i
JACQUES SAUNIERE’S MOTIVATION FOR WRITING HIS LAST MESSAGE AS SEEN IN DAN BROWN’S THE DA VINCI CODE
A THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Bekti Nur Christanti Student Number: 021214109
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
iv
To live is to change,
and to be perfect is
how to have changed
often
This thesis is dedicated to
My Parents
vi ABSTRACT
Bekti Nur Christanti (2010). Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation for Writing His Last Message as Seen in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Yogyakarta: Faculty
of Teachers Training and Education, Department of Language and Arts Education, English Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This study discusses The Da Vinci Code, a novel by Dan Brown. The objective of this study is to find out someone’s motivation for writing his or her last message as seen in Jacques Sauniere, one of the minor characters in the novel. In order to achieve this, there are two problems to solve. First, “How are Jacques Sauniere and Sophie Neveu described in the novel?” Second, “What is Jacques Sauniere’s motivation for writing his last message?”
The primary data of this study is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. The secondary ones are books, journals, and internet. This study uses psychological approach. The theories use theory of character and characterization and theory of motivation.
The findings of the study are: first, Jacques Sauniere is a melancholic old, loving French man. He is also a tough person who will not give up easily. In the mean time, Sophie Neveu can be described as a stubborn, middle aged woman. She is also beautiful, smart and curious. Second, Jacques Sauniere’s motivation for writing his last message is to fulfill Sophie’s needs: safety needs, belongingness and love needs, and self esteem needs. Those three needs are actually Jacques Sauniere's needs.
vii
ABSTRAK
Bekti Nur Christanti (2010). Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation Writing His Last Message as Seen in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Yogyakarta: Fakultas
Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Program Study Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Tesis ini mendiskusikan tentang The Da Vinci Code, sebuah novel karangan Dan Brown. Tujuan dari tesis ini adalah untuk menganalisa motivasi seseorang dalam menuliskan pesan terakhirnya seperti terlihat pada Jacques Sauniere, salah satu karakter tambahan pada novel ini. Untuk mencapai tujuan ini, ada dua masalah untuk dijawab. Pertama, “Bagaimana karakter Jacques sauniere dan Sophie Neveu digambarkan? Kedua, “Apakah motivasi Jacques Sauniere untuk menuliskan pesan terakhirnya?”
Data utama dari tesis ini adalah The Da Vinci Code karangan Dan Brown. Data-data kedua adalah buku, jurnal, dan internet. Tesis ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi. Teori-teori yang digunakan adalah Theory of character and characterization dan Theory of motivation.
Hasil-hasil dari tesis ini adalah: pertama, Jacques Sauniere adalah seorang laki-laki Prancis yang melankolis, tua dan penyayang. Dia juga seorang yang kuat, yang tidak akan mudah menyerah. Dalam novel itu, Sophie Neveu dapat digambarkan sebagai wanita setengah tua yang keras kepala. Dia juga cantik, pintar, dan ingin tahu. Kedua, motivasi Jacques Sauniere untuk menulis pesan terakhirnya adalah memenuhi kebutuhan Sophie: kebutuhan akan rasa aman, kebutuhan akan rasa dimiliki dan dicintai serta kebutuhan akan dihargai. Tiga kebutuhan tersebut sebenarnya merupakan kebutuhan Jacques Sauniere.
i
JACQUES SAUNIERE’S MOTIVATION FOR WRITING HIS LAST MESSAGE AS SEEN IN DAN BROWN’S THE DA VINCI CODE
A THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Bekti Nur Christanti Student Number: 021214109
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
iv
To live is to change,
and to be perfect is
how to have changed
often
This thesis is dedicated to
My Parents
vi ABSTRACT
Bekti Nur Christanti (2010). Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation for Writing His Last Message as Seen in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Yogyakarta: Faculty
of Teachers Training and Education, Department of Language and Arts Education, English Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This study discusses The Da Vinci Code, a novel by Dan Brown. The objective of this study is to find out someone’s motivation for writing his or her last message as seen in Jacques Sauniere, one of the minor characters in the novel. In order to achieve this, there are two problems to solve. First, “How are Jacques Sauniere and Sophie Neveu described in the novel?” Second, “What is Jacques Sauniere’s motivation for writing his last message?”
The primary data of this study is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. The secondary ones are books, journals, and internet. This study uses psychological approach. The theories use theory of character and characterization and theory of motivation.
The findings of the study are: first, Jacques Sauniere is a melancholic old, loving French man. He is also a tough person who will not give up easily. In the mean time, Sophie Neveu can be described as a stubborn, middle aged woman. She is also beautiful, smart and curious. Second, Jacques Sauniere’s motivation for writing his last message is to fulfill Sophie’s needs: safety needs, belongingness and love needs, and self esteem needs. Those three needs are actually Jacques Sauniere's needs.
vii
ABSTRAK
Bekti Nur Christanti (2010). Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation Writing His Last Message as Seen in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Yogyakarta: Fakultas
Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Program Study Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Tesis ini mendiskusikan tentang The Da Vinci Code, sebuah novel karangan Dan Brown. Tujuan dari tesis ini adalah untuk menganalisa motivasi seseorang dalam menuliskan pesan terakhirnya seperti terlihat pada Jacques Sauniere, salah satu karakter tambahan pada novel ini. Untuk mencapai tujuan ini, ada dua masalah untuk dijawab. Pertama, “Bagaimana karakter Jacques sauniere dan Sophie Neveu digambarkan? Kedua, “Apakah motivasi Jacques Sauniere untuk menuliskan pesan terakhirnya?”
Data utama dari tesis ini adalah The Da Vinci Code karangan Dan Brown. Data-data kedua adalah buku, jurnal, dan internet. Tesis ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi. Teori-teori yang digunakan adalah Theory of character and characterization dan Theory of motivation.
