, which is one of the most astonishing tributes to the sacred feminine you will ever see.” “You’re kidding right?” Sophie said. “I thought The Last Supper was about Jesus!“(Brown, 2003: 103).
The novel indeed says that the true reference of The Last Supper is not the
Christian event but rather a tribute to the true nature of Mary Magdalene as the wife of Christ. It is then said that Da Vinci reveals most of the truth about Mary
Magdalene in this masterpiece. Those hidden clues are the awkwardness of thirteen cups, which supposed to be only one, the detail that proved Magdalene’s existence in the fresco, and the hidden clues that showed her intimate relationship to Jesus. In 50
addition, the explanation of this jargon is more about a fresco titled The Last Supper .
This name of event is then a religious jargon in the novel since it relates to certain religious event, but has another vague interpretation, which is neither an event nor
Jesus and his twelve disciples, but the sacred feminine-Mary Magdalene (Brown,
2003: 264).
Sophie turned to Langdon for help. “I’m lost. ”Langdon smiled. “As it turns out, the Holy Grail does indeed make an appearance in the Last Supper. Leonardo included her prominently.” “Hold on” Sophie said. “You told me that the Holy Grail is a woman. The Last Supper is a painting of thirteen men” “Is it?” Teabing arched his eyebrows. “Take a closer look.” “Sophie could not take her eyes from the woman beside Christ. The Last Supper is supposed to be thirteen men. Who is this woman? Although Sophie had seen this classic image many times, she had not once noticed this glaring discrepancy.” (Brown, 2003: 262-263)
In Christianity the event of Last Supper is really an important event where Jesus has His last supper with His twelve disciples before His crucifixion. Christian regards the event as the beginning of Jesus’ suffers in His salvation mission. Christian still celebrates this event to remember how Jesus so loves the world that He shares His own flesh and gives His own blood as a redeemer for human sins.
“And He took the bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying ”This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Likewise also the cup after supper, saying “ This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22: 19-20 (Holy Bible Concordance – King James Version, New Testament: 77)
History records state that Leonardo Da Vinci finished it in 1498. The fresco started to conk out almost at one, and it had been repainted and restored at least seven times since the time of Da Vinci. As a matter of fact, in any of his remained blue 51
prints there are no words saying about Mary Magdalene (www.davincihoax.com).
Thus, it is Christian jargon because only the novel that refers the event with Mary
Magdalene and her unique roles (Sutcliffe, 1994: 3). In addition, to use the name of this event as a practical phrase that refers to the role of Da Vinci, as a feminine worshipper, makes this phrase jargonin the novel (Spolsky, 1998: 33)
B. The Functions Of the Use of the Christian Jargon
Based on the related theories, the writer finds four possible functions of the use of jargon in written or spoken communication. The first function is to strengthen certain ideas that the users want to give (Crystal, 1987:58). The second one is to confuse people outside the group so that they may not understand the meaning although they may be familiar with the words or the phrase (Dumas and Lighter,
1978). This may also mean to identify the member of a certain group or the outsiders
(Dodge, 1971:101). The third one is to impress people who hear or know the meaning for the first time. Here, it is functioned as a neologism that surprise people with new ideas (http://grcpublishing.grc.nasa.gov/wordofweekarchieve/week48.cfm ). The last one is to show disagreement toward certain ideas or groups. Here, the writer also sees that the use of the Christian jargon in the novel is sometimes more than just to show disagreement, as it sometimes sounds cynical. Therefore, it possible for the novel to use the Christian jargons to criticize certain ideas, knowledge, or even groups
(Richards,1985). In this part the writer will analyze each Christian jargon based on 52
these four functions and also tries to find out whether there is another function. The writer will also analyze whether all functions work equally in each Christian jargon.
1. Jesus
Looking at some contrast description between the novel and Christianity, The word Jesus is really used by the novel as a neologism. It is quite clearly showed that some of the descriptions of Jesus in the novel are similar to the one in Christianity.
Here Christian, which is considered to have the previous knowledge about Jesus, is surprised by some new ideas about Jesus in the novel. Christian may still agree that
Jesus is a great mortal prophet whose teaching has inspired many people to live a better life up to the present time. Yet, the idea saying that Jesus is no more than just a human being with no God-like characteristic is practically new and surprising for
Christian. Christians agree that Jesus is a human being, but in Christianity He is also the Son of God and even God Himself who manifest into human to redeem the sins of human being. In the novel, the function of the Christian jargon to surprise people is showed by the reaction of female heroine of the novel - Sophie Neuve, when Leigh
Teabing as a historian explain this new meaning to her. Later, by looking at the explanation of the jargon Mary Magdalene it can also be said that Jesus as Christian jargon is also used to identify those who have this knowledge of Holy Grail from those who are not.
“At this gathering.” Teabing said, “many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon-the date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the administration of sacraments, and of course, the divinity of Jesus.“ “I don’t follow. His divinity?” 53
“My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal’“ “Not the son of God?” (Brown, 2003: 253)
Another contrast opinion is the description in the novel saying that Jesus is married to Mary Magdalene and indeed has a daughter from their marriage. On the other hand Christian is strongly disagree with this idea because no words in the Bible give a clues that Jesus is a married man. Although Christian is agree that Jesus is truly human being, but he is also God. Thus, He has no lust or sexual desire for God cannot be simply described as a man or a woman. Christians have their own previous knowledge and description of Jesus in their Bible so that they find it difficult to understand the references saying that Jesus is married and has a daughter from that marriage. From the reaction of Sophie Neuve in the novel, it can be said that Jesus of the novel is really Christian jargon since it is used to impress people outside the novel with different ideas as a noeologism.
“But how could Christ have a bloodline unless…?” She paused and looked at Langdon. Langdon smiled softly, “unless they had a child.” Sophie stood transfixed. “Behold,” Teabing proclaimed, “the greatest cover-up in human history. Not only was Jesus Christ married, but He was a father.” “Sophie felt the hairs stand up on her arms. “But how could a secret that big be kept quiet all of these years?” (Brown, 2003: 270)
The idea of Jesus as a married man who also has a daughter from His marriage to Mary Magdalene is indeed supported by the first contrast idea of Jesus as a totally human being. Here, the novel may argue that as a normal human being Jesus must have the characteristic of human being, such as the need to be loved and having 54
a sexual desire. Thus, it is logical for Him to get married to someone He loves, and has children from the marriage. This idea is indeed explained by the novel by saying that Jesus as a Jewish man should be married for at that time celibacy is a kind of taboo.
