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Chapter 104
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Da Vinci Code, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Conspiracies and Secrets
Art and Symbolism
Faith vs. Knowledge
Sacred Femininity and Revisionist History
Power and Manipulation
Summary
Analysis
That night, Langdon listens as Sophie’s grandmother—Marie Chauvel—explains to Sophie that both her parents were descended from Merovingian families, making her and her brother direct descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. When her parents’ car was found in the river, it was unclear whether their deaths were an accident or intentional. Marie and Saunière made the difficult decision to split up the family for the grandchildren’s safety. Saunière told the police Marie and his grandson were in the car and kept Sophie nearby under the Priory’s protection. Marie and Saunière saw each other rarely over the years.
At last, Marie delivers the family secret Saunière never got a chance to share with Sophie. As Sophie briefly suspected, her nickname—“Princesse”—was not just a term of endearment but a secret title indicating her royal lineage. After their parents’ unexplained deaths, Saunière and Marie made the difficult decision to prioritize safety over keeping their family together. Despite the pain this secret has caused her, Sophie can now see her grandfather was motivated by love and made significant sacrifices to protect her.
Active
Themes
Now, Marie joins Langdon on the porch. He gives her the papyrus with Saunière’s final clue, which Marie will return to Vernet. According to her, the brotherhood is already rebuilding after the deaths of their Grand Master and sénéchaux. Marie denies Teabing’s claim that the Church pressured Saunière not to release the Grail documents at the End of Days, saying the Priory has always believed in keeping the Grail secret indefinitely. The Grail inspires people, she claims, because “she” (the Grail) is mysterious and unattainable. Her story lives on through art and books. Marie encourages Langdon to finish his manuscript on the sacred feminine.
Langdon hands over Saunière’s clues without fuss, knowing the secret is not his to possess or protect. Though saddened by Saunière’s death, Marie has no doubts the Priory will recover. She denies Teabing’s assertion that the Priory intends to reveal the Grail at a particular time, claiming that keeping the knowledge safe is a worthwhile endeavor on its own. Additionally, she is right in saying the Grail’s story lives on in media, including art, film, and literature. In other words, the Grail’s legend requires no proof to persist, because people are drawn to its mystique and believe on their own. Langdon’s manuscript, like others, will help spread the story. Likewise, the use of “she” reminds the reader that the legend of the Grail, at least in the novel, reveres sacred femininity.
Active
Themes
Sensing Langdon’s persistent curiosity about the Grail’s location, Marie leads him into Rosslyn Chapel. She points out that the Star of David on the floor is composed of a triangle and its inverse—the symbols of the blade and the chalice. But while the Grail used to be hidden here, she claims Saunière moved it to France. Reading her late husband’s poem, Marie believes she knows where he really hid the Grail but doesn’t tell Langdon, believing he’ll figure it out one day. Sophie appears and Marie leaves them alone. Langdon is leaving for Paris in the morning but will give a lecture in Florence next month. Sophie kisses him and agrees to meet him there.
Active
Themes