Hasil-hasil dari tesis ini adalah: pertama, Jacques Sauniere adalah seorang laki-laki Prancis yang melankolis, tua dan penyayang. Dia juga seorang yang kuat, yang tidak akan mudah menyerah. Dalam novel itu, Sophie Neveu dapat digambarkan sebagai wanita setengah tua yang keras kepala. Dia juga cantik, pintar, dan ingin tahu. Kedua, motivasi Jacques Sauniere untuk menulis pesan terakhirnya adalah memenuhi kebutuhan Sophie: kebutuhan akan rasa aman, kebutuhan akan rasa dimiliki dan dicintai serta kebutuhan akan dihargai. Tiga kebutuhan tersebut sebenarnya merupakan kebutuhan Jacques Sauniere.
viii
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma :
Nama : Bekti Nur Christanti
Nomor Mahasiswa : 021214109
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :
JACQUES SAUNIERE’S MOTIVATION FOR WRITING HIS LAST
MESSAGE AS SEEN IN DAN BROWN’S THE DA VINCI CODE
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demkian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal : 21 Desember 2010
Yang menyatakan
ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to bestow my greatest gratitude to Lord for the bless and love
he sends and for giving me the strength. I know that he is the only one who is
always on my side.
I also would like to convey my deepest appreciation to Drs. A.
Herujiyanto, M.A Ph.D., my sponsor who has devoted his time and energy to
help me finish this thesis. He is very friendly and kind to me although I bothered
him all the time. My appreciation also goes to all lecturers of the English
Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University for the knowledge,
experience and guidance, during my study in Sanata Dharma University. My
thanks are extended to the secretariat staffs in the English Education Study
Program and library staffs of Sanata Dharma University.
My deepest gratitude goes to my dearest mother, Mrs. P. Sukamti, and
my father Mr. Nurkarsan (alm), who always give their love, support, help, and
understanding during my study. I would like to thank my sisters, Suryatinah and
Triyani, and my brothers Dheni Rusmawan and Heri Prasetyo, I thank them for
all their love that encourages me to finish my study. As for my little nephew and
niece Erix and Adelia, I want to thank them for their “naughty” and smile which
entertained me when I got bored.
My greatest thanks go to Drs. Dwi Priyanto, the headmaster of SD N
Sidoharjo and Ibu Sri Hartini, S.Pd., the headmaster of SDN Sumoroto for their
x
staffs of SD N Sidoharjo and SD N Sumoroto, for their help, care and jokes. As
for Ibu Tri Susilah, A.Ma.Pd., I thank her for lending me the laptop for such
long time. To my dearest man, Gunawan Pamungkas, I thank him for his love
and understanding. He always supports me in my ups and downs.
The biggest thanks are for my dearest friends, Esta, Tika, and Ike, for
teaching me the meaning of friendship and for all the sweet moments we had.
They have been the most important friends for me. My big thanks go to all the
members of PBI 2002, for the support and laughter we share. I hope we can meet
again someday.
xi
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGININALITY ……….
ABSTRACT ………..
ABSTRAK ………..
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ………..
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………..
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………..
LIST OF APPENDICES ………...
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study ……….
1.2 Objective of the Study ……….
1.3 Problem Formulation ………..
1.4 Definition of Terms ……….
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
xii
4.1 The Character of Jacques Sauniere….……….………
4.1.1 Tough .………....
4.1.2 Loving ………
4.1.3 Melancholic ………
4.2 The Character of Sophie Neveu ………..
xiii
4.3 Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation for Writing His Last Message ………...
4.3.1 Fulfilling the Sophie’s Safety Needs ………..
4.3.2 Fulfilling the Sophie’s Belongingness and Love Needs……...…..
4.3.3 Fulfilling Sophie’s Self Esteem Needs ………...
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions ……….
5.2 Suggestions ……….
5.2.1 For Future Researchers ………...
5.2.2 For Teachers ………
REFERENCES ……….
35
37
37
39
41
43
43
44
xiv
LIST OF APPENDICES
Page
Appendix 1 : The cover of The Da Vinci Code ... Appendix 2 : Summary of The Da Vinci Code ……….
Appendix 3 : Secret of the “Holy Grail” ………..
Appendix 4 : Biography of Dan Brown ………
Appendix 5 : Lesson Plan for Teaching Writing ………..
47
48
52
55
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter implies an introduction that consists of four parts. The first
part is Background of the Study. This part discusses about the reason of choosing
the novel, The Da Vinci Code, as the subject of the study. The second part is
Objective of the Study. This part states the objective of conducting the study. The
third part is Problem Formulation and the last part is Definition of Terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
Honesty is something that most people demand from others. On the other
hand, it is something difficult to say or do. In certain circumstances, people
believe that telling a lie is the best thing to do, for example in the case of patient
who are going to die. Honesty will only ruin the calm situation. Some people do
not want to hear a plain honesty although they know that is the truth. They want
others to say a lie to make them feel better. When someone starts feeling disturbed
because of honesty, a conflict between two people can arise. However, sometimes
honesty can make a better life in having friendship for instance. People want to
have a friend who will tell you the truth no matter what.
When someone thinks that his or her friend has hurt his or her feeling, he or
should tell the friend about it. If he or she does not talk about it, his or her friend
will think that everything is all right. Both of them live in a lie and that is not a
healthy relationship. He or she should tell the friend that he or she feels hurt.
want, they can talk what they have to do. Each will feel relieved and their
relationship can go even stronger than before.