“Moreover, Jesus as a married man makes infinitely more sense than our standard biblical view of Jesus as a bachelor.” “Why?” Sophie asked. “Because Jesus was a Jew,” Langdon said, taking over while Teabing searched for his book, “and the social decorum during that time virtually forbid a Jewish man to be unmarried. According to Jewish custom, celibacy was condemned, and the obligation for a Jewish father was to find a suitable wife for his son. If Jesus were not married, at least one of the Bible’s gospels would have mentioned it and offered some explanation for His unnatural state of bachelorhood.”(Brown, 2003: 265)
Looking at the text above, it can be seen that Jesus is really used as a
Christian jargon since the same name in the novel has other meanings, which are different from the more conventional ones in the Bible. Calling this conventional idea a standard biblical view less sensible than the one in the novel, the writer finds another function of the use of the Christian jargon-Jesus in this novel. That function is to show a disagreement, which somehow sounds more like a skeptical expression toward certain group who use the other ideas. In this case, the novel seems to against
Christianity by criticizing it quite often. Indeed, saying that the divinity of Jesus is a product of the early Christian Church makes an assumption that Christian has manipulate the true identity of Jesus. The novel strength this assumption by saying that all of the present Christian doctrine is made a Roman Emperor named
Constantine The Great in the event of Nicene Creed. 55
“It was all about power,” Teabing continued. “Christ as Messiah was critical to the functioning of Church and state.” “Many scholars claim that the early Church literally stole Jesus from His original followers, hijacking His human message, shrouding it in an impenetrable cloak of divinity and using it to expand their own power.” (Brown, 2003: 253) “What I Mean,” Teabing countered, “is that almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false” (Brown, 2003: 255)
In the passage above it is quite deliberately said that Jesus in the novel is more sensible than the conventional one in the Bible. Thus, the name is explained as it is in the novel to disagree and criticize certain group, particularly Christianity. In this case it may also used to create doubt toward any previous knowledge about
Jesus, especially the one known by Christians.
On the contrary the function of the use of the Christian jargon as a mean to confuse people outside the novel does not really work well. This is happened because the novel does not seem to exclude certain group from knowing these other new references of Jesus. In the next explanation about Mary Magdalene, it can be said that the intention of using Jesus as Christian jargon in the novel is may be to identify those who are familiar with those who are unfamiliar with the meanings. Those who are familiar with the ideas will directly confirm an agreement, while those who are unfamiliar will doubt them or yet be curious to know about them. Indeed, it reveals them one by one. Here, the perplexity caused by the ideas may only work as an effect of the use of the Christian jargon.
2. Mary Magdalene 56
Quite similar to Jesus, Mary Magdalene is also taken as Christian jargon because the name means something other than the previous standard knowledge of her. She is so famous in the novel since the her description in the novel says that she is the wife of Christ, the mother of a daughter that she has from her marriage to Jesus, and the true successor of Christian church instead of Saint Peter. These descriptions are equivalent to the ones of Jesus. Therefore, it can be said that Mary Magdalene is used as Christian jargon in the novel to strengthen the idea of Jesus as a married man.
“Who is she?” Sophie asked. That, my dear,” Teabing replied, “is Mary Magdalene.” Sophie turned. “The prostitute?” Teabing drew a short breath, as if the word had injured him personally. “Magdalene was no such a thing. That unfortunate misconception is the legacy of a smear campaign launched by the early Church. The Church needed to defame Mary Magdalene in order to cover up her dangerous secret. (Brown, 2003: 263-264)
Further, there will be a gap if Jesus is said to be married, but there is no description about His wife as He is a famous religious figure. The idea of Jesus as a married man, and as a human being is then more credible because of the presence of
His wife-Mary Magdalene. Moreover, the novel says that her name is quite familiar among Christians. In other words, the Bible has the reference about Mary Magdalene that makes her position as the wife of Christ more logical than if the Bible does not have any words of her. Logically, Mary Magdalene is said even by the Bible as the woman who accompanies Mary the mother of Christ during the crucifixion (Mathew
27: 56), and the one who becomes the witness of His resurrection (Matthew 28: 1).
Thus, following this way of thinking, she must have been such an important woman 57
for Christ. Indeed, what a more important woman for Jesus would be than the one who become His spouse, the mother of His daughter, and the successor of His church.
As the result, the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene sounds more convincing because there is the logical explanation for it.
Another function of the use of the Christian jargon in the novel is to impress people outside the novel with new ideas and meanings of certain word. Giving quite a lot of new ideas about the identity of Mary Magdalene, the Christian jargon-Mary
Magdalene works well as a neologism. Those new ideas of Mary Magdalene given by the novel can really surprise people because they may have their own previous knowledge or belief saying the contrast ones.
“The Church in order to defend itself against Magdalene’s power, perpetuated her image as a whore and buried evidence of Christ’s marriage to her, thereby defusing any potential claims that Christ had surviving bloodline and was a mortal prophet.” (Brown, 2003:274)
In fact, Christians as a group outside the novel can only recognize the name from the stories in their Bible, but they may not find the references saying about these ideas in it. The example of this knowledge gap is the idea of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, which according to the novel is intentionally made by the early Church to defame her. On the other hand, the novel as the pro-Magdalene side promotes her as the wife of Jesus Christ. This contrast idea is surprising as there is not any clue about the existence of such another description before.
“Of course, the Vatican, in keeping with their tradition of misinformation, tried very hard to suppress the release of these scrolls. And why wouldn’t they? The scrolls highlighting glaring historical discrepancies and 58
fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda-to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.” (Brown, 2003: 254) Interestingly, there is no direct Mary Magdalene stated in Christian Bible.
Thus, the idea that Church has defamed her by placing her as a prostitute can then be questioned. However, Mary Magdalene as Christian jargon is not intended to exclude people outside the group, which means that the use of the Christian jargon in the novel is not to confuse them. Here, the function of the use of the jargon is more to identify such a member of a group. In the novel, this particular group is the Holy
Grail expert (Leigh Teabing and Robert Langdon) and ordinary people (Sophie
Neuve). If there is a perplexity because of the jargon and the new ideas, it may work only as the effect of the use of the jargon toward outsiders.
