Definition of Term INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

There are some reviews which are talking about Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and the writer will discuss three reviews. The first one is a review by Valerie MacEwan in PopMatters website which was published on March 2003 entitled Try Putting This Book Down. This review discusses about how The Da Vinci Code has intriguing fictional background and two major components that will always create popularity which are the myths surrounding the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. This novel combines myth and reality and combines into a great composition. The conclusion of the story seems to successfully answer many of the myths, which is why even though the book is fiction, it is hard for one not to believe a lot of it. The Da Vinci code will probably create an unintentional effect, and that is the trend to reanalyze many of the wrong biblical interpretations and misquotes which are often misused in churches to gain financial and political power. This, the writer notes, is a very accurate speculation, with the emergence of so many books that attempted to debunk The Da Vinci Code, forgetting that the novel is a fictional work http:www.popmatters.combooksreviewsdda-vinci- code.shtml. The second review is by W. R. Greer. In his article The Da Vinci Code is Intelligent and Fun, W. R. Greer praises the book for the ingenuity in the character design. Each character brings clarity to the story, makes the story easily 6 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI understood by even those who know nothing about the international cultures and the myths regarding the Holy Grail, and at the same time presents a critical statement regarding each of the cultures involved. The scenario in this novel brings a story of global proportions that makes the conspiracy theories around the secret societies and religious groups seem perfectly believable to the readers. Mystery thrillers are weaved around clumsily-made-characters. This usually creates defects in the storyline. However, W. R. Greer sees the Da Vinci Code as one novel that successfully brings about a beautiful storyline with effective use of characters http:www.reviewsofbooks.comda_vinci_codereview. In the next review, Spinning a Thriller from the Louvre by Janet Maslin of the New York Times issued on March 17, 2003, The Da Vinci Code is analyzed from the point of the story telling. Dan Brown, says her, has fine tuned the story to blockbuster perfection. She even compares the story telling prowess of the novel to the Harry Potter series, and praises it for it for its ability to take readers through a breathless chase and leading them through flawlessly crafted plot twists. The novel makes models of the mysterious Leonardo Da Vinci, whose whole life is riddled with symbols and secrets, and the late Saunière of the 19 th century, and takes the readers into a thrilling ride in solving the mysteries of the Knights Templar and The Priory of Zion. It then draws reader to controversies around the Opus Dei of the Vatican and the Gnostics and taps into the core of worldwide religious conspiracy theory. When the characters draw shocking conclusions, the readers too are surprised. Turns after turns of twists finally bring the main characters to the close of all the mysteries and the answer of all the questions that 7