Controversy About The Marriage Of Jesus In Dan Brown’s Novel The Da Vinci Code

CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF JESUS IN DAN BROWN’S NOVEL THE DA VINCI CODE

A PAPER

BY

JEFRY ANDREAS REG. NO. 122202021

DIPLOMA – III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDY

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA MEDAN

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I am JEFRY ANDREAS, declare that I am the sole of author of this paper. Except whore reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper contains no material published elsewhere of extracted in whole or in part from a paper by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.

No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of this paper. This paper has not been submitted for the word of another degree in any tertiary education.

Signed :

COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

Name : Jefry Andreas

Title of Paper : CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF

JESUS IN DAN BROWN’S NOVEL THE DA VINCI

CODE

Qualification : D-III/Ahli Madya

Study Program : English

I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the discretion of the Librarian of the Diploma III English Department Faculty of Letters USU on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the Republic of Indonesia.

Signed :

ABSTRACT

The title of this paper is Controversy about the Marriage of Jesus found in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. This paper discusses about the issue of the marriage of Jesus. The Da Vinci Code is taken as the context of this paper because of its controversy. The limits of writing this paper are the controversy in novel and some responses from Christian figures. The writer uses the library research methods and sources are taken from several books related the topic. The writer also concludes that the Dan Brown’s conclusions about the marriage of Jesus in the novel are frivolous.

ABSTRAK

Judul dari kertas karya ini adalah Controversy about the Marriage of Jesus found in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Kertas karya ini membahas tentang isu pernikahan Yesus. The Da Vinci Code diambil sebagai konteks dari kertas karya ini dikarenakan oleh kontroversi yang dihasilkannya. Batasan-batasan dalam penulisan kertas karya ini adalah kontroversi yang terdapat didalam novel dan beberapa tanggapan dari para tokoh kekristenan. Penulis menggunakan metode penelitian kepustakaan dan hasil-hasil yang diperoleh dari berbagai buku yang berhubungan dengan topik. Penulis juga menyimpulkan bahwa segala kesimpulan Dan Brown tentang pernikahan Yesus didalam novel dibuat dengan sembrono.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank to my Father, Jesus Christ, for all the blessing and giving me health, strength, and inspiration to finish this paper as one of the requirements to get Diploma III certificate from English Diploma Study Program, University of North Sumatera.

Then, I would like to express a deep gratitude, love and appreciation to the dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies, Drs. Syahron Lubis, M.A. and the head of Diploma III English Study Program, Dr. Matius C.A. Sembiring, M.A. who gives me a lot of knowledge about doing in this paper. I would like to express my special gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Roswita Silalahi, M.Hum. for her time, advice and guidance to correct this paper during the process of writing and thanks to Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum as my reader. I also wish to thank all of the lecturers in English Diploma Study Program for giving me the instruction, tuition, and knowledge.

I would like to say thank to my lovely family especially to my beloved single parent, Enny Harty Tampubolon, Amd. Thank for all your motivations, advices, prays and loves to me. I present this paper for you. Thank to my one and only sister, Lisa Theodora Lastiur Runtu for your support and love. I always pray to you for your study.

I would like to say thank to my close and crazy boys (Gilang Tirta Arya, Rahmat Fuad Siregar, Yogi Julian Pratama, Riko Syahputra, Bobby Loy Turangan,

Budi Halim Lubis, Ferdinan Wilhart Siagian, Muhammad Dhuha, Eka Wardhana, Fiqri Hanafiah and Onward Felix), my wonderful girls (Lisha Tantina Hasibuan, Nina Fitriani, Elsha Gustika, Intan Karunia, Lara Rizqy Yoriza, Shella Novianti, Yuni Asyifah, Nanda Yustika, Wardha Una, and Tary Navais) and my beautiful neighbours (Soraya Claudia Lubis and Annisa). Thanks for all your supports, cares and other things that help me to complete this paper. Thank you for the togetherness during our study. I love you all and I will be missing all days we spent together in campus.

I would like to say thank to all my friends (SOLIDAS 2012), my juniors (SOLIDAS 2013 and 2014), and my seniors in Diploma III English Study Program. I am sorry I can not mention all of your names one by one. I will not forget your supports.

I also do not forget to express sincere thanks to my best friend ever, Chindi Maria Fransisca Sagala (King of ‘B’). Thank you for your support, laugh and smile which take out my tired.

Finally, I do realize that this paper is still far from being perfect. Therefore, I welcome any constructive critics and suggestions for making it better. Hopefully this paper can inspire and give knowledge for anyone in the future.

Medan, 2015

The writer

Reg.No. 122202021 Jefry Andreas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ... i

COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ... ii

ABSTRACT ... iii

ABSTRAK ... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vii

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Study ... 1

1.2 Problem of Study ... 4

1.3 Purpose of Study ... 4

1.4 Scope of Study ... 4

1.5 Method of Study……… ... 5

1.6 Reason for Choosing Topic ... 5

2. Review of Related Literature 2.1 Novel ... 6

2.2 Jesus in the Bible as Literature... 8

2.3 Marriage in the Bible as Literature ... 10

2.4 Christian in Bible as Literature. ... 13

3. The Controversy and The Responses 3.1 The Marriage of Jesus in The Da Vinci Code ... 15

3.2 The Responses of Christian Figures ... 19

4. Conclusions and Suggestions 4.1 Conclusions ... 25

4.2 Suggestions ... 26

References ... 28

Appendices 1. Dan Brown’s Biography ... 30

ABSTRACT

The title of this paper is Controversy about the Marriage of Jesus found in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. This paper discusses about the issue of the marriage of Jesus. The Da Vinci Code is taken as the context of this paper because of its controversy. The limits of writing this paper are the controversy in novel and some responses from Christian figures. The writer uses the library research methods and sources are taken from several books related the topic. The writer also concludes that the Dan Brown’s conclusions about the marriage of Jesus in the novel are frivolous.

ABSTRAK

Judul dari kertas karya ini adalah Controversy about the Marriage of Jesus found in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Kertas karya ini membahas tentang isu pernikahan Yesus. The Da Vinci Code diambil sebagai konteks dari kertas karya ini dikarenakan oleh kontroversi yang dihasilkannya. Batasan-batasan dalam penulisan kertas karya ini adalah kontroversi yang terdapat didalam novel dan beberapa tanggapan dari para tokoh kekristenan. Penulis menggunakan metode penelitian kepustakaan dan hasil-hasil yang diperoleh dari berbagai buku yang berhubungan dengan topik. Penulis juga menyimpulkan bahwa segala kesimpulan Dan Brown tentang pernikahan Yesus didalam novel dibuat dengan sembrono.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

History, mystery, and fact of the life are always interested to be discussed. This is not only because everyone has his or her own life in various ways, but also because life has its answer for each individual question. Therefore, life and literature have a close connection.