As Jesus is also used to criticize and draw somebody to doubt their previous knowledge or belief, is quite logical to assume that Mary Magdalene as Christian jargon in the novel is also used to criticize and create doubt toward outsiders. The reason of this opinion is taken by looking at the way the novel explains how Mary
Magdalene was treated by Christian church. The reader may think that the novel is trying to oppose every aspect of Christianity since Christian Church has always been the main reason of why such new ideas are very unusual. The novel talks about the weakness of Christianity almost in every explanation about Mary Magdalene. For example, when the novel explains about Magdalene as the true successor of the
Church, Saint peter is described as a sexist man who was jealous of her. Such a direct criticism about the identities Mary Magdalene in Christianity is also used to express 59
disagreement toward Christianity. Another example is the elimination and condemnation of some gospels that talk about Mary Magdalene. The novel explains it as the way of the church to keep the truth of Mary Magdalene unveiled. Therefore,
The functions of the use of this name as Christian jargon to criticize and create doubt work well in the novel.
3. Constantine The Great
History regards Constantine as one of the greatest Roman emperor who ever ruled the world. In particular, Christian history admits him as the Roman emperor who held the Nicene Creed as an important event where the basic doctrines of
Christianity were established. He is also honored as the emperor whose role in developing Christianity into such a solid religious community was so great. As it has been explained before in chapter A that the same name occurs in the novel. Yet, this
Constantine does not give such a good impression as he managed the Nicene Creed more as a tool to manipulate the true fact about Jesus and Mary Magdalene for the sake of his own power.
“The fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine The Great.” “I thought Constantine was a Christian,” Sophie said. “Hardly.” Teabing scoffed. “He was a lifelong pagan who was baptized on his deathbed, too weak to protest. Constantine decided something had to be done. In 325 AD, he decided to unify Rome under a single religion. Christianity.” Sophie was surprised. “Why would a pagan emperor choose Christianity as the official religion?” (Brown, 2003: 251)
60
Since this name is not mentioned in the Bible, some Christians may not know who he is and his role in the development of Christianity. Thus, it is quite possible for someone to use the name as jargon to exclude other people of knowing the meaning.
Yet, the one in the novel does not mean to confuse people. In other words, the novel does not intend to exclude certain group so that they get confuse because of their lack of knowledge about the jargon. It indeed reveals the meanings, the references, and the ideas behind the jargon. However, the knowledge of this name does not belong only for Christians. Some other people such as religious historian may recognize him.
However, the new knowledge in the novel is indeed different that makes some people with certain previous knowledge surprise. As the other previous Christian jargon of character, the use of Constantine as Christian jargon in the novel works quite well. In the novel, Sophie Neuve represents the impressed person. Similar to the previous example of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, she is again surprised to find that Constantine is not Christian but pagan emperor. The statement saying that Constantine chose to be a Christian for the sake of Political manuver impresses her.
Teabing chuckled. “Constantine was a very good businessman. He could see that Christianity was on the rise, and he simply backed the winning horse. Sophie’s head was spinning. “And all of this relates to the Holy Grail?” (The Da Vinci Code, 2003: 252)
The role of Constantine in collecting and compiling the gospels of
Christianity that we use today is also admitted in the novel. This name is a technical word to name a person who made the first compiled modern Bible 61
“More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John among them.” “Who chose which gospels to include?” Sophie asked. “The fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine The Great.” (Brown, 2003: 251)
Nevertheless, in line with the first description that Constantine in the novel is a lifelong pagan who had made a good political maneuver using Christianity, the novel adds another idea. This idea says that he is the person who responsible for the elimination of all the uncooperative gospels, including those about Jesus and His wife-Mary Magdalene.
“Because Constantine upgraded Jesus’ status almost four centuries after Jesus’ death, thousands of document already existed chronicling His life as a mortal man. To rewrite the history books, Constantine knew he would need a bold stroke. Constantine commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ’s human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned.” “Of course, the Vatican, in keeping with their tradition of misinformation, tried very hard to suppress the release of these scrolls. And why wouldn’t they? The scrolls highlighting glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda-to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.” (Brown, 2003: 254)
As the result, the use of Constantine the Great as Christian jargon to say about Christian tradition of loving a lot of misconception in the novel works as a media to strengthen almost the whole new ideas about Jesus and His Mary
Magdalene. The logical explanation for this may come from the opinion that Church should not be afraid of the issues if they really have faith in their belief. On the other 62
hand, if the early Church were not afraid of the revealing of the issue, they did not need to burn or eliminate those gospels from the Bible. Consequently, it is assumed that the early Church have burnt and condemned those gospels because they think these issues are critical for the political agenda of convincing people that Jesus is a mortal being and that Mary Magdalene is His wife.
“Of course, the Vatican, in keeping with their tradition of misinformation, tried very hard to suppress the release of these scrolls. And why wouldn’t they? The scrolls highlighting glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda-to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.” (Brown, 2003: 254)
Moreover, from the same passage it can be seen that the novel dislikes
Christianity. The disagreements are often stated quite blatantly that make them sound cynical. Furthermore, the novel seems to always relate Constantine with the manipulative effort of the Church to set their own strong basic and power. As it is mentioned in the novel that Constantine under the flag of Christianity has chosen and compiled only the supportive gospels, Constantine as Christian jargon makes people start to doubt The Bible. This may happened because according to the novel the Bible is a product of political maneuver.
“The Church feared that if the lineage were permitted to grow, the secret of Jesus and Mary Magdalene would eventually surface and challenge the fundamental Catholic doctrine-that of a divine Messiah who did not consort with women or engage in sexual union. (Brown, 2003: 278)
In addition, the novel also sees Constantine as an emperor, who tried to strengthen men power over women that he chose to defame Mary Magdalene, 63
eliminate her role as a woman with important position in the Bible, and even provoke the doctrine that sex is a sin. Further, the non-existence of Catholic priest and quite some other female religious leader in formal religion strengthen the idea that
Constantine really wants to keep men power over women. Consequently, the issue that Jesus has given Magdalene His Church and the ones saying that Magdalene is really a defamed powerful women sounds more logical. Here, not only that the jargon strengthens the idea of the novel, but also it can make outsiders rethink the credibility of their own previous knowledge, or in particular their faith.