However, sometimes people do not want to say what they really think
because they do not want to look different from others. These people actually
have different opinions, or point of views, but choose to lie in order to avoid to
conflict because they do not want to ruin the good or calm situation. Furthermore,
there are some people who will do anything including lying to achieve their own
purposes. They choose to lie in order to get what they want. They are not honest
to other people. These people do not consider what may happen because of their
lies.
In a family, relationship between the members is important. Through the
family we can share all the laughter and the pain. We often open to our family
than other people, because we have already know each other our characters,
personality so we more enjoyable sharing what we feel to our family members.
How mad we feel with other members of the family will take no longer anger.
How if our relation is bad with our family? Of course it will make pain.
However family is the most important thing we get. If one of the members of
family passed away we will feel sad.
Death can comes anytime. Before died, usually people will tell the other
family members how much he/she still has money, or how much they have
obligation. It will make the death person will be easier to get to heaven. If the
3
relation will come to other family members. They will tell the other family
members that the death person still have obligation to him/her.
It seems Brown has that such experience. Through the novel Brown tried to
hypnotize the readers by making curious in breaking the sequence series of codes,
riddles, and anagrams.
Dan Brown’s work The Da Vinci Code (2003) is such an incredible novel.
When the first time I read this novel I feel something unbelievable. This book
describes the attempts of Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology at
Harvard University, to solve the murder of renowned curator Jacques Saunière of
the Louvre Museum in Paris. A baffling cipher is found near his body. Saunière's
granddaughter, Sophie Neveu and Langdon attempt to sort out the bizarre riddles
and are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo Da
Vinci. The unraveling of the mystery requires solutions to a series of
brain-teasers, including anagrams and puzzles. The ultimate solution is found to be
intimately connected with the possible location of the Holy Grail and to a
mysterious society called the Priory of Sion, as well as to the Knights Templar. The
story also involves the Roman Catholic organization Opus Dei.
Jesus Christ is a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most
enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen. As the prophesied
Messiah, Jesus “toppled kings”, inspired millions, and founded new philosophies.
As a descendant of King Salomon and King David, Jesus possessed a rightful
I am interested in this novel because it gives a new knowledge that I have
never known before. Christian people know that Jesus is unmarried man. This
novel gives a new point of view. It seems that Dan Brown admires Leonardo Da
Vinci. He is inspired by his painting of “The Last Supper” According to Priory
Sion, Jesus married to Marie Magdalene, and they got a daughter. Priory Sion also
says that, the authority of church is given to Marie Magdalene, not to Peter.
The aim of looking into this novel is to analyze what is Jacques Sauniere’s
motivation in leaving a message before he died. In order to do so, it is important
to analyze the character of him in the novel. It is also a must to discuss his
influence on other character in the novel. The theories used in this study are
theory of character and characterization. The approach used is Psychology
approach.
1.2 Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to find out someone’s motivation for writing
his or her last message as seen in Jacques Sauniere’s one of the minor character
in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
1.3 Problem Formulation
This study is focused on two problems.
1. How are Jacques Sauniere and Sophie Neveu described in the novel?
5
1.4 Definition of Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding in reading this research study, there are
some terms that the writer needs to define. This definition of terms hopefully can
be helpful in understanding the terms that are used in this thesis.
1. Message
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, message is a written
or spoke request, piece of information. (1995: 733)
2. Motivation
Motivation comes from the word motive. Aiken sates that the term motive
refers to an internal state of organism which arouses activity and direct the
organism’s behavior toward certain objects and condition called goal (110).
In this study, motivation is the reason of people’s behavior.
3. Priory Sion
In the novel The Da Vinci Code it is mentioned that according to the writer
Dan Brown, The Priory Sion is a European secret society founded in 1099.
This organization is admired to Goddess and very feministic.
4. Toppled Kings
According to Brown, in The Da Vinci Code, Toppled King means the most
6 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of review of theories and information that I employ in my
study. I divide this chapter into three parts. The first part is Theoritical Review, second
part is Criticism, and the last part is Context of the novel. The Theoritical Review
includes the theory of Literature and the Review includes Character, Characterization
and Critical Approach. The review of Related Theory includes the Theory of
Motivation. The Criticism presents some critics about the novel and the author. The
Context of the novel talk about the setting and the plot of the novel, also about the
biography of the author.
2.1 Theoritical Review
In this study, the writer used some theories. They are theory of critical
approaches, theory of character and characterization, and theory of psychology which is
focuses on motivation.
2.1.1. Theory of Critical Approaches
In giving appreciation to literary works can be different to every reader. One
thing can do is giving evaluative judgments. Therefore the readers need some
appropriate approaches known as critical approaches to literature. It helps the readers
gain better understanding in the nature, function, and positive values of literary works.
7
for the readers to evaluate a literary work (6-15). Those approaches are the
formalist approach, biographical approach, the sociocultural-historical approach,
the mythopoeic approach, and the psychological approach.
1. The first is the formalist approach. It is concerned with demonstrating the
harmonious involvement of all parts to the whole and with pointing out how
meaning is derived from structure and how matters and technique determine
structure (6-7).
2. The second is the biographical approach. This approach provides useful
facts about the author will help the readers to have a better understanding and
appreciation toward the literary object (8-9).
3. The third is the sociocultural-historical approach. This approach is
concerned with the social background in which work of literary was created.
In short, before one can understand well a work of literature, he or she has to
know the social, cultural, and historical aspects of the literary works because
these aspects are inseparable from the literary object (9-11).
4. The forth approach is the mythopoeic approach. This approach emphasizes
the universal recurrent pattern of human thought. It is believed that the
patterns are found in ancient myth, folks rites which are so basic of human to
human thought and have meaning for all humans (11-13).
