THE INTERTEXTUALITY OF THE ILLUMINATI IN ANGELS & DEMONS: BETWEEN HISTORICAL FACT AND CONSPIRACY FICTION

Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons (2000) employs intertextuality through historical, religious, and conspiracy-laden symbols to construct a narrative that blurs the lines between fact and fiction. This paper examines the intertextual use of the Illuminati and Devil’s Hole as symbolic constructs that reinforce themes of secrecy, power, and the eternal struggle between science and religion. By analyzing these symbols through the lens of intertextuality—where texts borrow and reinterpret prior meanings—we uncover how Brown recontextualizes esoteric and historical references to create a modern thriller deeply rooted in myth and conspiracy.