She is also a blood descendant of Mary Magdalene and Jesus-she is, literally, what her grandfather nicknamed her when she was a child: “Princess Sophie.” She is also named for the ancient goddess of wisdom, the icon of the divine feminine, Sophia appropriately, then, she displays wisdom at many points throughout the novel-although the author never quite allows her to outshine Robert Langdon for long!Ĭaptain Bezu Fache: A captain of the Paris police, Fache is both a devout Roman Catholic and a relentless enforcer of justice. One of his literary antecedents is no doubt Inspector Javert from Victor Hugo’s Les Misèrables, although, unlike Javert, Fache proves himself, despite his dogged pursuit of his fugitive quarry, capable of admitting error and redirecting his efforts toward truth.Īndre Vernet: The president of the Paris branch of the Depository Bank of Zurich is introduced as a sympathetic character caught between wanting to do what is right and wanting to do what is best for himself: “Jacques was a friend, and my bank does not need this kind of press, so for those two reasons, I have no intention of allowing this arrest to be made on my premises” (p. His reason for helping Sophie and Langdon is a very pragmatic one and though he ultimately betrays them, readers who have been caught in their own difficult situations can nonetheless more than likely identify with Vernet. While not ultimately reliable, neither is he ultimately a villain. Silas: A monastic member of the Roman Catholic organization Opus Dei, Silas is throughout most of the novel little more than the “evil albino” (a common villainous stereotype in literature and cinema). He may find some redemption by the novel’s end, however, as he learns in his dying moments to accept and extend God’s mercy and forgiveness.īishop Manuel Aringarosa: The president-general of Opus Dei, Aringarosa is a man who is motivated by a personal quest for status and power. When he learns that Opus Dei’s favored status with the Vatican is endangered, he feels the threat to his own person and prestige. His grab for power, therefore, is ultimately grounded in his great fear-fear that “the Teacher” is able to exploit for his own ends.
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