5. The last approach is the psychological approach. This approach belives
that one’s imagination, capacity for creation, and complexity of thoughts and
behaviors are expressed through symbolic words, thought and action. The
individual’s experience. This approach involves the effort to locate and
demonstrate certain recurrent pattern (13-15).
In this study, the writer used the psychological approach to analyze Dan
Brown The Da Vinci Code. By using this approach, the analysis of Jacques
Sauniere’s motivation in the novel can be done profoundly. The psychological
approach uses psychological theories to explain human motivation, personality
and behavior patterns written in literary objects. Moreover, this approach believes
that characters’ thought, personality, and behavior may reflect their psychological
order.
2.1.2 Theory of Literature
A novel is a kind of litearary work, therefore, i support the analysis by using
the theory of literature. This part presents the theoris of literature, which are
divided into two, the theory of character and theory of characterization.
2.1.2.1Theories of Character
1. Definition of Character
One of the most important elements in the novel is character. A character
can be recognized by describing the physical and physiological appearance.
According to Van De Laar and Schoonwoerd (1957: 165) in An Approach to
English Literature writes that characters in a novel must be like actual human
being. Characters must be recognizable men and women. According to Abrams
9
work who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral,
dispositional and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say the
dialogue, and what they do the action. Therefore, the character is usually easily
analyzed from the dialogue or action.
2. Kind of Character
Based on the amount of attention given to the characters, Henkle (1977: 88)
divides the characters into major and secondary or minor characters. He also
considers a major character as a protagonist. Major characters are characters
observed most often in the novel and whose appearance are frequent (1977:
90-92). By understanding them, the readers will understand the focal experiences of
the novel. Henkle points out that the effectiveness of most novels depend upon the
ability of the major characters to express and dramatize the human issues of the
book. On the other hand, the secondary or minor characters are characters that
perform more limited functions. They are generally less complex, or less intense,
and drawn in shallower relief, present what is often only one side of the
experience (1977: 97)
Abrams (1993: 24) classifies a character into two types: flat character and
round character. A flat character is a single idea and is presented in outline and
without much individualizing detail. It means that flat character has dominant
traits and has no desires motivation or conflict.
The round character has many dominant traits and complex desire,
beginning of the story until the end of the story tends to be complex. Thus, round
character is difficult to describe. Round character can also called as developing
characters.
Foster (1947: 47) describes the advantages of flat character and round
character. Flat characters are easily known by the readers’ emotionally eyes, not
by the visual eyes. Emotionally eyes means, it can be described by using the
feeling. The reader can also easily remember the characters because they do not
change.
On the other hand, round characters cannot be identified directly and
quickly because there are some life aspects that influence them to develop.
Because of those aspects, the readers cannot easily memorize the characters as in
the flat characters.
In addition, Perrine (1947: 48) divides character into two parts. The main
character, who appears more often in the story than other characters. It appears
from the beginning to the end of the story. Furthermore, the content of the story is
focused on the main character. The minor character appears in certain
circumstances and times. His role is less important than the main character
because the total rules and focus are on the main character.
2.1.2.2 Theories of Characterization
1. Definition of Characterization
According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 20), characterization is a
11
that characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that distinguish
them from other characters. Another opinion comes from Holman and Harmon
(1968: 81) characterization is the way to create of imaginary person, so they exist
for the reader as life like. Therefore, the author always point out what the
character is, how he lives, what he likes and dislikes. Those traits are called
character while the technique to make the traits known as characterization.
2. Ways of analyzing Character
Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 20) write two ways of characterization.
First the author described the character directly. He or she simply writes the
physical appearance, or moral attributes of the character. The last, the author can
describe the character dramatically. The author describes the character through the
way he or she behaves and speaks.
Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms writes that there are two
different methods in characterizing the person in narrative, which are showing or
dramatic method and telling method (1981: 21). In showing, the author only
writes about the characters speak and act. Furthermore, in the novel, the author
gives the description, and often evaluation about the motives and dispositional
qualities of the characters.
According to Murphy (1972: 161-173) there are nine ways used by the
1. Personal description
The author tells the readers about his or her characters directly through the
appearance of the characters and the clothes which they wear.
2. Character as seen by another
The author describes the character through other characters’ opinion in the
novel.
3. Speech
The author describes the character through what the character says and in a
conversation with others, or give opinion.
4. Past life
The author describes the person’s character through the events in the past that
can shape or influence his or her personality in the present. In can be figured
out by a direct comment, through the person’s thought or through his or her
conversation or through the medium of other person.
5. Conversation of others
The author gives the clue to a person’s character through the conversation of
other people and what they say about him or her.
6. Reactions
The author can also gives the readers clues to a person’s character through
how the person react when he or she facing the problem.
7. Direct comment
The author directly gives his personal reception and comment to the character
13
8. Thoughts
The author gives the clue from what characters’ thought. By knowing what
the character is thinking, the reader will simply describe the character through
the thought.
9. Mannerism
The author describes as a person mannerism, or habit that may tell the readers
something about his or her character.
Those ways of course do not have to be applied wholly. The author can
apply only one or perhaps some ways to characterize his or her characters in the
novel.
2.1.3 Theory of Motivation
People behavior is influenced by certain motives. These motives lead them
to behave in their manner to get some achievement. Motivation seems to provide
the “why” behavior. The term motive refers to an internal state of the organism
which arouses activity and directs the organism behavior toward certain objects or
condition called goal (Aiken 110). Since motives are always inferred from
behavior, it is circular reasoning to argue that a motive explains the behavior from
which it was inferred. According to Stanton, a character’s reason for behaving as
he does is his motivation (17). Moreover, Kalish clarifies that motivated behavior
is behavior set into motion by need (29). A need indicates that some type
satisfaction is lacking and implies that the organism is activated to reduce the
behavior, which begins with curious feeling and ended with behavior that satisfied
one’s need.
