77 pages • 2 hours read
Dan BrownThe Lost Symbol
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Process of Transformation
Transformation as a theme is introduced early in the novel during a discussion of the fresco that adorns the ceiling of the Capitol Rotunda, The Apotheosis of Washington. Apotheosis literally translates as “divine transformation” (105), introducing the idea of someone transforming themselves into a god. This theme is carried throughout the novel as Mal’akh envisions himself to be a god in the making. At the same time, the idea that a human can become a god is planted in these early chapters in order to foreshadow the revelation at the end of the novel that early scholars believed that humankind has the power to transform themselves into gods through the power of knowledge and thought.
The most obvious aspect of the theme of transformation is in the character of Mal’akh. The main antagonist of the story, Mal’akh begins as Zachary, the spoiled only son of Peter Solomon. When first given the choice of becoming a Mason and taking on the honor of protecting the Masonic pyramid, he is too young and immature to understand the importance of what his father is offering him. Zachary, like most young men, chooses to take his monetary inheritance and quickly sets out to spend it all on fast cars, beautiful women, and illegal drugs. Zachary’s unfortunate choices lead to prison time in Turkey, and he comes to feel that his father abandons him there. Zachary’s resulting anger at his father is all-consuming and leads to his first transformation. Zachary stages his own death and becomes Andros, a young man living in Greece. However, his transformation is only a surface-level one, for he spends his money in frivolous ways and uses steroids to transform his physical appearance while maintaining the same level of spiritual and philosophical immaturity that led to his misguided ways in life. With maturity, however, Andros grows bored with his lifestyle and transforms again, when he allows his anger to lead him on a path that ends with the murder of his grandmother and his commitment to a road of obsession that leads to a study of the Dark Arts and an all-consuming desire to become a god. This final, disastrous transformation brings the malicious persona of Mal’akh to the forefront and creates a monster determined to fulfill a destiny that is completely of his own creation.
While Zachary/Mal’akh’s transformation is a main focus, there are other transformations in the book that are more subtle. The hidden significance of the pyramid itself transforms on many different occasions, first with the addition of the capstone, and then with the removal of the wax. Similarly, the box that encloses the capstone also transforms, becoming a Rosicrucian cross when unfolded. Even the protagonist is not exempt, for Langdon transforms from a humble professor to an adventurer as soon as his mentor goes missing. Warren transforms from respected Architect of the Capital Building to Langdon’s rescuer and fellow fugitive. Thus, there are many forms of transformation throughout the novel, not the least of which is the reader’s own perception as Dan Brown manipulates expectations with each new plot twist or clever red herring, and each new discovery foreshadows the revelation at the end of the novel. To emphasize the importance of transformation, Brown introduces the idea right at the beginning of the novel, with the description of The Apotheosis of Washington and the story of how Washington is transformed from human to god in the fresco. This concept supports the ultimate description of the Ancient Mysteries, the idea that every human being has the capacity to transform into a god with wisdom and enlightenment.
The Value of Changing Perspective
Perspective is also an important theme of the novel because there are multiple moments in which certain characters will interpret information in multiple ways, seeing it first from one point of view and then from another as other characters provide crucial information that causes the entire philosophical landscape to shift. In this way, Brown crafts a story that is action-packed in both a physical and a metaphorical sense. The first time such a shift occurs is when Langdon recalls a class discussion in which his students believed that there were no secrets in American architecture, but Langdon revealed that the architects of Washington, DC, used astrology to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol Building. Another such shift in perspective occurs when Director Sato questions Langdon’s insistence that the Capitol Rotunda is a sacred location, and Langdon points out that the Rotunda was designed to mimic the Temple of Vesta in Rome, including an eternal flame that once burned in the Capitol vault. By revealing historical information that the students and Director Sato did not have, Langdon changes their perception of these locations.
Change in perspective remains a theme throughout the novel as Langdon insists many times that he believes the idea of the existence of the Ancient Mysteries in Washington, DC, is a myth. Even as Langdon struggles to reveal the meaning of the symbols carved on the Masonic pyramid and capstone, he continues to believe that the Lost Word Mal’akh is searching for is nothing but a story that has become exaggerated over time, just like the perspective of the Masons that Langdon has defended throughout the novel. At the end of the novel, however, Peter tells him that he’s interpreting the pyramid’s significance incorrectly and even uses the words “change of perspective” (604) to get Langdon to see the truth in the pyramid’s secrets.
Change in perspective also relates to the relationship between Mal’akh and his family members. Mal’akh sees his change from Zachary to Andros to Mal’akh as a transformation, but his transformation can also be seen as a change in perspective. Zachary is initially a young, irresponsible man in the memory of his father and his aunt. Zachary used his family money to live a reckless life, traveling, spending money recklessly, and becoming addicted to illegal drugs. When Zachary is eventually arrested in Turkey, this is the end of Peter and Katherine’s association with him—their last memory of him. Therefore, when Zachary comes back into their lives as Andros, a young man who has changed appearance due to the use of steroids, they don’t associate him with the young, reckless man they knew. When he again returns as Mal’akh, a cruel, tattooed man with malicious intent, it is even harder for Peter and Katherine to associate this person with their lost loved one. Learning the truth changes the way they see this man, and it allows them to feel some empathy for a man they both feared and loathed before their change in perspective.
The Significance of Social and Physical Architecture
Brown uses architecture in several ways in this novel to tell his story. He frequently uses the actual architecture of Washington, DC, as a backdrop to the story, for his protagonist explores the beautiful Capitol Building in the first chapters and delves into its hidden mysteries. Likewise, Brown’s dramatic descriptions of the Capitol Visitor Center, the Statuary Hall, and the Capitol Rotunda create a sense of authenticity for his otherwise fanciful tale. The history that Brown imparts is even more intricate, especially when he talks about the founding fathers’ desire to create a new Rome where Washington, DC, now stands. Brown uses the architecture that exists in Washington, DC, as a way to incorporate the history of the city and the stories behind the design and construction of Washington’s most iconic buildings as an integral part of the plot. Without the cornerstone of the Washington Memorial and its highly publicized ritual setting, the novel would remain incomplete.
However, it is not just physical architecture that plays an important thematic role in the novel. By exploring the themes of spirituality and transformation, Brown also explores the foundations of American society and the fraternity of the Freemasons through the lens of their cornerstone. The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and autonomy that aligns closely with the tenants of the Freemasons. By exploring these similarities, Brown uses the architecture of the founding of this country and the setting of the country’s capital to tell a story that both reveals aspects of history that many people might not know. He also questions the modern beliefs that the founding fathers were Christians who used the Christian faith as the foundation of the government. Instead, Brown explores the idea that several founding fathers warned that a literal interpretation of the Bible causes readers to miss the true purpose of the Bible’s message. Brown suggests that the founding fathers, especially those who were Masons, believed that there is a greater message in the Bible that has little to do with Christianity.
Related Titles
By Dan Brown
