Thinking activity of The Da Vinchi Code by Dan Brown

                  The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Here is the link of given task by Dr.Dilip Barad : Click Here 

  

Post viewing task :-

 ( 1 ) Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says that his book The Da Vinci Code is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith."

Ans. 

This novel ' The Da Vinci Code' is very famous and best selling novel by Dan Brown. This novel we can read to way, first as we study as per protagonist Robert so we can find that this book and the protagonist of the novel both presented full of religious things. on the other side the villain Leigh Teabing is atheist. He try to open the secret and he wants freedom not god, he try to destroy the faith. so this way this novel is Anti - Christian also. But the protagonist of the novel is follow the christian religious till the end and not ravel the truth of the Grail so it is introspection and exploration of our faith. 

( 2 ) (If)You have studied ‘Genesis’ (The Bible), ‘The Paradise Lost’ (John Milton) and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (Dan Brown). Which of the narrative/s seem/s to be truthful? Whose narrative is convincing to the contemporary young mind?

Ans.  The narrative of 'The Da Vinci Code' is more convincing rather than 'Genesis' and 'The Paradise Lost'. Because in 'Genesis' we find much about Christianity and women portrayed at some level inferior to men and in 'The paradise Lost' Milton try to give voice to Eve but though Christianity or the people of at that time or still now also people blame on Eve ( or Women ) that she is the downfall or responsible for any causes. on the other side in The Da Vinci Code woman character present well, very confident and knowledgeable. And the story gave open ended end . So it is good and through conspiracy theory story force to doubt on our thinking process that god is also normal man . So through this kind of narrative this story of Da vinci Code provide some rational idea.But the documentary on this film also prove that this narrative of the novel is not true. It is made for the novel. Many scholars proved well in the documentary.  

( 3 )  What harm has been done to humanity by the biblical narration or that of Milton’s in The Paradise Lose? What sort of damage does narrative like ‘The Vinci Code’ do to humanity?

Ans. AS we know that any religions can be reason for damage of society, because people killed each other on the name of religion or god. Same things we find in the Milton's paradise lost in which we find that how Christianity controls people and specially ruled on women. Churches and pope and Bishop only had power  even artist and women had no freedom to do something. Same way in Da Vinci code we find that many women can be killed on the name of god, Silas who follow religion blindly and that's why he did four murders for the Grill and gave hard punishment for himself also. So it's show that how religion can control human mind, Silas can't think beyond God even he had not humanity also. So this way the narrative of The Da Vinci code damage the humanity.  At some point movie or novel deconstruct the idea of god but end is religious. 

( 4 )  What difference do you see in the portrayal of 'Ophelia' (Kate Winslet) in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, 'Elizabeth' (Helena Bonham Carter) in Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or 'Hester Prynne' (Demi Moore) in Roland Joffé's The Scarlet Letter' or David Yates's 'Harmione Granger' (Emma Watson) in last four Harry Potter films - and 'Sophie Neuve' (Audrey Tautau) in Ron Howard's The Da Vinci Code? How would justify your answer?

Ans. In Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet we find that the character of Ophelia is very sensitive,  she don't use her mind. Patriarchy is there. She always under the care of her father, brother. Time and again she insulted by Hamlet also. In Frankenstein we find that Elizabeth used as typical women for sexuality and as a need, that's why end of the movie is also effective that how hero and the villain fight for her.She is helpless. Hester Prynne also had no voiceless. But as compare to all Sophie Neuve is very much hard working, intellectual character. on the other side we can say that she is brave but still she took the help of Robert and then she can solved the mystery and reach at the end point. But through the character of Sophie presented this main idea  “Feminine Sacredness”  well. Through her appearance , behavior and mind.

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

Ans.  Yes, when we see the whole novel at that time we find that this novel beautifully ask some questions that what is Christianity? about church and Holly Grail, Sarcophagus of Mary Magdalene etc. At the end we find that sophie is the bloodline of the Mary and Jesus. So we can also think that Ram and Krishna all are the bloodline of one human no any god . Now a days people blindly follows the saints and sadhus as a god's messenger or like a swarrop of God in form of Murtipooja, or Gadipati. But they all are like a simple human being. on various religious book are also written by some human as part of stories .

( 6 ) Explain Ann Gray’s three propositions on ‘knowability’ with illustrations from the novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

a.       1) Identifying what is knowable 
b.      2) identifying and acknowledging the relationship of the knower and the known
c.      3) What is the procedure for ‘knowing’?

Ans. There are four knowability are there. Here in the novel "  I don't know what i don't know". All characters are well knowledgeable but they can't know the truth. First Sophie her self not know that she is a part of this Holly Grail, bloodline etc. second Robert as a good professor not understand this matter and that's why he ask for help of Teabing. Then Le - Teabing can't see the Sophie present on her eyes and he doubting on them. And character of Silas without knowing the truth killed so many people. So knowing the truth is very difficult. Sometimes things are on our eyes or in front of us but before the time or without rational mind we can't see it or reaches to the right path.So some time our inner call or intuitive knowledge  is important .

                                                                                        Thanks.