“Sophie,” Landon said, “the priory’s tradition of perpetuating goddess worship is based on a belief that powerful men in the early Christian Church conned the world by propagating lies that devalued the female and tipped the scales in favor of the masculine. “The priory believes that Constantine and his male successors successfully converted the world from matriarchal paganism to patriarchal Christianity by waging a campaign of propaganda that demonized the sacred feminine, obliterating the goddess from modern religion forever.” (Brown, 2003: 133)
Talking about Constantine in the novel will always refer to The Council of
Nicaea where almost the whole basic doctrines and aspects of Christianity were discussed and determined. Such an important event in Christian history is considered as a point of mistake because since then almost all of the documents connected to
Mary Magdalene and her marriage to Jesus are destroyed for the sake of manhood authority. Therefore, Constantine the Great is Christian jargon that talks about the firm power of men over women through manipulative documents-The Bible. By that, the novel seems to also use Constantine as Christian jargon to confirm the idea that
Christian Church put the role of men higher than women. 64
4. Priory of Sion
The word Priory may directly refers to certain people who choose to devote themselves in religious services by doing celibacy or living in a religious dormitory.
As it is explained before that this word is unfamiliar even from the very beginning, the novel then uses it as a neologism to impress people with surprising idea.
However, here the word Priory of Sion works more as a new word than a new meaning. The meaning of Priory of Sion is surprising first because people who read it only familiar with the word Priory. Thus, whenever it is explained that priory of Sion is not a group of monk, unfamiliar people are curious to know the next explanation.
The next explanation of priory of Sion as a secret keeper, a protector of medieval legend- Holy Grail, and the founder and army of legendary knight called the Knight
Templar are then impressing because they do not sound as religious as the common meaning of the word Priory.
“Members of the Priory,” She finally said, “all these years have answered the charge of protecting the Sangreal Documents and the tomb of Mary Magdalene?” “Yes, but the brotherhood had another, more important duty as well-to protect the bloodline itself. Christ’s lineage was in perpetual danger.” (Brown, 2003: 278)
Indeed, by using such a specific and unfamiliar name like this, Priory of Sion as Christian jargon may mean to exclude friends (the group who is in line with the idea) from the enemies (the group who tries to destroy the secret). 65
“Fearing His secret might be lost when he died, he founded a secret brotherhood-the Priory of Sion-and charged them with protecting his secret by quietly passing it on from generation to generation.” “In order to retrieve the documents from within the ruins, the priory created a military arm-a group of nine knights called the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Templar of Solomon.” Langdon paused. “More commonly known as the Knights Templar.” Sophie glanced up with a surprised look of recognition. Sophie already looked troubled. “You are saying the Knights Templar were founded by the Priory of Sion to retrieve a collection of secret documents? I thought the Templar were created to protect the Holy land.” “A common misconception. The idea of protection of pilgrims was the guise under which the Templar ran their missions.” (Brown, 2003: 271-172)
Furthermore, the idea of Priory of Sion as a secret brotherhood whose job is to protect the true identity of Mary Magdalene is also critical to support the previous idea that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Since the issue of the marriage of
Jesus and Mary Magdalene is able to insult certain group and then endanger the secret itself, it needs the role of the priory as a protector of the secret. The use of Priory of
Sion as Christian jargon can then strengthen the ideas of Jesus and Mary Magdalene because the role of such a keeper sounds pretty serious. As the result, the secret itself can also be assumed as a serious issue that needs a serious attention as the Church in the novel has always tried to destroy it.
“The modern Priory of Sion has a momentous duty. Theirs is a threefold charge. The brotherhood must protect the Sangreal documents. They must protect the tomb of Mary Magdalene. And, of course, they must nurture and protect the bloodline of Christ” (The Da Vinci Code, 2003:279)
The next function of the use of the jargon in the novel is to criticize, which mean to show disapproval of some one or something or to talk about their faults. As 66
well as the previous explanation on Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Constantine the
Great, this jargon is also used by the novel to criticize Christianity.
“But someone capable of such an attack…of discovering so much about the brotherhood…” “It could only be one force. This kind of infiltration could only have come from the Priory’s oldest enemy.” Langdon glanced up. “The Church.” “”Who else?Rome has been seeking the Grail for centuries.” Sophie was skeptical. “You think the Church killed my grandfather?” Teabing replied, “it would not be the first time in history the church has killed to protect itself. The documents that accompany the Holy Grail are explosive, and the Church has wanted to destroy them for years.” “Miss Neuve,” Teabing said, “the church and the Priory have had a tacit understanding for years. That is, the Church does not attack the Priory, and the Priory keeps the Sangreal documents hidden.” (Brown, 2003: 287-289)
Talking about Priory of Sion in the novel will always relates to their role as a secret keeper and the foe of Christian Church. The Priory is supposed to protect the secret, while the church seems to do the contrast one. The novel shows quite a strong disagreement toward Christianity, their doctrines, and especially their story about
Jesus and Mary Magdalene. In the novel, it is directly stated that the Christian Church is the old enemy of the Priory, which means that Christian Church has always opposed and even tried to diminish the Priory. It also shows how Christian arranged bad deeds in order to keep powerful by neglecting mercy and destroying anyone who is not in line with them.
“The monk’s purpose is the Church’s purpose,” Teabing replied, “to destroy the documents that reveal the great deception.” (Brown, 2003: 319)
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Saying these faults and weakness of Christianity, all of the issue about Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the novel sounds more credible. The explanation of this may sound that if such a big religious group like Christianity is able to kill people for their own benefit, they should not be trustworthy enough to tell the true story of Jesus and even Mary Magdalene. To be concluded, Priory of Sion as Christian jargon is used as a portrayal of true commitment and destructive side of Christianity.
5. Holy Grail
According to the theory of jargon it is easier for symbols to be used as jargon because symbols themselves may carry more than a meaning. Further, it is also possible to have more than one group who use the symbol. Thus, one symbol may be used by more than one group of people, in which each of them interprets the symbol differently. Consequently, if certain symbol is used by a particular group, the other groups may hardly understand the meanings although they also use the symbol in their own communication.
In general, the novel uses the jargon-Holy Grail to explain about Mary
Magdalene. The first function of the jargon-Holy Grail is to impress people, especially those who are actually familiar with the word. By giving the people new knowledge about the meaning of Holy Grail outside their previous ones, the novel can at least make people be aware of the existence of such a word. Saying the jargon again and again may result in a conviction that Holy Grail is not simply a cup that
Jesus used in the event of The last Supper, or indeed making people curious to know 68
more about it. The novel implicitly shows this aim by showing the reaction of Ms.
Sophie Neuve when the professor of Symbology first explains about Holy Grail. She may question the explanation, but still she starts to think about the possibility of other meanings behind Holy Grail.