Theory of motivation plays an essential role in this study because it helps
the writer to discover the Jacques Sauniere in leaving a message before he died. It
help the writer understands the reason why Jacques Sauniere decides to take such
action.
There are different theories of motivation stated by some theorist. The
most widely known is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow believes, as
mentioned in Braun and Linder, that human needs, or motives, are organized
hierarchically. (375)
Maslow in Globe’s The Third Force clarifies motivations in relation with
human needs (38). He states, as explained by Petri that human motivations are
based on human needs and that people conduct an action to fulfill their needs
(302). Moreover, Maslow theory, as mentioned in Schultz, states that the need of
love and possessing have to be fulfilled in order to get the satisfaction feeling and
motivation arises because such needs (94). This show that motivation exists to
fulfill the lacks that people feel inside them.
Maslow hierarchy of needs consists of physiological needs, safety needs,
belonging and love needs, esteem needs, and self actualization needs. The first
two needs are considered primary or lower needs. Maslow argues that usually the
lowest need on the hierarchy has to be satisfied first before the higher needs on the
hierarchy has to be satisfied first before the higher needs on the hierarchy being
15
The psychological needs are the fundamental needs for food, clothing
shelter, comfort, and self preservation. Someone who faces death by starvation or
any other need of this level may resort to murder to meet fundamental, life
sustaining need, despite what society might think. When a person lack of foods,
self esteem, and love, he is going to demand food first. He will ignore the other
need until the need of food of satisfied.
The safety needs are the needs for stability, order and protection. An
insecure person behaves as if a great tragedy is always impending. This person
has an over need for order and stability, and tries hard to avoid the strange and the
unexpected. In short, people need to feel secure, safe and out of danger. People
are going to realize that higher needs become unimportant when their life is
endangered.
The next needs are the belonging and love needs. Love according to
Maslow involves a healthy, loving relationship between two people which include
mutual trust (Globe: 41). We satisfy our love needs by establishing an intimate,
caring relationship with another person, or people in general, and in this
relationship it is just as important to give love as to receive it. In the proper
relationship, there are lack of fear and dropping of defenses. The absence of love
stifles growth and the development of potential. To defeat love needs is
considered as a prime cause of maladjustment. Love hunger is a deficiency
disease. Love involve research hunger for affectionate relationship with others and
it requires both the receiving and giving of love itself, love from another and
be satisfied in this modern world in which people move a lot. We no longer stay
permanently in one place. We change houses, neighborhood, cities, countries and
even spouses. We are not long enough in one place to develop a sense of
belonging.
The self esteem needs have two categories. They are self-esteem and
respect from other people. Self esteem comprises such needs as desires for
confidence, competence, mastery, adequacy, achievement, independence and
freedom. Those characteristics if we lack of them, we feel inferior, weak and
helpless in facing life. Respect encloses such concepts as prestige, recognition,
acceptance, attention, status, reputation, and appreciation. Very often we think
well ourselves if we are sure that others think well of us.
The self actualization needs are described as the desire to become more
and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.
These needs are the identification of the psychological needs for growth,
development and utilization of potential. Self-actualizing people express their
emotions in open and direct ways. They are also committed to their work.
According to Maslow, if this sense of devotion and dedication is absent, it is
impossible for someone to become self actualizing. These needs also appear after
reasonable satisfaction of love and esteem needs (Globe 42).
2.2 Theoretical Framework
The theories that the writer had explained were to support the analysis of
17
writer used those theories. First was the theory of critical approach which was
important to know what approach was the most relevant to analyze the study. It
turn out that the psychological approach was the most relevant one because this
study discussed human motivation, personality, and behavior patterns written in
literary objects. Moreover, this approach believed that character’s thought,
personality and behavior might reflect their psychological order.
The second was the theory of character and characterization. The theories
were used to help the writer describe what kind of person was the Jacques
Sauniere in the novel. According to the theory, a character should be described
through several ways. These theories were important in answering the first
questions in the problem formulation.
The third was theory of motivation. The theory was employed in order to
reveal the motivation of Jacques Sauniere in leaving a message before he died.
The theory is important to answer the second question of problem formulation.
2.3 Criticism of the Novel
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective fiction novel written by
American author Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie
Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a
battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth having been married to Mary Magdalene.
The title of the novel refers to, among other things, the fact that the murder
da Vinci's famous drawing, the “Vitruvian Man”, with a cryptic message written
beside his body and a pentacle drawn on his stomach in his own blood.
The novel has provoked a popular interest in speculation concerning the
Holy Grail legend and Magdalene's role in the history of Christianity. The book
has been extensively denounced by many Christian denominations as an attack on
the Roman Catholic Church. It has also been criticized for its historical and
scientific inaccuracy.
The book is a worldwide bestseller that sold 80 million copies as of
2009[update] and has been translated into 44 languages. This makes it, as of 2010,
the best selling English language novel of the 21st century and the 2nd biggest
selling novel of the 21st century in any language. Combining the detective,
thriller, and conspiracy fiction genres, it is Brown's second novel to include the
character Robert Langdon, the first being his 2000 novel Angels & Demons. In
November 2004, Random House published a Special Illustrated Edition with 160
illustrations. In 2006, a film adaptation was released by Sony's Columbia Pictures.
The book generated criticism when it was first published, due to its
inaccurate description of core aspects of Christianity, the history of the Catholic
Church, and descriptions of European art, history, and architecture. The book has
received mostly negative reviews from Catholic and other Christian communities.
