Context of the Novel

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

To answer the problems stated in the first chapter, I first would like to examine the character of Jacques Sauniere and Sophie Neveu. Then I would like to discuss Jacques Saunire’s motivation for writing his last message.

4.1 The Character of Jacques Sauniere

According to Henkle 1977: 97 the characters are divided into major characters and minor characters. In this novel, Jacques Sauniere is the minor character. His presence is only Sophie’s side of the experience. Though he is a minor character, his influence is important in this novel. Jacques Sauniere is seventy six years old man. He is the guard of Louvre Museum in Paris, where there are some art of Leonardo Da Vinci. He is a Frenchman. He is a member of Priory Sion. As a member of Priory Sion, he worships goddess. A Priory Sion is a secret community which worshiping to goddess. This community also believes that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. Jacques Sauniere was considered the premiere goddess iconographer on earth. Not only did Sauniere have a personal passion for relics relating to fertility, goddess cults, Wicca, and the sacred feminine, but during his twenty-year tenure as curator, Sauniere had helped the Louvre amass the largest collection of goddess art on earth-labrys axes from the priestesses’ oldest Greek shrine in Delphi, gold caducei wands, hundreds of Tjet ankhs resembling small standing angel, sistrum rattles used in ancient Egypt to dispel evil spirit, and an astonishing array of statues depicting Horus being nursed by the goddess Isis. 25 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 29 In his last time, Sauniere still considered to make a message. He made a decision to pose like The Virvituan Man. He also wrote a message 13-3-2 21-1-1- 8-5 O, Draconian Devil Oh, lame saint P.S find Robert Langdon. This message leads to sequence riddles that make Sophie had to begin her adventure. She has to find out what her grandfather wanted her to do. Although he is an old man, he is still strong enough. His eagerness made him strong and before he reached what he wanted. “Mr. Sauniere suffered a bullet wound to his stomach. He died very slowly. Perhaps over fifteen or twenty minutes. He was obviously a man of great personal strength.” 37

4.1.1 Tough

Sauniere is a tough person. He would not give up easily. During ten years bad relationship with his granddaughter, he always tried to reach her. He always sent Sophie letters, cards, even phoned her, but Sophie always ignored him. Her grandfather tried desperately to reach her. Sending cards and letters, begging Sophie to meet him so he could explain. 81 Incredibly, Sauniere had never given up on her, and Sophie now possessed a decade’s worth of correspondence unopened in a dresser drawer. To her grandfather’s credit, he had never once disobeyed her request and phoned her. “Sophie?” his voice had sounded startlingly old on her answering machine. “I have abided by your wishes for so long…and it pains me to call, but I must speak to you. Something terrible has happened.” 82 When someone hurts other’s feeling, it will difficult to forgive. The only way is explaining everything and ask for apology. There is something that Jacques Sauniere wanted to talk to her. That is the reason he always tried to reach her. He PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 30 wished that someday he could talk to Sophie. He wished he could explain everything and make their relationship well.

4.1.2 Loving

Jacques Sauniere is a loving person. He loves Sophie much. When Sophie was on her ninth birthday, she tried to find her birthday present. Unintended, she found a necklace with a key in it. She was wandering whether the necklace was for her or not. When her grandfather caught her, he asked Sophie to return it. Sophie thought that she would not receive a birthday present after what she had done. “I know, sweetie. You’re forgiven. I can’t possibly stay mad at you. Grandfather and granddaughters always forgive each other.” 120 Jacques Sauniere loves his granddaughter that is why he did not give punishment or shout to Sophie. He had his own way in treating his granddaughter. After what Sophie had done, she still received a birthday present from her granddaughter.

4.1.3 Melancholic

Though Jacques Sauniere is a tough person, he is a melancholic man. This happened when Sophie and he went to Scotland and when they were going back to Paris. Jacques sauniere felt so sad. There is something that made him hard to leave that place. “Why are you crying, Grand-pere? He picked her up and held her close. “oh Sophie, you and I have said goodbye to a lot of people this year. It’s hard.” PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 31 “To a dear friend whom i love very much,” he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. “And I fear I will not see her again for a very long time.” 471-472 Leaving someone that we love is hard to do. It also happens to Jacques Sauniere. He felt sad when having separated with someone he loves.

4.2 The Character of Sophie Neveu

Sophie Neveu is one of the main characters in the novel. Neveu has studied cryptography in England at Royal Holloway and she works as a cryptographer at Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire in Paris, which is the national authority of the criminal division of the French National Police. Sophie Neveu was one of DCPJ’s biggest mistakes. A young Parisian dechiffreuse who had studied cryptography in England at the Royal Holloway, Sophie Neveu had been foisted on Fache two years ago as part of the ministry’s attempt to incorporate more women into the police force. 55 Though Sophie Neveu is a woman, she can enter and work as cryptographer for Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire in Paris. Her existence does not get much appreciation to her superior, Bezu Fache. They think that letting the woman work in police is that kind of work is especially threatening for some of the men. They think that women will disturb their work. That is why the captain of the Cenatral Directorate Judicial Police, Bezu Fache, is not impressed by her and he is of the opinion that women do not belong in the police force. “Women not only lacked the physicality necessary for the police work, but their mere presence posed a dangerous distraction to the men in the field.” 55