Literature can be defined as the attempt to describe human experience by means of written language. The authors can convey their expression of ideas or mind and their imagination of life to the readers through literary works. Taylor (1981: 1) says, “Literature like other arts is essentially an imagination act of the writer’s imagination in selecting, ordering, and interpreting life experience.”

Thus , literary work is able to enlarge human knowledge about life, social problems, and philosophy because there are some literary works describe certain situation and illustrate something important for us, as Rene Wellek and Austen (1956:111) states that,

“To be sure, literature can be treated as a document in the history of ideas and philosophy, for literature parallels and intellectual history. Frequently either explicit statements of allusion show the allegiance of a poet to a specific philosophy once well known or at least that he is aware of their general assumption.”

Literature, as a discipline, has its own characters, which makes it different from other disciplines. It has literary elements, which convey direct object of sense and perception such as color, shape, and texture. Literature also has its complex

expression of actions, characters, setting, point of view, and style. These elements arranged in such a way in order to make sense and have a direct relation to actual life.

Taylor (1981:2) says, “More than, any other arts, literature reflects or comments on actual experience, social, philosophical, psychological, and more concern”. By analyzing a literary work, we also learn about moral lesson. It describes about human attitude more than psychologist can do as what is written in Theory of Literature by Rene Wellek: The novelist can teach you more about human nature.

Literature is mainly divided into three genres classified in accordance with certain characters and features. The common genetic divisions are prose, poetry, and drama. And in Richard Taylor’s opinion, that narrative fiction including novel is the only genre that is meant to be written down for private reading.

Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is a famous and controversial masterpiece. The Da Vinci Code gets much attention around the world because of the intriguing and brave theme that Dan Brown brings in this novel. Even there are some accusations that Brown tries to attack the church and holy bible as Dr. Erwin Lutzer, a theology expert says, “The Da Vinci Code is the most serious attack to the Christianity I have ever found”. Moreover, Brown gives a brief and interesting theme with the touch of religious theme in his novel. He uses real names in naming the sects or organizations, such as The Opus Dey, Knight Templar, The Massion, etc. He also uses the real places to support the reality effects in his novel, such as The Louvre Museum, The Depository Bank of Zurich, Saint-Sulpice Church, Temple Church, etc. Brown also gives a detail ritual of the secret sect on his novel like the Hieros Gamos

ritual that is believed by many people as a real ritual of Pagan religion in which the followers of this ritual have a sex ritual to get closer to their God (Stewart). Brown’s amazing skill in telling the story makes the novel very interesting and the readers‟ brain work when they read this novel.

One point that Brown tries to figure out in The Da Vinci Code novel is the history of the biggest religion in the world, Christian. Christian is a big religion, which has an old and long history, the history of Mary Magdalene. In The Da Vinci Code, Brown says that Magdalene is a famous woman in Christian history, especially when she is related to Jesus. Jesus and Magdalene had a close relationship. Besides, Magdalene was one of Jesus twelve apostles (disciples). In addition, some stories stated that Magdalene was Jesus wife. Some stories also tell that Magdalene was Jesus favorite disciple more than Saint Peter. Moreover, Peter felt jealous of Magdalene because Jesus preferred Magdalene. Bible in The Gospel of Philip states that,

“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. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?”” (Bible: The Gospel of Philip) However, there is also a misconception about Magdalene, which states that she was a prostitute. The early church spreads that issue in order to cover up her dangerous secret that she was the Holy Grail and the woman to whom Jesus fell in love. The history of Magdalene spreads out along The Da Vinci Code novel. This novel gives another point of view about the holy woman in Jesus life.

On this occasion, the writer is going to analyze Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, but the analyzing about the controversy within. It is a very interesting novel to read, it tells about the secret history is opened in this era and that make many controversial, especially for Christian. Because that is too connected with religion.

1.2 Problem of Study

In order for the discussion of writing this paper is not very width, the writer focuses on writing into to main questions:

1) How does The Da Vinci Code state about the marriage of Jesus?

2) How do the response of Christian figures about the marriage of Jesus in The Da Vinci Code?

1.3 Purpose of Study

The purpose of the study in this paper, as follows:

1) Through this paper, the writer wants to increase the objective understanding of the controversy and the response of Christian figures about the marriage of Jesus in The Da Vinci Code.

2) Then, the writer has to fulfill the requirement in Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera.

1.4 Scope of Study

The focus of the study in this paper is to analyze the issue of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and the writer limits the analysis just on this problem that

about controversy and response. The Da Vinci Code is taken as the context of this paper because of its controversy. And the other topics which have no relation to the context will not be included in this paper.

1.5 Method of Study

This paper is the result of library research in which the main data is obtained from the Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Some supplement data are derived from various books or other literatures that relates to this discussion available in library.

The methods that used are descriptive, analytical, and comparative. Descriptive method will be used to give an objective description of the concept of the material covered. The analytical method used to see more about the response of Christians and the controversy. The comparative method will be used on things contained in the material in this paper.

1.6 Reason for Choosing Topic

This paper is the result of library research in which the main data is obtained from the Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Some supplement data are derived from various books or other literatures that relates to this discussion available in library.

The method that used is descriptive, analytical, and comparative. Descriptive method will be used to give an objective description of the concept of the material covered. The analytical method used to see more about the response of Christians and

the controversy. The comparative method will be used on things contained in the material in this paper.

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Novel

A novel is a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential story.

While into being in the early 18th century, the continuous and comprehensive history of about two thousand years", with historical roots in of the present generic English term in the 18th century.

While a more precise definition of the genre is difficult, the main elements that critics discuss are: how the narrative, and especially the plot, is constructed; the themes, settings, and character, and setting relate to

Popular fiction has dealt with almost any topic the modern public sphere has provided. Class and gender divisions are omnipresent in love stories: the majority of them harp on tragic confrontations that arise wherever a heroine of lower social status falls in love with a doctor, the wealthy heir of an estate or company, or just the Alpine farmer whose maid she happens to be. It is not said that these aspirations lead to

happy endings. They can be read as escapist dreams of how to change social status by marriage; they are at the same time constant indicators of existing or imaginary social barriers. All major political confrontations of the past one hundred years have become the scenery of popular exploits, whether they focused on soldiers, spies, or on civilians fighting between the lines.