Many critics say that Brown should have done much more research before
publishing this book. On February 22, 2004, an article titled "The Last Word: The
Da Vinci Code" appeared in the New York Times by writer Laura Miller. Miller
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notorious hoax", "rank nonsense", and "bogus." She points out how heavily the
book is based on the fabrications of Pierre Plantard (the Priory of Sion did not
exist until Plantard created it) who in 1953 was arrested and convicted of fraud.
The book opens with the claim by Dan Brown that "The Priory of Sion —
a European secret society founded in 1099 — is a real organization". The Priory
of Sion itself was actually a hoax created in 1956 by a Mr. Pierre Plantard. The
author also claims that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents …
and secret rituals in this novel are accurate"; but this claim is disputed by almost
all academic scholars in the fields the book discusses.
Numerous works have been published that explain in detail why any claim
to accuracy is difficult to substantiate, while two lawsuits have been brought
alleging plagiarism in The Da Vinci Code. The first suit for copyright
infringement was filed in February 2006 in a British court by the authors of The
Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, a purportedly nonfiction account of Mary
Magdalene's role as the wife of Jesus of Nazareth and the mother of his child, was
found in Dan Brown's favor. No verdict has yet been rendered on a second suit,
filed in August of the same year, in the United States by Jack Dunn, the author of
The Vatican Boys.
A third author, Lewis Perdue, alleged that Brown plagiarized from two of
his novels, The Da Vinci Legacy, originally published in 1983, and Daughter of
God, originally published in the year 2000. He sought to block distribution of the
book and film. However, Judge George Daniels of the US District Court in New
would not conclude that The Da Vinci Code is substantially similar to Daughter of
God" and that "Any slightly similar elements are on the level of generalized or
otherwise unprotectable ideas." Perdue appealed, the 2nd US Circuit Court of
Appeals upheld the original decision, saying Mr. Perdue's arguments were
"without merit".
Dan Brown himself dilutes the suggestion of some of the more
controversial aspects being fact on his web site: "The FACT page makes no
statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional
characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader". However, it also says that
"these real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters", "it is my
belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit."
and "the secret behind The Da Vinci Code was too well documented and
significant for me to dismiss." Brown's ambiguity on the matter continues to fuel
debate over the factual content of the novel.
Brown's earlier statements about the accuracy of the historical information
in his book, however, were far more strident. In 2003, while promoting his novel,
he was asked in interviews what parts of the history in his novel actually
happened. He replied "Absolutely all of it." In a 2003 interview with CNN's
Martin Savidge he was again asked how much of the historical background was
true. He replied, "99% is true ... the background is all true". Asked by Elizabeth
Vargas in an ABC News special if the book would have been different if he had
written it as non-fiction he replied, "I don't think it would have." More recently
21
accuracy of his claims in his few public statements. He has also, however, never
retracted any of his earlier assertions that the history in the novel is accurate,
despite substantial academic criticism of his claims.
In 2005, UK TV personality Tony Robinson edited and narrated a detailed
rebuttal of the main arguments of Dan Brown and those of Baigent, Leigh and
Lincoln, "The Real Da Vinci Code", shown on British TV Channel 4. The
program featured lengthy interviews with many of the main protagonists cited by
Brown as "absolute fact" in The Da Vinci Code. Arnaud de Sède, son of Gérard de
Sède, stated categorically that his father and Plantard had made up the existence
of the Prieuré de Sion, the cornerstone of the Jesus bloodline theory - to quote
Arnaud de Sede in the program, "frankly, it was piffle". The program also cast
severe doubt on the Rosslyn Chapel association with the Grail and on other
related stories like the alleged landing of Mary Magdalene in France.
The novel has also attracted criticism in literary circles for its alleged lack
of artistic or literary merit and its allegedly stereotyped portrayal of British and
French characters.
Stephen Fry has referred to Brown's writings as "complete loose
stool-water" and "arse gravy of the worst kind." In a live chat on June 14, 2006, he
clarified, "I just loathe all those books about the Holy Grail and Masons and
Catholic conspiracies and all that botty-dribble. I mean, there's so much more
that's interesting and exciting in art and in history. It plays to the worst and laziest
in humanity, the desire to think the worst of the past and the desire to feel superior
In his 2005 University of Maine Commencement Address, best-selling
author Stephen King put Dan Brown's work and "Jokes for the John" on the same
level, calling such literature the "intellectual equivalent of Kraft Macaroni and
Cheese." The New York Times, while reviewing the movie based on the book,
called the book "Dan Brown's best-selling primer on how not to write an English
sentence". The New Yorker reviewer Anthony Lane refers to it as "unmitigated
junk" and decries "the crumbling coarseness of the style." Linguist Geoffrey
Pullum and others posted several entries critical of Dan Brown's writing, at
Language Log, calling Brown one of the "worst prose stylists in the history of
literature" and saying Brown's "writing is not just bad; it is staggeringly, clumsily,
thoughtlessly, almost ingeniously bad." Roger Ebert described it as a "potboiler
written with little grace and style," although he did say it did "supply an intriguing
plot."
http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?id
2.4 Context of the Novel
The context of the story will be seen through the biography of the writer and
the setting of the story. The biographical approach is used to show us the life of
Dan Brown that inspires himself to write about thriller novels.
Dan Brown (Danielle Brown) was born and raised in Exeter, New
Hampshire, USA. Brown grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy,
where his father, Richard G. Brown, was a teacher of mathematics. Brown's
23
child, where codes and ciphers were the lynchpin tying together the mathematics,
music and languages in which his parents worked. When he was young Brown
spent hours working out anagrams and crossword puzzles, and he and his siblings
participated in elaborate treasure hunts devised by their father on birthdays and
holidays.
After graduating from Phillips Exeter, Brown attended Amherst College.
Brown spent the 1985 school year abroad in Seville, Spain, where he was enrolled
in an art history course at the University of Seville.
