Inferno: Symbology on a New Scale

Anyone who is familiar with Dan Brown's novels can expect a new Brownian reading to be riddled with symbols and icons: circumpuncts, fleur de lises, and the all-seeing eye to name a few. As we embark into the depths of a new Brown book with an array of new characters, I thought to answer the following prompt:

"Determine a symbol for each of your characters. What tangible item can represent something abstract about them? Explain the reason for your selection."

Characters can often be complex and multifaceted people, if the author chooses to pen them that way. Meanwhile, other characters are simple and straightforward in their description. In order to accurately assign symbols to the chosen characters, one must accurately examine the depth of which the character was written, and the importance of the character in the main plot. Additionally, I found that we must not only examine personality, but also the actions of a character in great detail.

Here are some characters, their assigned symbols, and the reasoning behind my choices:

Robert Langdon: Professor of Symbology and Iconography at Harvard University, Langdon often finds himself in high-pressure situations and uses his intellect and resourcefulness to save himself and others around him, all the while making monumental discoveries in art, religion, and history. However, throughout Inferno, it is shown that Langdon is becoming older and less sharp. The symbol I would choose for him is a blunt knife, once sharp and useful, but gradually wearing down and becoming older.

Sienna Brooks: Doctor and accomplice of Langdon, Brooks starts out tending to Langdon's mysterious wounds, but finds herself entangled in the plots of the story, dodging assassins and Italian police in order to prevent biological warfare. Sienna is described as highly intelligent and able to get out of tight situations, often using her flawless acting skills. She is also described as sad and regretful in the sudden change in her life. The symbol I would choose for Sienna would be a fox because Sienna can be sly and enigmatic, while hiding an inner sorrow.

Elizabeth Sinskey: The character I previously referred to as "The Silver Haired Lady", she is described as very strong-minded and demanding, making threats against bioterrorists and is firm in her beliefs. However, she is under the custody of the secret Italian police, unable to anything substantial, and enlists Langdon to stop the bioterrorist for her. The symbol I would assign to Sinskey would be the mythological titan Atlas, who described as strong and furious, but is condemned to carrying the weight of the sky on his shoulders, similar to Sinskey, who is trying to prevent the outbreak of a mass biological weapon.

The Provost: This man is the leader of the Consortium, a worldwide organization catering to the needs of anyone requiring racketeering services. The Provost is a very no-nonsense type of man and unwavering in his principles. The Provost does everything possible in his power to get the job done, but he is careful in every decision. A ruthless leader to a ruthless organization, the Provost doesn't hesitate to cut out any thorn in the side of his plans, even his most trusted assassin, Vayentha. A symbol that accurately describes the Provost would be a wall, which can carry people across danger, or can shut danger out of its insides. In all cases, walls are unmovable, as is the Provost in all courses of action.

Vayentha: An assassin initially employed by the Consortium, Vayentha becomes devastated after being disavowed from her failure to kill Langdon. Throughout the novel, Vayentha strives to redeem herself by capturing Langdon before the SRS (another Consortium subsidiary) does. Vayentha is cruel and cunnning, thirsty for redemption. My symbol for Vayentha would be a vulture, scavenging through the remains of death and chaos in search of her original target, letting nothing stop her in the path to her goal.