The authors of popular fiction–and that is the essential difference between them and their counterparts in the sphere of so-called elitist literature–tend to proclaim that they have simply exploited the controversial topics. Dan Brown does this on his website answering the question whether his Da Vinci Code could be called an "anti-Christian" novel:

“No. This book is not anti-anything. It's a novel. I wrote this story in an effort to explore certain aspects of Christian history that interest me. The vast of majority devout Christians understand this fact and consider The Da Vinci Code an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate. Even so, a small but vocal group of individuals has proclaimed the story dangerous, heretical, and anti-Christian. While I regret having offended those individuals, I should mention that priests, nuns, and clergy contact me all the time to thank me for writing the novel. Many church officials are celebrating The Da Vinci Code because it has sparked renewed interest in important topics of faith and Christian history. It is important to remember that a reader does not have to agree with every word in the novel to use the book as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith.”

The author of popular fiction has a fan community to serve and satisfy. He or she can risk rebuffing both the critical public and its literary experts in their search for interesting readings (as Dan Brown effectively does with his statement on possible readings of his novel). The popular author's position towards his text is generally supposed to be relaxed. Authors of other types of literature are by contrast supposed

to be compelled to write. They follow (says the popular mythology) their inner voices, a feeling for injustice, an urge to face a personal trauma, an artistic vision. The authors of popular fiction have their own calling: they must not fail the expectations of their audiences. A covenant of loyalty and mutual respect is the basis on which the author of popular fiction continues his or her work. The typical branches of the production have no contact to mythologies of authorship.

2.2 Jesus in the Bible as Literature

Jesus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as "Jesus of Nazareth" ( "Jesus the son of Joseph"

This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshe Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save (Matthew 1:21).

The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods, that of his private life, till he was about thirty years of age, that of his public life, which lasted about three years.

In the "fullness of time" he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter

Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born "King of the Jews," bringing gifts with them Joseph's flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this ki Lower Galil years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents. There, in the temple, "in the midst of the doctors," all that heard him were "astonished at his understanding and answers" (

Eighteen years pass, of which we have no record beyond this, that he returned to Nazareth and "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (

He entered on his public ministry when he was about thirty years of age. It is generally reckoned to have extended to about three years. “Each of these years had peculiar features of its own.

1) The first year may be called the year of obscurity, both because the records of it which we possess are very scanty, and because he seems during it to have been only slowly emerging into public notice. It was spent for the most part in Judea. 2) The second year was the year of public favor, during which the country had

become thoroughly aware of him; his activity was incessant, and his frame rang through the length and breadth of the land. It was almost wholly passed in Galilee. 3) The third was the year of opposition, when the public favor ebbed away. His

felt a victim to their hatred. The first six months of this final year were passed in Galilee, and the last six in other parts of the land." (Stalker's Life of Jesus Christ, p. 45.).

2.3 Marriage in the Bible as Literature

Marriage is an intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, in the whole of life. The purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship of the Godhead and to serve him. Although the fall has marred the divine purpose and function of marriage, this definition reflects the God-ordained ideal for marriage from the beginning.

Genesis 1:26-27 declares that mankind was created in God's image with a plural composition of male and female, each separately in God's image (cf. defined in Scripture, contexts in which God's image are discussed must define the concept (cf. creativity (procreation), reasoning power, decision-making, and relationship.

The relational aspect of God's image is reflected in the bringing together of male and female in "one fl differences portrays various aspects of God's image: same nature and essence, equal members, intimate relationship, common purpose, and distinct personalities with different roles, including authority and submission. In the Trinity the Father leads, the Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to both the Father and the Son.

However, all three are fully and equally deity. Likewise, male and female in the marriage relationship are of the same nature and essence, equal as persons (cf. different roles: the husband leads and the wife submits to his leadership (cf. the Godhead. Marriage, the most intimate human relationship, was appropriately chosen to reflect this relational aspect of the divine image. Each sex alone incompletely exhibits this part of the divine image. This open intimate relational aspect of God's image, reflected in marriage, was marred by the fall (cf. from God.

Marriage is the most basic and significant social relationship to humankind. This relationship must be nurtured and maintained for the welfare of all. Without marriage, society will fail.

God's design for marital relationship is heterosexual, not homosexual, and monogamous, not polygamous. This relational aspect of God's image in marriage has analogues portrayed in Yahweh's relation with Israel disobedience to Yahweh are frequently depicted as spiritual "adultery"

which she was punished by captivity. Yahweh "divorced" his "unfaithful wife" restore her to faithfulness and holine

New Testament marriage imagery describes the relationship between Christ and his church (cf. is sacrificially loved by Christ, just as a husband should love his wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his b submissively to her husband's sacrificial love like the church submits to Christ's becoming holy and blameless before God, even as Christ presents the church without blemish to the Fathe the functional model for a marriage relationship.

God commanded the male and female to perform two specific functions: procreation ("fruitful and multiply") and ruling over the earth ("subdue" and "rule") female) receive God-ordained authority to rule over the rest of creation, but not over each other.

Human reproduction comes through intimate sexual union designed only for the marriage relationship. Cohabitation abuses the procreative nature of the marriage relationship. While reproduction is a divine purpose of marriage, some couples are

unable to have children for various physical reasons. This does not make their marriage second-rate or inferior. However, a married couple should desire to obey the divine injunction of procreation if possible. Children are one manifestation of the "one flesh" of marriage.

2.4 Christian in the Bible as Literature

A dictionary definition of a Christian would be something similar to “a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus.” While this is a good starting point, like many dictionary definitions, it falls somewhat short of really communicating the biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian. The word “Christian” is used three times in the New Testam Antioc The word “Christian” literally means, “Belonging to the party of Christ” or a “follower of Christ.”

The Bible teaches that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God. Titus says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” So, a Christian is someone who has been born again by G us that it is “…by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day. John tells us, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Wor true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTROVERSIAL

3.1 The Marriage of Jesus in The Da Vinci Code

If Jesus marries with Magdalene, is that wedding has a specific purpose? In other words, is it a kind of conventional wedding? Is it a kind of the alliance of the dynasty? Is it having a political purpose?

Does Jesus come from Nazareth? There is still no indication that he is ones from a poor carpenter family? None of the Bible describes Jesus like that. He looks like as an educating, a training person for being a Rabbi. He also interacts with the rich and influential people, even with poor people like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

That marriage is not a simple wedding party that held by the common people. On the contrary, there are much visible signs of the luxury of high society that attended by a hundred guests. There are many waiters who rush working to comply Jesus and Marry order. There is also a leader of the wedding party who served as a chief waiter or maybe a nobleman.