“The Holy Grail is the cup of Christ,” she said. “How much simpler could it be?” “But if the Holy Grail is not a cup,” she asked, “What is it?” (Brown, 2003: 176) Sophie scanned the work eagerly. “Does this fresco tell us what the Grail really is?” “Not what it is,” Teabing whispered. “But rather who it is. The Holy Grail is not a thing. It is, in fact…a person.” (Brown, 2003: 256) “Who is she?” Sophie asked. “That, my dear”, Teabing replied, “is Mary Magdalene.” (Brown, 2003: 263)
Further, since the main issue of the novel is Mary Magdalene, the novel also uses Holy Grail as jargon to strengthen the idea of Mary Magdalene as the wife of
Christ, the mother of the only descendant of Christ, and the true successor of the
Christian Church.
This function works quite well as Holy Grail itself sounds Christians and has been the allegory for something that people try very hard to get yet never can. Thus related to the story in the novel saying that Church has not found Mary Magdalene-the Holy
Grail yet, it can be assumed that the idea of Holy Grail comes from Christians, and they say it so because they may have tried to find the true Grail but have not found it yet.
In addition, the novel also uses some synonym of the word Holy Grail, such as Sangreal and Sang Real. Similar to the statement of the novel, the word Sangreal 69
can be derived from the Spanish word s angre , which means blood. Although, the etymology of the word graal refers more to a wide spacious dish or carving platter of gold, which is usually used to carry salmon, still Holy Grail is more familiar with the shape of a cup or a chalice. Jesus in the event of the Last Supper said that the cup or the chalice or the grail represents His pain and blood as a redeemer for sins.
The word Sangreal derives from San Greal – or Holy Grail. But in most ancient form, the word Sangreal divided into a different spot” “Sang Real.“ “Sang Real literally meant Royal Blood.” (The Da Vinci Code, 2003: 271)
Therefore, using Holy Grail as the jargon to talk about the bloodline of Jesus can strengthen the idea that Jesus really has a descendant. To have a descendant means He has married to a woman, and that means the novel can gives another reason for the existence of Mary Magdalene as the wife of Christ.
Related to the legend of the quest for Holy Grail in medieval era, it is believed that Holy Grail has never been found yet, and neither has the secret of Mary
Magdalene according to the novel. As the result, the novel can say that Holy Grail is
Mary Magdalene because none of them have been found yet according to the novel.
Indeed, to say that Holy Grail is a woman and not a cup is considered quite relevant since the there is no cup has been found yet. Moreover, related to the meaning of
Holy Grail as an allegory for something which is very difficult to find (Gadsby 2001:
683), the novel also functions Holy Grail as Christian jargon to offend the Church.
Considering also from the previous explanation about Priory of Sion, this assumption 70
dues to the belief of the novel that Church always tries to find the Holy Grail in order to destroy it, but fail to even find a clue about the hidden place up to the present time.
The use of this Christian jargon may not mean to confuse people, but rather to make them reconsider their knowledge about the word, which in the worse cases may effect into a misleading interpretation. This may be happened, as there are more common interpretations about the word in common dictionaries, yet only few of them match with the novel. In fact, Holy Grail itself is a symbol in Christianity that
Christians may not really surprises if the word has more then one meanings. The key point is that it is indeed a quite familiar symbol in Christianity and relates directly to
Jesus and The Last Supper so that the novel can have a base for some explanations.
6. Chalice
As the literal meaning says, Chalice is a cup usually used in religious communion. In the novel, this Christian jargon is used as a neologism for it may have the effect of surprising people. Chalice is used to first catch people attention with the picture of chalice as a symbol, and new meanings that are different from the other previous meanings. As Malcolm Cowley said in his article that certain word can be imprinted by intensively repeating it (http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/pages/sentjarg.html), repeating the word “chalice” more than once can have the effect of strengthening both the usages and the ideas of the word.
Related to effect of repeating the jargon, the use of Chalice as Christian jargon can also to strengthen the ideas of both Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The use of 71
Chalice as Christian jargon may work in the novel first because some logical explanation sounds that the form or the shape of the literal chalice is actually quite representative to be used as symbol for the womb of a woman. As almost most
it is quite logical to refer it to the womb of ,(٧ ) chalice shape like an inverted triangle a woman. Consequently, it is quite logical to refer a chalice to the womb of a woman although the present familiar symbol for woman ( ♀) may not be called chalice.
Moreover, having the literal meaning of a cup used in Christian religious services, the word chalice sounds sacred. Thus, if a chalice is sacred and symbolizes
Mary Magdalene, that means Mary Magdalene is also sacred. Indeed, when a chalice talks about a womb of a special woman named Mary Magdalene, and Jesus says that the cup in the Last Supper is filled with His blood, the novel can directly explain that the womb of Mary Magdalene has been filled with the blood of Jesus. This means that Jesus and Mary Magdalene have got a child, which indicates that they also have a love affair. By that, the novel can explain and confirm the idea of the marriage of
Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Having love affair is one characteristic of a human being, thus the use of the jargon Chalice also confirms the idea of Jesus as a mortal human.
However, the novel also quite blatantly explains that the use of the word- chalice to talk about Mary Magdalene means to hide the actual meanings of the word by directly use unfamiliar word. As the novel believes that the Church will always try to have and destroy Mary Magdalene, it says that the use of chalice to say about anything refer to Mary Magdalene is an allegory to protect the hidden meaning. To 72
use something as an allegory means that something is used to represent ideas.
Therefore, by using chalice as Christian jargon in the novel, it can explain the idea of
Mary Magdalene quite smoothly as the jargon also function as an allegory. Indeed, the novel also states that the use of the jargon as an allegory can keep people outside the group confuse as there is a gap of knowledge between them.
“But the Grail’s description as a chalice is actually an allegory to protect the true nature of the Holy Grail. That is to say, the legend uses the chalice as a metaphor for something far more important.” “A woman,” Sophie said. (Brown, 2003: 258)
The use of chalice as Christian jargon in the novel may also be intended to show disagreement toward Christianity. Indeed, it seems that the novel use it to make joke with Christianity because chalice is known as one of a sacred tool in Christian, in particular Catholic Holy Communion, while in the novel the word is interpreted as the womb of a woman whom the church try to destroy. In other words, the churches have unconsciously celebrated Mary Magdalene by using chalice in Holy
Communion and considering it the cup of Jesus. In the novel, there is some statements saying that Christianity is quite a product of copying another religion that worship Mary Magdalene as a goddess.