In 1991 he moved to
Brown graduated from
Amherst in 1986.
Hollywood to pursue a career as singer-songwriter and
pianist. To support himself, he taught classes at Beverly Hills Preparatory School
but in 1996, Brown quit teaching to become a full-time writer.
The Da Vinci Code was released in 2003 and received immediate attention
from critics. It was the book that achieved lasting literary success and popularity
for Dan Brown. All of his books are about thriller. He used his experience about
codes in writing his novel. We can see the same theme in Digital Fortress, one of
the novels written by Dan Brown.
The story takes place in Paris. It starts off with the murder of Jacques
Saunière (one of the Grand Masters of Priory of Sion). Sauniere’s body is
positioned as “The Virvituan Man”, Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting.
for Sophie Neveu, who is his granddaughter and Robert Langdon. Sauniere knows
that Langdon has skills in deciphering codes. Therefore they are chased by the
police since the police think that Langdon murdered Sauniere. Later on in the
story, Neveu and Langdon get help from Sir Leigh Teabing, a British historian.
Langdon and Neveu start to sort through the riddles, and they find a trail that leads
to the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, and the secret society, the Priory Sion.
The Priory Sion think that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. Here
they find out that Sauniere was a member of the Priory. Jacques Sauniere wants to
tell this secret to Sophie Neveu, but their relationship getting worse since Sophie
Neveu saw her grandfather having a ritual sex. Since that time, she had not met
her grandfather. At the end of the story, Sophie Neveu finds her long-lost
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter consists of four sections. The first is subject matter. It deals
with the subject of the study. The second is approaches. It deals with the literature
approaches that I use to analyze the novel. The third is data collection. It deals
with the sources that I use in analyzing the study. The fourth is procedures. It
deals with the steps in completing the thesis.
3.1 Subject Matter
The subject matter here is a novel that I choose to be analyzed. It is
entitled The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This novel is about 489 pages and
published by Anchor Books, a division of Random House, Inc New York in year
2003. This novel originally written in English and was translated into 44 different
languages.
This novel tells a story about Robert Langdon, a writer and also lecturer.
When he came to Paris, he was accused as the murdered to Jacques Sauniere.
Jacques Sauniere wrote a mesage which led Sophie and Langdon to find a series
of riddles and anagrams. Here the secret behind the work of Leonardo Da Vinci
came up. Leonardo Da Vinci has purpose in making the painting such as
Monalisa, Madonna of The Rock, The Last Supper. In the end of the story, they
3.2 Approach
This study uses the psychological approach. It discusses human
motivation, personality and behavior patterns of a person in literary work that
built his or her characters. The psychological approach supported the writer to
reveal the Jacques Sauniere’s motivation in leaving a message before he died. It
could be realized, since as proposed by Rohrberger and Woods, the psychological
approach involves various theories of psychology to explain the character’s
personality in a story. Each character’s behavior could be referred to a psychology
of human being.
3.3 Procedures
It is a library study; therefore I did the primary and secondary source. I use
Dan Brown novel entitled The Da Vinci Code as the primary source.
The secondary sources of my study are the materials that support the
evidence for the problem formulation study. They are dictionaries, encyclopedias,
text books, some newspaper and magazines articles both from the library and the
internet.
My first procedure of this study was deciding the topic. It was begun with
excitement of studying motivation. After that I had to find the ideal literary media
that could be best to describe my topic.
It is a must to understand the topic before, during and after the study,
therefore, I would not get lost in the comprehension more books, e-books and the
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It is also important to read the novel carefully and over again. I also underlined
some important lines to me and wrote some notes on the novel that would help me
in the analyzing.
After the analyzing is completed, I create a teaching learning sets design
that associated to the topic using the novel as implementation of teaching English
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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.
4.1The 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.
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
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?
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.
He is afraid that because Neveu is an attractive woman, she would draw
away the police men’s attention from their work. He also thinks that she as a
woman should have nothing to do with the police force, since women are not as
strong as men, but that could be considered a pretext, since Neveu is a
cryptographer, and that does not acquire any physical strength. It is not only Fache
who is annoyed with a female co-worker. There are also cryptographers, who do
not want to work with her, and it is not her looks that concern them, it is her great
knowledge of symbology and her ability to show it.
4.2.1 Beautiful
According to Murphy, a character can be recognized by his/her physical
appearance. In this novel Sophie Neveu is described as a beautiful simple and
elegant woman. It can be seen from her appearance.
Unlike the waifish, cookie-cutter blondes that adorned Harvard dorm room walls, this woman was healthy with an unembellished beauty and genuiness that radiated a striking personal confidence. (56)
She was moving down the corridor toward them with long, fluid stides… a haunting certainty. Dressed casually in a knee-length, cream color Irish sweater over black leggings, she was attractive and looked to be about thirty. Her thick burgundy hair fell unstyled to her shoulders, framing the warmth of her face. (55)
The way she dressed described that she is a simple but elegant woman.
She does not waste her time to make up herself. Dressing casually but still in
33
4.2.2 Stuborn
Sophie‘s relationship with her grandfather, Jacques Sauniere was not good
since her coming home for holiday when she was studying in university. To her
surprised, she found that her grandfather was having a ritual sex. She went away
and left her grandfather.
Sophie never responded except once-to forbid him ever to call her or try to meet her in public. She was afraid his explanation would be more terrifying than the incident itself. (81)
It seems that she cannot forgive her grandfather. She did not want to hear
any explanation from her grandfather. For ten years, they were having bad
relationship. Her grandfather always sent her cards, letters, even reach her on the
phone but she ignored him. She did not want to talk to him or hear any
explanation.