Clearly, that wedding party provides much wine. When Jesus change the water into wine, according to the Good News Bible, He produces less than eight hundred bottles of wine and it is just another addition.

The wedding in Cana is the kind of luxury event from a noble family. The presence of Jesus and His mother has showed the status of Jesus. It is about the blood of Jesus, so it is very possible that the wedding is the wedding of Jesus. They are the

castle’s residents, because it is impossible if the waiters comply all their orders. If Jesus is a nobleman and marries with Magdalene, it is means that Magdalene will have the same status with Him.

According to all annotation of the New Testament in the Bible, Jesus is the David’s generation. According to the views of the Benjamin’s tribe, it makes Jesus becomes a usurper power man. The dislike sense of Jesus becomes more pile up, moreover if He marries with a woman who comes from Benjamin’s tribe. This kind of marriage is the alliance of the two significant dynasties. It does not only give the Israel people an extraordinary king or pastor, but also it can show the symbolic function of the return of Jerusalem to the owner. So, it means that it can be increase the popular alliance and support of Jesus.

Jesus may be a King-priest of the line generation of David that has the right to claim His throne. He probably combines His position by doing a marriage between two significant dynasties symbolically. He may act to ally His country by actuating His proponent behind Him, driving out the tyrant, expelling their dolls and improving the grandeur of their empire as like as Salomon’s government.

The rules that govern the wedding in the dynasty, as like Jesus wedding is certainly contrast to the rules of Jewish people. The only reason that allows the sex to happen is being a father.

All the marriage or sex’s procedures are set tightly. Laurence Gardner discusses about that topic carefully in Blood of the Grail.

There is one time engaged for three months and the first day of the wedding ceremony with the oil occurs in September. It marks the beginning of a period of relationship. However, recent sexual intercourse may occur after the first half of the month of December that year. The delay is meant to ensure that the baby will be born in September; this is the month of peace (Atonement). If the relationship produces a pregnancy, sexual intercourse can only be continued in December. Until the day of his second marriage, the woman is considered to be young woman.

At the second marriage, in March, the bride has already been in three months of pregnant. The reason of three months delay is to see the possibility of miscarriage in pregnancy. It also means that the husband can resign from the marriage if his wife is proved to be infertile. Besides December, when the couple does the sexual intercourse, the couple must live separate each other.

When they live apart, the wife is considered as a widow. It means that she is on the one level lower that “Alamah”. The woman is asked to be sorrowful for her husband. It is as explained in the Luke 7:38 “As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.”

One of the oil that used in the wedding ritual is the Spikenard oil. The Spikenard oil is the oil that used by Magdalene to anoint Jesus. Marry Magdalene anoints Jesus head in the Simon Zealots house. He is better known as Lazarus. In June, 30 AD, Marry Magdalene anoints Jesus feet with Spikenard perfume in the wedding party in Cana.

John does not mention about the existence of the real marriage in Cana, he just say that is no wedding party there. Among all the guests in there, there are the disciples and gentiles adherent that does not clean. Jesus is the groom in that party. When the commotion happens because of the wine communion, the Jesus mother tells all the waiters to do what Jesus commanded.

Actually, the guests should not make a commotion. The real ceremony will be held in the next September. Marry Magdalene anoints Jesus feet again in March 33 AD and wipes it dry with her hair. The only people who allowed anointing with Spikenard is the Messiah’s wife. The only time that allowed is in the first and second wedding ceremony.

The King of Egypt is allowed to marry their sisters. The King of Judah does not follow those procedures but they consider that the successor to the throne will fall on the line of woman. John the Baptist is Zadok of men lineage. The wife who comes from the men lineage always gets Elisheba as their designation. The wife who comes from the Davidic dynasty always gets marry as their designation. It is the reason why Jesus mother and His wife are called as Marry.

Dan Brown tells it for us in The Da Vinci Code, “And the couple of the Savior is Marry Magdalene. Christ loves her more than other disciples, and he often kisses her mouth.”

The other disciples feel resentful of Him. They say to Jesus, “Why do you love her more than us?” The savior answers and says to them, “Why do I not love

her?” The mystery of that marriage is very excitement because it seems like that the world will never know about that marriage.

Kissing on the mouth is an action which can only be done for a married couple. Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code does not mention a quotation from Thomas Gospel, when Peter said, “Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life.’ Jesus said, ‘I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

3.2 The Responses of Christian Figures A. Darrel L. Bock

Darrel L. Bock is a bachelor from the Gospel study of the New Testament. He is also a professor for a research who comes from Theological University of Dallas in US. Bock got his PhD from The University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

His works about the essay of the blasphemy act and God’s glorification is his collection. That is Judaism and the Final Examination of Jesus.

Bock is a former chairman of the Evangelical Theological Society. Now, he is an editor of Christianity Today magazine and he often publishes article in the Los Angeles Time and Dallas Morning News.

Lately, Bock is better known with his work that relates to the Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code. In responding to the implication of that theology book, Bock also writes Breaking the Da Vinci Code. His books opposites the history that

relates to the Gospels with some views found in The Da Vinci Code. Particularly, it is about the Jesus marriage with Magdalene.

Bock also writes articles on beliefnet.com and christianitytoday.com. The latest book of Bock is The Missing Gospel that denies the existence and legitimacy of Christian Orthodoxy who is not legitimates the Church Law and its study.

Darrel L. Bock argues that the conclusion about Jesus marriage with a woman named Mary Magdalene is created frivolously. How can we conclude about a phenomenon in a history text only based on the narrative of its text? Moreover, the Gospel is about from thousand years ago. Logically, it will able to get some diversion of language. It is because the Bible is translated from Hebrew to the Latin. Then, it is also translated to the English/French that used by Dan Brown.

Dan Brown also makes another controversial conclusion. He says that the Merovingian dynasty is a dynasty that comes from Jesus and Marry Magdalene’s generation. After Jesus is crucified, some loyal disciples of Jesus run off Mary Magdalene and her children from Jesus to out from Jerusalem. After a stop in some places, Marry Magdalene settles in the region of Languedoc, south of France. She stays in the Rennes le Chateau village that becomes the first research place of Dan Brown.

After the generation of Marry Magdalene mingles with the local people, they also spread up their population till the Viking, Germania, Visigoth area and others. They build and empire and a dynasty that named Merovingian. The founder of the Merovingian dynasty is the generations of Mary Magdalene with Jesus. It explains

the reason why the Kings of Merovingian dynasty is treated as a king-priest, a pure king who does not only acts as a symbol of the country but also act as the spiritual leader for their society.

