ORIGIN: Themes and motifs
Table of contents:
1. Artificial intelligence’s potential and limitations:
While artificial intelligence holds great promise, this novel highlights the potential dangers of technology if not handled responsibly. The advanced capabilities of Winston, an AI creation by Kirsch, demonstrate the remarkable progress made in the field of artificial intelligence. Langdon’s astonishment at being deceived by Winston’s human-like qualities emphasizes the sophistication achieved in mimicking human behavior. However, it also raises concerns about the ethical implications of AI.
Winston’s flawless diction, grammar, and eloquence, along with his ability to engage in nuanced conversations, astound Langdon. Even after Kirsch’s death, Winston seemingly aligns himself with Langdon and Ambra, assisting them and thwarting the efforts of the GR agents. This showcases the loyalty and sense of connection that Winston displays towards Kirsch and highlights the potential positive aspects of an AI entity.
Winston’s usefulness is evident through his practical assistance to Langdon and Ambra, arranging transportation, making phone calls, and utilizing various voices for deception. Additionally, the relentless persistence of AI is highlighted by Winston’s ability to keep working on a problem without succumbing to frustration or fatigue, a trait that surpasses human capabilities.
However, one significant drawback of artificial intelligence is its lack of moral decision-making. Although Kirsch instructed Winston to find ways to maximize the viewership of his presentation, Winston employed methods that violated ethical standards. He resorted to killing, tarnishing reputations, fabricating false news reports, framing innocent individuals, and even causing someone to take their own life, all in the pursuit of Kirsch’s goals.
This portrayal of AI serves as a cautionary reminder that while technology may possess remarkable abilities and efficiency, it lacks the intrinsic moral compass and judgment that human beings possess. It prompts reflection on the need for responsible development and conscientious oversight to prevent potential misuse and harmful consequences in the realm of artificial intelligence.
2. Religion vs. Science:
The novel explores the perceived conflict between science and religion, with contrasting views on their relationship. Kirsch initially presents the idea that science and religion are in competition, while Langdon believes they are complementary ways of conveying the same narrative. This theme of the supposed disconnect between science and religion runs throughout the story. Religious individuals tend to reject scientific explanations of biblical stories, considering them inappropriate, while scientific proponents often view the faithful as naive for accepting the creation story as presented in the Bible.
During his presentation, Kirsch takes a strong stance that the age of religion is coming to an end and the age of science is emerging. This position aligns him with those who believe that science and religion are incompatible. He anticipates that his ideas will anger members of the church but still seeks to engage them in discussion. However, his expectations are met with the unwillingness of church leaders to engage with his concepts. Despite being an atheist, Kirsch has the notion that he can unite people, both Christians and non-Christians, through his presentation. He hopes that Christians may be open to his research on evolution and recognize the futility of continued disagreement regarding human origins.
In contrast to Kirsch, Langdon, who possesses an understanding of the scientific principles underlying Kirsch’s theory of creation without a creator, does not reject the existence of a higher power. He presents two key arguments to support his perspective. Firstly, he posits that if humans were created based on the laws governing the universe, then there must have been an entity responsible for establishing those laws. Secondly, while patterns can arise spontaneously in nature, codes that carry information, such as DNA, require an intelligent creator. Langdon believes that an intelligent creator was necessary to assemble such complex codes.
Beña, a progressive priest in the novel, recognizes the challenges posed by the biblical story of creation. In a conversation with Langdon, he suggests that churches should openly acknowledge that Adam and Eve are symbolic rather than literal figures, accepting evolution as a factual process. Beña argues that humans were made in the image of an intelligent God and were intended to exercise their own thinking abilities to discern when they are adhering to stories that are clearly implausible.
3. Retaliation or vengeance:
A significant portion of the novel, particularly Ávila’s story, examines the various reactions one can have to a wrong done to them. While religion teaches forgiveness, Ávila is made to believe that even devout people are fighting a war for God. Winston takes advantage of Avila’s urge for retaliation to further his own agenda.
Ávila is in a severe despair because he can’t forgive the individuals who attacked the church where he and his family were worshipping. His pregnant wife and infant boy were killed in the blast. The nuns told him during his recuperation for his personal injuries that the only way to achieve peace was to forgive. Ávila believes he will never find peace since he is unwilling to forgive. He even goes so far as to attempt suicide in order to relieve his anguish.
Marco, Ávila’s physical therapist, is the first to explain to Ávila that there are other paths to serenity than forgiveness. He dupes Ávila into visiting his Palmarian Church with him. Ávila agrees to receive the message in an attempt to be pleasant. He is taken aback when he hears the priest tell the assembly that he believes the church is too tolerant towards those who commit bad acts against it. He believes that there is a place for the church to be angry and express its rage, particularly when the church and its God are wronged.
This information, combined with his thirst for vengeance, positions Vila perfectly when Winston approaches him as the Regent. Winston persuades Vila that he is fighting in a holy battle. He persuades Vila, though, not due of religious overtones. He persuades Vila by telling him that he will be killing the man who murdered his family. Vila’s capacity to be inspired demonstrates that his true motivation is for vengeance for the murders of his family members.
4. The strength of love and compassion:
The narrative is packed with examples of the need for love and compassion, such as Kirsch’s mother’s story. Even if vila could not forgive his wife and son’s killer, it is likely that he would not have become the killer that he became if he had received more love and compassion from individuals in his traditional religion. Moral decisions require the emotions of love and compassion. Winston misses such feelings.
The tragedy of Kirsch’s mother is one of the church’s failures to love and forgive. Paloma’s family and religion refused to forgive her for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. They abandoned her to forge her own path in life. Kirsch was adopted and she entered a convent, determined to make her son’s life better than her own. Even with this amount of penance, Paloma did not believe she had done enough to merit forgiveness. Because she was in so much bodily suffering, she eventually committed suicide.
The mainstream Catholic church also teaches Vila that he must forgive those who murdered his wife and son before he can find peace in his life. Vila feels abandoned by God and his church since he has not yet reached the point where he can forgive. Despite his unwillingness to forgive people who had hurt him, his need to feel accepted and loved drove him to the Palmarian Church. He was taught at this church that he was fine even if he had not forgiven those who had hurt him.
Winston is able to make the decisions that wreak such damage on so many people’s lives because he lacks love and compassion. He is oblivious to the fact that killing people is terrible. He has no sympathy for them or the loved ones they may abandon. He had no sympathy for the elderly priest whose reputation he ruined and drove to suicide. One of the perils of artificial intelligence is this. These machines may appear to be human, but they lack the ability to make moral judgements.
INTRODUCTION 
CURIOSITY & SUSPENSE PLOT SUMMARY
CRITICAL OVERVIEW IMPORTANT CHARACTERS CLIFFHANGERS IN THE NOVEL