“Transmogrification,” Langdon said. “The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disk became the halos of Catholic saints. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual-the miter, the altar, the doxology, and communion, the act of God eating-were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.” (Brown, 2003: 252)
7. Blade 73
Looking at the shape of the symbol, blade is exactly the opposite form of chalice. If a chalice is shaped like an inverted triangle, a blade may shape like a
Similar to chalice, blade is Christian jargon in the .(٨ ) triangle with two same legs novel refers to the counterpart symbol of woman. Blade in the novel is a symbol for manhood, which is quite logical as the present symbol for men also has a quite similar shape (♂). Here the novel may use the jargon to get people have interest in it by amuse them by showing the picture of blade as a symbol, and explaining its meaning as jargon. The novel may think that by amusing people with symbols, the novel can use the idea of the symbols to convince the idea of the novel, especially the one related to Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ.
Langdon motioned to the papyrus in her hand. “Your husband’s poem speaks specifically of Rosslyn, except it also mentions a blade and chalice watching over the Grail.” “The blade represents all that is masculine. I believe it is drawn like this, no?” Using her index finger, she traced a shape on her palm. ▲ “And the inverse.” She said, drawing again on her palm, “is the chalice, which represents the feminine.” ▼▼▼ “Correct,” Langdon said. “There you are, Mr. Langdon. The blade and the chalice.”(Brown, 2003:
480)
Moreover, the replication of both symbols (chalice and blade) in the novel seems to say that both of them are important. Looking at the ending part of the novel, both symbols become the key point to break the code of the place where the Holy
Grail is hidden. It seems like both symbols conclude all mysteries of the secret code of Da Vinci. It is said in the novel that the Grail lies beneath the chalice and the 74
blade. Indeed, at the final part, the professor of symbology find out that the Grail is really lied down beneath these symbols. Therefore, the use of these symbols as
Christian jargon work to confirm the idea of Holy Grail in the novel.
Langdon stopped short, mute with amazement as it dawned on him. The blade and chalice. Fused as one. The star of David…the perfect union of male and female…Solomon’s seal…marking the Holy of Holies, where the male and female deities-Yahwe and Shekinah-were thought to dwell. Langdon needed a minute to find his words. “The verse does point here to Rosslyn. Completely. Perfectly.” Marie smiled. “Apparently.” The implication chilled him. “So the Holy Grail is in the vault beneath us?” She laughed. “Only in spirit. One of the priory’s most ancient charges was one day to return the grail to her homeland of France where she could rest for eternity.” (Brown, 2003: 481)
If blade is counterpart symbol for chalice, there is a possibility that the references of both symbols have the same characteristic. The novel uses both chalice and blade because they symbolize a spouse or a couple consists of man and woman or male and female. As chalice refers to Mary Magdalene, the novel can then say that she has a couple because blade is the counterpart symbol for chalice. This reference is then used to confirm the ideas of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene as a spouse, a married couple indeed.
In the novel, the professor of symbology explains about the meanings of the blade before chalice because etymologically blade may be more familiar than chalice.
The upward pointed triangle shape of blade somehow really shape like a sword, thus it is quite easier to accept the meanings of the jargon blade. As it is explained din the novel, if blade shapes like an upward triangle, logically chalice has the opposite 75
shape, which is the inverted one. Thus, the existence of the jargon blade confirms the existence of the jargon chalice. Further, as chalice refers to the womb of Mary
Magdalene that carries the descendant of Jesus Christ, the existence of the jargon blade indirectly confirms the existence of Mary Magdalene as the chalice.
At the end of the tunnel, he emerged into a large chamber. Directly before him, hanging down from above, gleamed the inverted pyramid-a breathtaking V-shaped contour of glass. The Chalice. Langdon’s eyes traced its narrowing form downward to its tip, suspended only six feet above the floor. There directly beneath it, stood the tiny structure. A miniature pyramid. Only three feet tall. The only structure in this colossal complex that had been built on a small scale. Illuminated in the soft lights of the deserted entresol, the two pyramids pointed atone another, their bodies perfectly aligned, their tips almost touching. The chalice above. The Blade below. (Brown, 2003: 488)
As chalice and blade are the opposite shapes one another, there is a quite interesting finding about them, which actually has also been stated quite literally by the novel. It is that when chalice and blade is combined, they can make a shape of a star. Jewish named this kind of star the Star of David. It is the star that leads the three wise men to meet baby Jesus, by Jewish because it connects to the symbol of the ancient Jewish king Solomon. Looking at this connection, it confirms the idea that chalice and blade are really a couple and thus confirms also the marriage of Jesus and
Mary Magdalene. Representing the event of creation the Star of David that is built from a chalice and blade makes more sense
(http://www.kwu.edu/campuslife/woodcarvings). As an attribute for God - His power, wisdom, majesty, love and mercy, the idea that Chalice (with three points) as the jargon for holy woman- Mary Magdalene may complete the Blade (with other three 76
points) as the jargon for masculine God. Thus, the combination of Chalice and Blade makes a complete representation of God. As the Star of David stands for creation, the chalice as the womb that bring life (reproductive ability) seems more logic to cooperate with blade and create new life.
8. Rose
Rose is widely used as both a symbol and allegory. It is indeed a common symbol and allegory for womanhood, love, femininity, or anything related to beauty.
There in The Da Vinci Code , the novel seems to use the word as Christian jargon to first amuse people with certain new meanings about rose. By introducing rose as
Christian jargon, explaining some other new meanings behind the word or symbol, and repeating the new references again and again inside the story, the novel can at least give unfamiliar people some new knowledge to be thought about.
“The fleur-de-lis,” Langdon said, “combined with the initial P.S, that is the brotherhood’s official device. Their coat of arms. Their logo.” (Brown, 2003: 121) “The Fleur-de-lis…The flower of Lisa… The Mona Lisa. It was all intertwined, a silent symphony echoing the deepest secrets of the Priory of Sion and Leonardo da Vinci.” (Brown, 2003: 123)
By replicating Rose as Christian jargon, the novel can confirm the new ideas of Rose to the more common knowledge so that the tie between them becomes firmer.
The word rose is then specified into certain kind of rose named Fleur-de-lis, the five petals rose. 77
Langdon stared in wonderment at the lid’s hand carved inlay-a five petal rose. “The five petal rose,” he whispered, “is the Priory symbol for the Holy Grail.” (Brown, 2003: 207) “Exactly. In Priory symbolism, the Rose and the Grail are synonymous.” “That’s strange, because my grandfather always told me the Rose meant secrecy. “Sub Rosa,” Langdon said. “The Romans hung a rose over meetings to indicate the meeting was confidential. Attendees understood that whatever was said under the rose-or sub rosa-had to remain a secret.” Langdon qyickly explained that the Rose’s overtone of secrecy was not only the reason the Priory used it as a symbol for the Grail. Rosa Rugosa, one of the oldest species of rose, had five petals and pentagonal symmetry, just like the guiding star of Venus, giving the Rose strong iconographic ties to womanhood.” (Brown, 2003: 219)
This jargon may also be used to criticize or worse to ridicule Christianity.