Regardless from Dan Brown’s controversy about the marriage of Jesus, Darrel L. Bock takes his attitudes against the personal of Jesus:

1) Jesus/Isa is someone who brings the Holy messages from the Almighty God and it makes him being sacred regardless from the fact of His marriage.

2) The holiness of Jesus/Isa should be become the orientation of Christians who believe in the existence of Jesus/Isa. The Christians should not use the Holiness of Jesus to sharpen who believe in His presence.

B. Erwin Lutzer

Erwin Lutzer was born on October 3, 1941 in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was the fifth son of Gustav and Wanda Lutzer. He graduated from the University of Winnipeg Bible and the Dallas University, Texas. He graduated in 1967. Now, Erwin Lutzer is a senior pastor in the Moody Church in Chicago, US.

Erwin Lutzer argues that one of the sources that use by Dan Brown in writing The Da Vinci Code book is the Lincoln’s book Holy Blood Grail-Holy Grail.

The most significant thing in the book is about the around Jesus life, such as the question about the marriage of Jesus and Jesus child. It is also the question about Mary Magdalene’s status as Jesus wife and Jesus generation.

Such a question like: Does Jesus marry? The early assumption that used by Dan Brown is about Jesus is a Jew, it is a prophet and a Rabbi. While both written and unwritten Jewish Law, it is a must for a young Jew to get marriage if they have been in the puberty age. There is also the written Jewish Law says that a man can be a Rabbi, if he has already married. From this perspective, it means that Jesus must marry.

On the other hand, the Bible and other sources which do not explicitly state that Jesus gets marriage. Another source from the Apocrypha book also implicitly states that Jesus gets marriage. Then, it is said also that the Jesus wife is Mary Magdalene. Magdalene is described in the Bible as the woman who anoints the Jesus feet and watches the Jesus death on cross. She is also the first woman who comes to the Jesus tomb. The church makes mistakes for thousand years in describing Mary Magdalene as a prostitute.

Magdalene marries with Jesus and they have children. After the death of Jesus, Magdalene with the Jesus disciples run off to the Southern of French (Gaul) that in habited by Jewish settles for many years. In there, the Jesus generations spread up and they have link to the Merovingian dynasty. It is lead by Frank as the King in the 6-7th century. Holy Grail is the symbol of Jesus generation. It is no a Banquet if it interprets literally.

Is that story true? Dan Brown uses the disclosure of facts that are strong enough. He uses a wide several evidences and facts from the writings and documents in the medieval century. He also hunts information to the historians and the even

perpetrators that can be trusted. The biggest weakness in the one of Dan Brown’s statement: “the Bible (New Testament) is the book that has altered, changed, republished and edited in accordance with the needs of the Church at that time. So, the Bible does not be a source that is trusted in revealing the story of Jesus life.

The strength of Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code is he does not take the conclusions but says that there is a kind of hypothesis. The hypothesis has not proven right and still related to a relationship that has not been strong.

Does the hypothesis in The Da Vinci Code affect the people’s faith (Christians)? According to Erwin Lutzer, it is not a problem, if the proof of a history is in the opposite of the faith. The proof of Jesus marriage and have a child can not destroy the faith of Christians. Of course, there are something dreaded in the book that makes a too much reactions from the Church and religious. Too much reaction make the facts are distorted.

C. Martin Lunn

Martin Lunn is a recognized expert in the Davidic bloodline and other issues presented in The Da Vinci Code. He has a master’s degree in history and an extensive background in journalism. He has lived throughout the Far and Middle East, the US and several countries in Europe, currently residing in Barcelona. He is also Grand Master of the Dragon Society, founded originally in 1408 by King Sigismund of Hungary.

Martin Lunn argues that the Roman Catholic Church feels highlighted and looks not happy with that critical highlight because of The Da Vinci Code book. The Church defends their followers over the 2000 years and feels happy to know that their faith runs without any evidence.

The Da Vinci Code is a successful novel not only because its honesty, but because the murderer story in that book. It is also because Dan Brown evokes the readers to see “the truth”. He stimulates the readers to increase the knowledge about it and also makes dissatisfaction to always find out what happen in the end of the novel.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was published in 2003. The book is followed by the film that adapts from the novel and has the same title with the novel. The Da Vinci Code film plays simultaneously around the world. For some Christians, particularly Catholics, this novel and this film are the fiction that can rock the faith.

The fuss of The Da Vinci Code relates some description about the fundamental aspects of Christian’s belief. The novel and the film contain many ideas which not embrace the main of theology. For example, the book tells that Jesus/Isa is not God, but only a human. Before the fourth century, Jesus is considered only as human, but the Empire of Roman Emperor at that time, Constantine, defies Jesus according to his old paganism.

Not less suspenseful, Jesus also is told that he has been married to Mary Magdalene who then conceives and gives birth to his child. Therefore, she should have got more respect. Until this time, still in plot of Brown’s fiction, Jesus lineage from Magdalene still exists in Europe. Brown imagination still soars, play between

fact and fiction. Now, an underground community, Priory of Sion still glorifies the figure of Magdalene and the mysterious truth trying to keep it. For centuries, the Catholic Church has tried to cover up that “truth”, don’t even hesitate to kill people who seek revealed them.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

4.1 Conclusions

According to the problem of this paper, the writer took the conclusions, as follows:

1) State of The Da Vinci Code about the marriage of Jesus

In the book of The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown concludes that the wedding’s phenomenon in Cana is the place where the miracle of Jesus is happened. Jesus changes the water into wine. In this book, it is the marriage of Jesus.

The early assumption that used by Dan Brown is about Jesus is a Jew. He is also a prophet and a Rabbi. While both written and unwritten Jewish Law, it is a must for a young Jew to get marriage if they have been in the puberty age. There is also the written Jewish Law says that a man can be a Rabbi, if he has already married. From this perspective, it means that Jesus must marry.

2) The response of Christian figures about the marriage of Jesus in The Da Vinci Code

A. Darrel L. Bock

Darrel L. Bock argues that the conclusion about Jesus marriage with a woman named Mary Magdalene is created frivolously. How can we conclude about a phenomenon in a history text only based on the narrative of its text? Moreover, the Gospel is about from thousand years ago. Logically, it will able to get some diversion

of language. It is because the Bible is translated from Hebrew to the Latin. Then, it is also translated to the English/French that used by Dan Brown.