4.2.3 Smart
As stated above that she works for Paris Judicial Police. Her ability makes
her senior above her. She brings the new methodology of cryptography to solve
the cases in Paris police department.
At thirty-two years old, she had a dogged determination that bordered on obstinate. Her eager espousal of Britain’s new cryptologic methodology continually exasperated the veteran French cryptographers above her. (55)
As a woman she is not expected to know much, especially not more than
not her personal qualities that disturb them but it is the fact that she is a woman,
and because of that not supposed to be so prominent.
When Sophie knows that her grandfather, Jacques Sauniere was murdered,
and the police were accused Langdon, she makes a quick decision how to get
Langdon out, so that he would not be in jail because she knows that Langdon was
not guilty. She tells Langdon that he got a message from the U.S embassy. When
Langdon calls the number given by Sophie, he is surprised. The voice on the
phone is Sophie’s voice which was recorded. Sophie gives some directions.
And yet the more he listened, the more he sensed Sophie Neveu was speaking in earnest. Do not react to this message. Just listen calmly. You are in danger right now. Follow my directions very closely. Filled with uncertainty, Langdon had decided to do exactly as Sophie advised. (71)
If we know new people, we will not believe to him/her easily in short time.
It will take time to have someone’s trust. With her ability, Sophie could gain
Langdon’s trust in short time. Sophie can ensure Langdon as if as Langdon had no
choice, except follow her though they never met each other.
If the smartest thing you could do. If you let Fache take you into custody now, you’ll spend weeks in a French jail while DCPJ and the U.S Embassy fight over which courts try your case. But if we get you out of here, and make it to your embassy, then your government will protect your rights while you and I prove you had nothing to do with this murder.” (85)
Langdon has no choices except follow her. He does not want to be in jail
because he is not guilty. It is possible for someone to trust someone else in short
35
4.2.4 Curious
Since Sophie still kids, her curiosity was in her. She likes to play puzzle.
Her grandfather always gave the birthday present or Christmas present indirectly.
Sophie had to break the several codes, riddles or treasure hunt to get her present.
It was the day before her ninth birthday. She was secretly combing the house, searching for hidden birthday presents. Even then, she could not bear secrets kept from her. (117)
Her curiosity makes Sophie always wandering. When something is on her
mind, she would find the answer by herself. She does not like secret. She would
never give up until she finds the answer that makes her satisfied.
4.3 Jacques Sauniere’s Motivation for Writing His Last Message
Most people in the world, whether they realized or not live in an organize
way. They manage their daily activities. They know when they have to go to work
or to school, to go with friends, to visit relatives, to have a vacation, or just to
enjoy the day with the person they love. Everything goes like they want and they
do not have to worry about it. But what if something unexpected happens? Most
people do not prepare themselves for the unexpected things. They are happy with
what they are and what they have. So, when something unexpected happens, they
do not know what to do.
The same condition also happens in a family. Jacques Sauniere is left by
his granddaughter, Sophie Neveu. It is the hard thing he faced, since Sophie
got an accident when she was still kid. Until his last times, he tried to call Sophie.
There is something he wanted to talk.
“We had a falling – out ten years ago,” Sophie said, her voice a whisper now. “We’ve barely spoken since. Tonight when Crypto got the call that he had been murdered, and I saw the images of his body and text on the floor, I realized he was trying to send me a message.” (76)
Because his effort is not success, in his last minutes he tried to attract
Sophie. He posed as The Virvituan Man one of Leonardo da Vinci famous
painting. The Virvituan Man is Sophie favorite painting. Jacques Sauniere hopes
that by posed like that in his death, Sophie will come. “The Virvituan Man,” she
said flatly. “That particular sketch has always been my favorite Da Vinci work.
Tonight he used it to catch my attention.” (76)
Saunire looked remarkably fit for a man of his years… and all of his musculature was in plain view. He had stripped off every shred of clothing, placed it neatly on the floor, and lain down on his back in the center of the wide corridor, perfectly aligned with the long axis of the room. His arms and legs were sprawled outward in a wide spread eagle, like those of a child making a snow angel… or, perhaps more appropriately, like a man being drawn and quartered by some invisible force. (38)
As stated in chapter 2 that people’s behavior in influenced by certain
motives. These motives lead them to behave in their manner to get some
achievement. Motivation seems to provide the “why” behavior. To discover why
Jacques Sauniere leaves a message before he died, the theory of motivation
especially Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is utilized.
According to Maslow, there are five basic needs in the hierarchy of needs.
37
needs, and self actualization needs. Maslow argues that usually the lowest need on
the hierarchy being satisfied. (Globe 38-43)
4.3.1 Fulfilling Sophie’s Safety Needs
Leaving the message “P.S find Robert Langdon” Jacques Sauniere wanted
Sophie to find Robert Langdon so that she would not be alone. As the
granddaughter of the Priory Sion’s grandmaster, Sophie is always in danger.
member of Priory Sion, Jacques Sauniere is one of the Grandmasters of Priory
Sion. He thinks that it is the right time to him to tell the truth to Sophie. He loves
Sophie very much. He does not want something happen to her. Jacques Sauniere
wanted to make his relationship well.
“You cannot be mad forever. Have you not read the letters that I’ve sent all these years? Do you not yet understand? He paused. “We must speak at once. Please grant your grandfather this one wish. Call me at the Louvre. Right away. I believe you and I are in danger.” (82)
As the member of Priory Sion, he is always in danger. He can be killed
anytime, so does with Sophie. After their relationship is bad for ten years,
Sauniere wanted to explain and tell the truth. Sophie does not know that her
grandfather is one of the members of Priory Sion.
4.3.2 Fulfilling Sophie’s Belongingness and Love Needs
Jacques Sauniere felt that he does not longer live anymore. In her last time,