The concept of Mary Magdalene as the rose, the holy woman in Christianity is quite new. Although the use of rose to symbolize holy women such as the Virgin Mary mother of Christ and some other saints is quite familiar, still the reference saying that
Magdalene is also a part of those women using the symbol rose is unfamiliar.
Therefore, the novel seems to put the holy mother of Jesus in an equal status with the woman whom the church called a prostitute, in spite of the fact that no words in the bible directly say that this Magdalene is a prostitute. The use of the Christian jargon - rose to speak of Magdalene is fine since rose is not a symbol specifically used only for the Virgin Mary. In other words, the novel may say that Christianity has unconsciously worship Mary Magdalene through the worship to the holy mother
Mary. 78
“In addition Rose had close ties to the concept of true direction and navigating one’s way. The Compass Rose helped travelers navigate, as did Rose lines, the longitudinal lines on map. For this reason, the Rose was a symbol that spoke of the Holy Grail on many levels-secrecy, womanhood, and guidance-the feminine chalice and guiding star that led to secret truth.” (Brown, 2003: 220)
Moreover, rose can also be used to strengthen the idea of Mary Magdalene in the novel since Mary Magdalene is a woman, her role as a mother of the child of
Christ is also a part of womanhood, and rose also ties closely to both references in general. In addition, the novel seems to use the reference of rose as Mary Magdalene to make joke with Christianity, because there is no reference given by the Church in the Bible that claims her as a prostitute. However, the statement saying that rose ties closely to the genitalia of a woman also sounds quite logical since rose often talks about women, femininity, and maybe also their sex life.
“Rose,” Langdon added, is also an anagram of Eros, the Greek God of sexual love.” Sophie gave him a surprised look as Teabing plowed on. “The rose has always been the premiere symbol of female sexuality. In primitive goddess cults, the five petals represented the five stations of female life-birth, menstruation, motherhood, menopause, and death. And in modern times, the flowering rose’s ties to womanhood are considered more visual.” “What Robert is fumbling with is the fact that the blossoming flower resembles the female genitalia, the sublime blossom from which all mankind enters the world. And if you’ve ever seen any paintings by Georgia O Keeffe, you’ll know exactly what I mean.” “The Priory of Sion, to this day still worships Mary Magdalene as the Goddess, the Holy Grail, the Rose, and the Divine Mother.” (Brown, 2003: 275)
Indeed, such an important figure like the holy mother Mary is also symbolized with a rose (Unger, 1993). Thus, it is quite fine fro the novel to use rose 79
as the symbol for Mary Magdalene and say that she is a goddess in the Bible. In addition, the shape of a special symbol called Fleur-De-Lis does not shape like a rose, but a lily indeed. It also symbolize the Virgin Mary, but by saying that is a rose seems to once again put Magdalene in an equal place with Mary the mother of Christ. Thus, the idea of Mary Magdalene as a holy woman, who deserves to be symbolized by a rose, is confirmed and strengthened.
9. Pentacle
Pentacle as Christian jargon has a more familiar name called Pentagram, which also literary means five-pointed star that signs the use of magic (Gadsby, 2001:
1047). In the novel it is interpreted as the symbol of goddess worship, a pagan symbol that has been used in many decorative craft stone even inside the Church.
Having five-pointed shape Pentacle makes a quite clear relation to the five petal rose- the fleur de lis that become the official symbol of the Priory. The five-petal rose is the representation of the five cycles in womanhood (Brown, 2003: 41). Thus, the use of the jargon Pentacle has indirectly confirmed the idea shared by the jargon rose about
Mary Magdalene. The use of the word Pentacle as Christian jargon in the novel is also functioned to attract the attention of the unfamiliar people as they see different meanings of Pentacle, which may sound quite mysterious before as it relates closely to magical rites.
Looking also at the fact that so many ancient religions have made Pentacle as a tribute for a goddess, Pentacle is considered quite a sacred symbol. For example, the 80
ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty is represented in a form of Eastern Star-a
Pentacle. Therefore, making Pentacle as a symbol and a jargon to say about a sacred woman in the Bible named Mary Magdalene sounds quite fine as it is sacred and many other goddesses use the same jargon or symbol.
Indeed, related to the meaning of pentacle saying that it is a symbol in magical worship, Pentacle is actually quite magical. Using a mathematical logic called the number PHI, Pentacle can be explained quite scientifically that it sounds quite magical. The number PHI (1,618) is a proportion that exists even in the law of nature and in human body. So amazing is the proportion that Leonardo Da Vinci applied it in his famous Vitruvian Man. Interestingly, once Leonardo Da Vinci also found that
Pentacle is also made based on this proportion. Meaning to say that when people draw Pentacle, they will directly divide it with the same proportion based on the number PHI. As the result, Pentacle is considered sacred and used to describe perfect ness, and beauty in general. The use of pentacle as a tribute to Venus-an ancient
Greek goddess of love and beauty is one of the example (Brown, 2003: 40). Because of this mathematical logic explanation, Pentacle is used quite effectively to strengthen the idea of Mary Magdalene in the novel.
To explain this, the writer should first see that the novel really believes in
Mary Magdalene as the goddess in the Bible. On the other hand, Pentacle is jargon and a symbol for quite many goddesses (Isis, Isthar, Astarte, Venus) of ancient religions, in which all of them closely relate to beauty. Thus, to use Pentacle as jargon that refers to Mary Magdalene can confirm the existence of the goddess. Having the 81
same characteristic as defamed symbol and figure makes a closer connection between
Pentacle as jargon or symbol and Mary Magdalene as the object. Pentacle is considered heretic by the church because it relates with magical rites, while Mary
Magdalene is defamed because she is married to Jesus Christ.
10. The Last Supper
The Last Supper as one of important events in the Bible clearly refers to Jesus and His cup, which He uses to symbolize His blood and pain. Whenever People speak of Holy Grail, this event will be directly mentioned as the event when the Holy Grail appears in the Bible. Thus, the Last supper is quite a tribute for the existence of the
Holy Grail-The Cup of Christ. Using The Last Supper as Christian jargon means to use it as a media to confirm the existence of an object called Holy Grail.