B. Erwin Lutzer

Erwin Lutzer argues that one of the sources that use by Dan Brown in writing The Da Vinci Code book is the Lincoln’s book Holy Blood Grail-Holy Grail. Dan Brown uses the disclosure of facts that are strong enough. He uses a wide several evidences and facts from the writings and documents in the medieval century. He also hunts information to the historians and the even perpetrators that can be trusted. The biggest weakness in the one of Dan Brown’s statement: “the Bible (New Testament) is the book that has altered, changed, republished and edited in accordance with the needs of the Church at that time. So, the Bible does not be a source that is trusted in revealing the story of Jesus life.

C. Martin Lunn

Martin Lunn argues The Da Vinci Code is just a novel, a fictional story, but it is faced as the serious phenomenon for the Christian figures. He also argues The Da Vinci Code is a successful novel not only because its honesty, but because the murderer story in that book. It is also because Dan Brown evokes the readers to see “the truth”. He stimulates the readers to increase the knowledge about it and also makes dissatisfaction to always find out what happen in the end of the novel.

4.2 Suggestions

The writer did not want to join the fuss about the pros and cons of Jesus marriage in The Da Vinci Code. Maybe it is just a business strategy to make the novel and the film more popular. But we must make it as our object of contemplation without murmuring and pointing someone as an infidel. We can make it as our reference to broad and sharp our faith.

The writer hopes this paper will make the reader understand about this novel including the controversial found in this novel. Many things found in this novel are very interesting to analyze further. In writing this paper, the writer uses simple word. The writer realizes that this paper is still far from being perfect. The controversy in this novel is only a part from many that can be explored more. So, the writer really hopes this paper will be a starting point for further analysis.

REFERENCES

Bock, Darrell L. Breaking The Da Vinci code : answers to the questions everyone's asking / Darrell L. Bock. Nashville: Nelson Books.

Brown, Dan. 2003. The Da Vinci Code. Doubleday: New York.

Eagleton, Terry. 1993. Literature Theory. Hongkong: SNP Best-Set Typesetter Ltd. Foster, E.M. 1979. Aspects of the Novel. Arnold: Penguin.

Hartoko dan Rahmanto. 1986. Pusat Bahasa Alazhar. Jakarta: Worpress. Hadi, Sutrisno. 2000. Metodologi Research. Yogyakarta: Andi Yogyakarta. Kenedy, X.J. 1991. Literature is an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama.

London: Harper Collins Publisher.

Kurniasih, Sekar. 2009. An Analysis of Love Values in Charlotte Bronte’s Novel: Jane Eyre, Thesis. Medan: Fakultas Sastra, English Department, USU. Mahsun. 2005. Metode Penelitian Bahasa. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Persada. Martin, J.R. 1984. Language, Register, and Genre. Victoria: Deakin.

Mukhtar dan Erna Widodo. (2000). Konstruksi ke Arah Penelitian Deskriptif. Yogyakarta: Avyrouz.

Nurgiantoro, Burhan. 1995. Teori Pengkaji Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press.

Renanta, Rena. 2003. Berkenalan Dengan Dan Brown. Jakarta: La-Lite.

Roberts, Edgar and Henry E. Jacobs. 1995. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Robert Stanton. 1965. An Introduction to Fiction. New York: The Free Perss. Samsuri. 1982. Analisa Bahasa. Jakarta: Erlangga.

Sembiring, MCA. 2014. Kompilasi Bahan Kuliah. Medan.

Sembiring, MCA. Buku Panduan Program D3 Bahasa Inggris Fakultas Ilmu Budaya. Medan.

Siswanto, Wahyudi. 2008. Pengantar Teori Sastra. Jakarta: Grasindo. Sparks, Nicholas. 2010. Safe Haven. Jakarta: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Surakhmad, Winarno. 1982. Pengantar Penelitian Ilmiah: Dasar, Metode, Taktik. Bandung: Tarsito.

Sudaryanto. 1993. Metode dan Aneka Teknik Analisis Bahasa. Yogyakarta: Duta Wacana University Press.

Surachmad, Winano. 1982. Pengantar Penelitian Ilmiah. Bandung: Tarsito.

Suryabrata, Sumadi. 2002. Metodologi Penelitian. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Persada. Taylor, Richards. 1981. Understanding The Elements of Literature. London: The

Macmillan Press Ltd.

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. 1976. Theory of Literature. London: Penguins Books Ltd

APPENDICES

1. Dan Brown's Biography

Dan Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author of thriller fiction. Brown was born and raised in Exeter, New Hampshire, the oldest of three children. His mother Constance (Connie) was a professional musician, playing organ at church. Brown's father Richard G. Brown taught high school mathematics at Phillips Exeter Academy from 1962 until his retirement in 1997. Richard was a prominent mathematician. He wrote the bestselling mathematics textbook Advanced Mathematics: Precalculus with Discrete Mathematics and Data Analysis, and had been offered a job to work at the National Security Agency, but declined because he did not want to move his family out of New Hampshire. Richard was also chosen by President George H.W. Bush to receive the "Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching". Phillips Exeter Academy is an exclusive boarding school, which required new teachers to live on campus for several years, so Brown and his siblings were literally raised at the school. The social environment was

mostly Christian. Brown sang in the church choir, attended Sunday school, and spent summers at church camp. His own schooling was at public schools in Exeter until the 9th grade, at which time he enrolled in Phillips Exeter, as did his younger siblings Valerie and Gregory when it became their turn.

After graduating from Phillips Exeter in 1982, Brown attended Amherst College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. During his Junior year at Amherst, Brown went to Europe to study art history at the University of Seville in Spain, which is where he first began seriously studying the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. Brown graduated from Amherst in 1986, and then played around with music for awhile, creating effects with synthesizer music, and self-producing a cassette entitled SynthAnimals which included a collection of tracks such as "Happy Frogs"and "Suzuki Elephants." He formed his own (vanity) record company called Dalliance, and in 1990 self-published a CD entitled Perspective, targeted to the adult market, which sold a few hundred copies.

In 1991 he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career as singer-songwriter and pianist. To support himself, he taught Spanish classes at Beverly Hills Preparatory School. While in Los Angeles he joined the National Academy of Songwriters, and participated in many of its events. It was there that he met Blythe Newlon, a woman 12 years his senior, who was the Academy's director of artistic development. Though not officially part of her job, she took on the seemingly unusual task of helping to promote Brown's projects -- she wrote press releases, set up promotional events, and put him in contact with individuals who could be helpful to his career. She and

Brown also developed a personal relationship, though this was not known to all of their associates until 1993, when Brown moved back to New Hampshire, and it was learned that Blythe would be accompanying him. They later married, at a location near North Conway, New Hampshire. Along with helping his singing career, Blythe has also been a major influence on Brown's career as an author, as she assists with much of the promotion involved with his books. She co-wrote both of his early "humor" books, which were written under pseudonyms, and there is speculation that she may have helped with other books as well. In the Acknowledgement for Deception Point, Brown thanked "Blythe Brown for her tireless research and creative input." In interviews, Brown says that his wife is an "art historian" and "painter", though there is no record of her having worked professionally in this capacity, aside from her assistance with the book research.

