The Da Vinci Code

Summary:

Five months before the novel begins, Bishop Aringarosa is called to the Vatican and told that the Pope no longer wants the Catholic Church to be associated with Opus Dei (Opus Dei (Latin:"The Work of God") is a controversial Catholic organization founded to foster Christian principles and promote the church). The Church has decided to give Opus Dei twenty-million euro, which the Church had earlier borrowed from Opus Dei. A few weeks later, Aringarosa receives a call from Lee Teabing, who disguises himself as a devout Frenchman and calls himself "the Teacher." Teabing tells Aringarosa that he knows how to find the Holy Grail. (The Holy Grail - of legend and literature, it is commonly thought to be the cup or chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper. It is said to possess miraculous powers.)

For twenty-million euro--money that Teabing does not need, but uses as a cover--Teabing will share the Grail with Aringarosa who can use it to bargain with the Church. In the meantime Teabing has bugged the homes and offices of prominent Parisians whom he suspects are at the top of the Priory of Sion. When Teabing has enough information he tells Silas, the albino monk, to kill the Grand Master and his sйnйchaux. Silas must first demand to know where the keystone is. When he kills the men, they each give him the same incorrect answer.

Meanwhile, Harvard professor, Robert Langdon is in Paris to give a speech about his research. He is woken in the middle of the night by Lieutenant Collet because the Paris police need his help solving the murder of Jacques Sauniиre. The police captain, Bezu Fache, is actually bringing Langdon to the scene because he thinks Langdon was responsible for the murder. Before he died, Sauniиre left a riddle on the floor next to his body that included Langdon's name. At the scene of the crime Langdon meets Sophie Neveu, Sauniиre's granddaughter--although the police only know that she works for the department of cryptology. Sophie knows Langdon is being wrongly accused and helps him escape, but not before they discover more clues left by her grandfather.

Langdon and Sophie follow Sauniиre's clues to a Swiss Bank where they uncover a cryptex. Without knowing that Teabing is the mastermind behind the murders that occurred that evening, Langdon takes Sophie to his home. Teabing is a religious historian and life-long Grail seeker as well as Langdon's friend. Both Silas and the police end up at Teabing's estate, but Rйmy, Teabing's manservant who is in on the plot, helps them escape. Teabing, Sophie, Langdon, Rйmy and Silas (as a prisoner) travel to London.

On the way, they are able to open the cryptex, finding only another cryptex inside. Teabing purposely misreads the next clue, leading them to the wrong place. At the Temple Church, Rйmy and Silas steal the cryptex and pretend to kidnap Teabing. Teabing is angry with Rйmy because he was not supposed to show his face. Teabing murders Rйmy by taking advantage of his peanut allergy. Teabing sends Silas to the Opus Dei house, where he is later involved in a shootout with the police and dies. During the shootout Silas accidentally kills Aringarosa, who came to help him.

Sophie and Langdon figure out the real location described in the clue and go to Westminster Abbey where Teabing lures them into a secluded room. Here, Langdon retrieves the cryptex and is able to guess the password. The police, who have figured out Teabing is the murdered, arrive. Langdon and Sophie go to Scotland, where they believe the Grail is. Instead, they find Sophie's grandmother and brother, whom Sophie believed were dead. Langdon and Sophie agree to meet the next month in Italy after sharing a kiss.

Two days later, back in Paris, Langdon figures out the location of the Grail. The Grail is buried under the inverted pyramid at the Louvre.

Time:

The whole book describes one single night. From 30 minutes after midnight till morning.

The story is told chronological, but it contains flashbacks and stories about history.

Setting:

The story takes place in Paris, London, and Scotland. The plot also makes reference to New York City and areas of Spain. It takes place in present day.

Characters:

Robert Langdon: Protagonist. He is a professor of symbology at Harvard University. He finds himself entangled in a murder-mystery plot while on a visit to France.

Sophie Neveu: Protagonist. She works for the Department of Cryptology in Paris. She is the granddaughter of Jacques Sauniиre. Sophie embarks on a journey not only to find the Holy Grail but also the truth about her family. At the end of the book she begins a romance with Robert Langden.

Jacques Sauniиre: Is killed by Silas in the beginning of the novel, but he's a very important character in the story. He was the curator of the Louvre. Grand Master of the secret society the Priory of Sion, which was dedicated to safeguarding the Grail secrets. And Sophie Neveu's grandfather. Sauniиre gave up contact with his own wife to keep his granddaughter safe, and he raised her himself.

Sauniиre is a model of the ideal man in the world of The Da Vinci Code. He is willing to do whatever it takes to safeguard the truth and those who depend upon him, even if it means death.

Sir Lee Teabing (The teacher): Teabing is a former British Royal Historian who studies the history of Christianity. He is an eccentric old man who has been crippled by polio. He has spent his entire life searching for the Grail. He tricks bishop Aringarosa, Silas and his servant Rйmy unther the name of 'the Teacher' into working for him and thus killing people.

Silas: Silas is an albino monk whom the Teacher uses to carry out the murders. Silas is somewhat of a brute. He is not particularly intelligent and he is very strong. He was abused as a child and ended up in prison after murdering a sailor. Bishop Aringarosa saved Silas from starvation after he escaped prison during an earthquake. Silas is a member of Opus Dei and partakes in corporeal mortification (self-inflicted punishment).

Bishop Manuel Aringarosa: Aringarosa saved Silas many years ago when he was a simple Spanish priest. He is a powerful bishop in the United States who is in charge of Opus Dei. The Teacher