However, it seems that in the novel The Last supper by Leonardo Da Vinci gets the most attention than the Last Supper as an event. Despite some speculations that Leonardo has really been playful with the church, some awkwardness of the fresco has been quite confusing for unfamiliar people. The Last Supper as a fresco shows thirteen cups instead of one cup that is believed to be the Holy Grail. Thus, unfamiliar people cannot really decide which one is the true Holy Grail-the Cup of
Christ. In this case, the Last Supper as Christian jargon function to confuse unfamiliar people about the true Holy Grail whether it is really a cup or not. 82
Moreover, when people talk about a fresco entitled The Last Supper, they will easily relate it with Leonardo Da Vinci-the creator of this masterpiece. In the novel, the name-Leonardo Da Vinci is interesting and gets a lot of attention firstly because the novel is titled with his name. Using the word “code”, the author makes the title-
The Da Vinci Code itself literally sounds mysterious as code means a hidden secret behind certain words or numbers. Thus, when it is related to the masterpieces of
Leonardo Da Vinci it will lead to mention some of his, which one of them entitled
The Last Supper. The next assumption then says that this masterpiece hides certain secret, and the most possible secret that can be guessed is Holy Grail. There, The Last
Supper as jargon works to amuse people with certain surprising things. In this case it is more eye-catching because it has some sense of mystery with the use of the word
“code”.
Related to the statement of the novel saying that Mary Magdalene is really exist in this fresco, the novel seems to use this fresco to prove and to confirm the existence of Mary Magdalene together with her role as the wife of Christ. Giving quite a lot of explanations about some awkwardness in the fresco-the position of
Jesus sitting, the speculation of Saint John as Mary Magdalene, the attitude of Jesus toward the figure that is considered as Mary Magdalene or Saint John, really strengthen the idea of Mary Magdalene. Therefore, the novel functions the Last
Supper as Christian jargon to both show agreement toward the idea of the marriage of
Jesus and Mary Magdalene and to confirm it. Despite the fact that the fresco itself has been renovated for more than three times, still by using a real thing like the fresco to 83
be the evidence for the issue of Mary Magdalene and Jesus makes the explanation of the idea firmer.
In addition, it may also be used as jargon to tease the Church as they unconsciously show the fresco of the Last supper-the solid evidence of Mary
Magdalene inside a church, and tributes it as an important Christian masterpiece that takes Jesus as the theme. In other words, the Church has actually looked for something, which has already showed in front of their eyes. Yet, they have not found it up to the present time, so that the believers of Mary Magdalene may have a quite bigger chance to tell the secret about Mary Magdalene. 82
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
From the analysis, it can be seen that among ten words that are considered as
Christian jargon, some of them are actually a quite common word, despite the fact that those words become Christian jargon with a very different meaning for different characters in the same novel-The Da Vinci Code . Later, because of this information gap and doubled knowledge, the use of the jargon can show its effect.
From the analysis, the writer has classified the religious jargon into two groups based its strongest reference. They are jargon that refer to a certain character or group of people (religion/belief), and jargon related with certain symbols in Christianity.
The words that become Christian jargon in the first category are Jesus, Mary
Magdalene, Constantine the Great, and Priory of Sion. The first three refer to a special character in Christianity, while the last one refers to a certain group that seems to have a Christian basic. In the next category there are Rose, Holy Grail, Chalice,
Blade, Pentacle or Pentagram, and The Last Supper. The first five refers to a real symbol with the same name outside the novel, which also used as Christian jargon in the novel. The last Supper as the final Christian jargon in this thesis, refers to a famous fresco and certain event that also functions as a symbol.
Looking at the analysis, it can be said that almost all of the meanings or references of the Christian jargon in the novel are new. They have some meanings
83
that are unfamiliar and quite unintelligible that can cause a perplexity. Interestingly, some of the Christian jargon in this thesis may not be Christian jargon outside the novel. For example, the word Jesus seems to hide no new meanings other than the ones known by Christians. Therefore it can be concluded that there is another type of jargon called the Christian jargon of the novel. This means that those words become
Christian jargon when it is used in the novel.
In general, the use of the Christian jargon in the novel - The Da Vinci Code is in line with the theories of the use of the jargon. Almost all of the Christian jargon in the novel are used to first amuse and surprised unfamiliar people with new meanings or ideas. The Christian jargon in the novel functions as a neologism that may impress people with quite unintelligible references, meanings, or ideas behind certain words.
Indeed some words of Christian jargon really have controversial meaning, such as
Mary Magdalene as the wife of Christ, and true successor of His Church. Another example is the jargon Holy Grail. From the very beginning, both the literal and common meanings of the word or the symbol Holy Grail refer to a noun, a cup, or a chalice indeed. This word is then work well as neologism as rarely would it be interpreted as a person, a woman, and a human being.
The next function of the jargon is to confirm certain ideas that the novel wants to share. Here, the central idea that becomes the major concern of the novel in using the
Christian jargon is the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the issue that Mary
Magdalene was married to Jesus Christ. From the analysis, it can be said that all of the Christian jargon in this thesis functions as a media to strengthen and confirm the
84
idea of that controversial marriage in Christianity. Thus, the answer for the question
“Did Jesus Marry Mary Magdalene?” is positively answered by the Christian jargon in the novel. As the example, Jesus as Christian jargon confirms the existence of a special woman that becomes His wife, as He is a mortal being. On the other hand,
Mary Magdalene as Christian jargon strengthens the idea that Jesus is a mortal being and a married man, as a normal human being should have been married or at least has an affair with his counterpart.
The other major functions of the use of the Christian jargon found in the analysis are to show disagreement toward certain idea or certain group and to identify the member of the supportive group. Here, the disagreement is showed more toward
Christianity through indirect criticism about the doctrines, the belief and other aspects of Christianity that are connected to the issue of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. For example, by using Constantine the Great the novel seems to share a disagreement toward the patriarchal system in Christian, in particular Catholic churches.
The Christian jargon in the novel is also indirectly used to identify those who are in line with the idea of the novel and those who are not. The clear example for this is the use of the jargon Holy Grail and Mary Magdalene. The novel through the historian character says that those who are unfamiliar with the idea of Magdalene as the Holy Grail is called the Holy Grail virgin. However, the use of the Christian jargon in the novel does not mean to avoid people of knowing the meanings, but more to make them aware of the existence of those new meanings.
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