Brown and Blythe moved to his hometown in New Hampshire in 1993. Brown became an English teacher at his alma mater Phillips Exeter, and gave Spanish classes to 7th graders at Lincoln Akerman School, a small school for K-8th grade with about 250 students, in Hampton Falls. Also in 1994, while on holiday in Tahiti, he read Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy, and decided that he could do better. He started work on Digital Fortress, and also co-wrote a humor book with his wife, 187 Men to Avoid: A Guide for the Romantically Frustrated Woman, under the pseudonym "Danielle Brown" (one of the 187 items in the book was "Men who write self-help books for women"). The author description on the book said, "Danielle Brown currently lives in New England: teaching school, writing books, and

avoiding men." The copyright, however, is listed as "Dan Brown". It sold a few thousand copies before going out of print. Digital Fortess was published in 1998. Blythe did much of the book's promotion, writing press releases, booking Brown on talk shows, and setting up press interviews. A few months later, Brown and his wife released The Bald Book, another humor book. It was officially credited to his wife, though a representative of the publisher said that it was primarily written by Brown.

In 1996, Brown quit teaching to become a full-time writer. His first three novels had mediocre success, but the fourth novel,The Da Vinci Code became a runaway bestseller, going to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list during its first week of release in 2003. It is now credited with being one of the most popular books of all time, and as of 2005, has sold more than 25 million copies (mostly in hardcover) around the world. Its success has helped push sales of Brown's earlier books. In 2004, all four of his novels were on the New York Times list in the same week, and in 2005, he made Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the year. Forbes magazine placed Brown at #12 on their 2005 "Celebrity 100" list, and estimated his annual income at $76.5 million USD. Brown is interested in cryptography, keys, and codes, which are a recurring theme in his stories. He is currently the most famous celebrity in New Hampshire, and his novels have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Brown is working on a new novel, called The Solomon Key, which will reportedly take place in Washington DC, and feature the secret society of the Freemasons. He says that he currently has outlines for at least 12 future books, one of

which involves a famous composer's "all factual" associations with a secret society. Speculation is that this may mean Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was also a Freemason.

2. Summary of the Novel

Symbologist Robert Langdon is thrown into a mysterious and bizarre murder. Alongside Langdon is the victims granddaughter and cryptologist Sophie Neveu, who with Robert discovers clues within Da Vinci's paintings. To further find the truth, Robert and Sophie travel from Paris to London, whilst crossing paths with allies and villains such as Sir Leigh Teabing and Silas. Wherever their path takes them, there discovery which is about to be revealed could shake the foundations of mankind.

Professor Robert Langdon is in Paris on business when he's summoned to The Louvre. A dead body has been found, setting Langdon off on an adventure as he attempts to unravel an ancient code and uncover the greatest mystery of all time.The story tells the investigation started by symbolist Robert Langdon and a good-looking cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, around the murder of a Museum Louvre's curator. In fact, the unfortunate murdered man was Sophie's grandfather, and the corpse was found with a series of symbols and codes, like a pentagram and a Fibonacci number sequence. But police detective Fache will begin to chase Langdon, who escapes after receiving a warning about the captain's real intentions. Sophie has with her a kind of key with dots and number 24 engraved on it, which opens to her and Langdon a big complex investigation that involves a supposedly heretic theory: Jesus Christ and

Mary Magdalene were, in fact, a couple who produced a daughter named Sara. A millenarian sect called The Priory of Sion has kept for centuries the secret of that matter. A masochist and kind of psychopath albino monk, Sibilas, an Opus Dei member, will chase Langdon and Sophie as well, in order to impede that they solve the mystery of Christ and Mary Magdalene, and also the real meaning and location of the Holy Grail. A passionate British researcher, will help Langdon in his quest, revealing to them several symbolisms in Da Vinci's master work The Last Supper, traveling to mythical places in the UK, such as The Church Temple, where it is believed that a group of Templars Knights are buried, and Sir Isaac Newton's tomb at Westminster Abbey, where are located some of the main keys to solve the Holy Grail's mystery.

When respected American religious symbology expert Dr. Robert Langdon is summoned to the Louvre by the French version of the FBI, led by Captain BezuFache, he soon discovered that he is the #1 suspect for the murder of a historian Langdon had been scheduled to meet with.. Assisted by a French cryptographer and government agent named Sophie, Langdon is challenged to decipher a chain of cryptic codes and puzzles, all the while trying to stay ahead of Fiche’s lawmen in a chase through the Louvre, and out into the Parisian cityscape, and finally across the channel to England. Can Langdon and Sophie decipher the nature of a secret dating back to Leonardo Da Vinci and earlier before those responsible for the historian's murder add them to their hit list.

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbol gist Robert Langdon is informed that the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci - clues visible for all to see, and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion - an actual secret society. In a breathless race through Paris, London and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless power broker who appears to work for Opus Dei - a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic organization believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory's secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's secret - and a stunning historical truth - will be lost forever.

And the conclude summary by plot synopsis is From the director of Ransom comes a darkly menacing adventure-thriller THE DA VINCI CODE. A murder in the Lourve prompts the Surete' to seek the help of codebreaker-symbologist Professor Robert Langdon. Detective Captain Fache has already decided that Langdon is guilty, but questions him anyway. Agent Sophie Neveu rescues Langdon from his clutches, and they follow a trail of clues across Europe, pursued by Interpol because they are suspected of murders committed in fact by an assassin of the Opus Dei sect. Clues support hypothesis that the Priory of Sion/Knights Templar have guarded a secret for centuries that would undermine the authority of the Catholic/Christian Church if known, and the Church's mysterious agents are fast suppressing this ancient

knowledge by murdering the only survivors who have access to the knowledge. Sophie is finally revealed to be the last survivor of that knowledge, and is in fact the heir to the bloodline of Jesus Christ. The location of the body of Mary Magdalene is still a secret until the very last scene, where Langdon figures out she is buried under the newest additions to the Lourve.

Brown also developed a personal relationship, though this was not known to all of their associates until 1993, when Brown moved back to New Hampshire, and it was learned that Blythe would be accompanying him. They later married, at a location near North Conway, New Hampshire. Along with helping his singing career, Blythe has also been a major influence on Brown's career as an author, as she assists with much of the promotion involved with his books. She co-wrote both of his early "humor" books, which were written under pseudonyms, and there is speculation that she may have helped with other books as well. In the Acknowledgement for Deception Point, Brown thanked "Blythe Brown for her tireless research and creative input." In interviews, Brown says that his wife is an "art historian" and "painter", though there is no record of her having worked professionally in this capacity, aside from her assistance with the book research.

Brown and Blythe moved to his hometown in New Hampshire in 1993. Brown became an English teacher at his alma mater Phillips Exeter, and gave Spanish classes to 7th graders at Lincoln Akerman School, a small school for K-8th grade with about 250 students, in Hampton Falls. Also in 1994, while on holiday in Tahiti, he read Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy, and decided that he could do better. He started work on Digital Fortress, and also co-wrote a humor book with his wife, 187 Men to Avoid: A Guide for the Romantically Frustrated Woman, under the pseudonym "Danielle Brown" (one of the 187 items in the book was "Men who write self-help books for women"). The author description on the book said, "Danielle Brown currently lives in New England: teaching school, writing books, and

avoiding men." The copyright, however, is listed as "Dan Brown". It sold a few thousand copies before going out of print. Digital Fortess was published in 1998. Blythe did much of the book's promotion, writing press releases, booking Brown on talk shows, and setting up press interviews. A few months later, Brown and his wife released The Bald Book, another humor book. It was officially credited to his wife, though a representative of the publisher said that it was primarily written by Brown.

In 1996, Brown quit teaching to become a full-time writer. His first three novels had mediocre success, but the fourth novel,The Da Vinci Code became a runaway bestseller, going to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list during its first week of release in 2003. It is now credited with being one of the most popular books of all time, and as of 2005, has sold more than 25 million copies (mostly in hardcover) around the world. Its success has helped push sales of Brown's earlier books. In 2004, all four of his novels were on the New York Times list in the same week, and in 2005, he made Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the year. Forbes magazine placed Brown at #12 on their 2005 "Celebrity 100" list, and estimated his annual income at $76.5 million USD. Brown is interested in cryptography, keys, and codes, which are a recurring theme in his stories. He is currently the most famous celebrity in New Hampshire, and his novels have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Brown is working on a new novel, called The Solomon Key, which will reportedly take place in Washington DC, and feature the secret society of the Freemasons. He says that he currently has outlines for at least 12 future books, one of

which involves a famous composer's "all factual" associations with a secret society. Speculation is that this may mean Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was also a Freemason.

2. Summary of the Novel

Symbologist Robert Langdon is thrown into a mysterious and bizarre murder. Alongside Langdon is the victims granddaughter and cryptologist Sophie Neveu, who with Robert discovers clues within Da Vinci's paintings. To further find the truth, Robert and Sophie travel from Paris to London, whilst crossing paths with allies and villains such as Sir Leigh Teabing and Silas. Wherever their path takes them, there discovery which is about to be revealed could shake the foundations of mankind.

Professor Robert Langdon is in Paris on business when he's summoned to The Louvre. A dead body has been found, setting Langdon off on an adventure as he attempts to unravel an ancient code and uncover the greatest mystery of all time.The story tells the investigation started by symbolist Robert Langdon and a good-looking cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, around the murder of a Museum Louvre's curator. In fact, the unfortunate murdered man was Sophie's grandfather, and the corpse was found with a series of symbols and codes, like a pentagram and a Fibonacci number sequence. But police detective Fache will begin to chase Langdon, who escapes after receiving a warning about the captain's real intentions. Sophie has with her a kind of key with dots and number 24 engraved on it, which opens to her and Langdon a big complex investigation that involves a supposedly heretic theory: Jesus Christ and

Mary Magdalene were, in fact, a couple who produced a daughter named Sara. A millenarian sect called The Priory of Sion has kept for centuries the secret of that matter. A masochist and kind of psychopath albino monk, Sibilas, an Opus Dei member, will chase Langdon and Sophie as well, in order to impede that they solve the mystery of Christ and Mary Magdalene, and also the real meaning and location of the Holy Grail. A passionate British researcher, will help Langdon in his quest, revealing to them several symbolisms in Da Vinci's master work The Last Supper, traveling to mythical places in the UK, such as The Church Temple, where it is believed that a group of Templars Knights are buried, and Sir Isaac Newton's tomb at Westminster Abbey, where are located some of the main keys to solve the Holy Grail's mystery.

When respected American religious symbology expert Dr. Robert Langdon is summoned to the Louvre by the French version of the FBI, led by Captain BezuFache, he soon discovered that he is the #1 suspect for the murder of a historian Langdon had been scheduled to meet with.. Assisted by a French cryptographer and government agent named Sophie, Langdon is challenged to decipher a chain of cryptic codes and puzzles, all the while trying to stay ahead of Fiche’s lawmen in a chase through the Louvre, and out into the Parisian cityscape, and finally across the channel to England. Can Langdon and Sophie decipher the nature of a secret dating back to Leonardo Da Vinci and earlier before those responsible for the historian's murder add them to their hit list.

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbol gist Robert Langdon is informed that the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci - clues visible for all to see, and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion - an actual secret society. In a breathless race through Paris, London and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless power broker who appears to work for Opus Dei - a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic organization believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory's secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's secret - and a stunning historical truth - will be lost forever.

And the conclude summary by plot synopsis is From the director of Ransom comes a darkly menacing adventure-thriller THE DA VINCI CODE. A murder in the Lourve prompts the Surete' to seek the help of codebreaker-symbologist Professor Robert Langdon. Detective Captain Fache has already decided that Langdon is guilty, but questions him anyway. Agent Sophie Neveu rescues Langdon from his clutches, and they follow a trail of clues across Europe, pursued by Interpol because they are suspected of murders committed in fact by an assassin of the Opus Dei sect. Clues support hypothesis that the Priory of Sion/Knights Templar have guarded a secret for centuries that would undermine the authority of the Catholic/Christian Church if known, and the Church's mysterious agents are fast suppressing this ancient

knowledge by murdering the only survivors who have access to the knowledge. Sophie is finally revealed to be the last survivor of that knowledge, and is in fact the heir to the bloodline of Jesus Christ. The location of the body of Mary Magdalene is still a secret until the very last scene, where Langdon figures out she is buried under the newest additions to the Lourve.