Theme and Summary (The Lost Symbol)

     A central idea that was present throughout the book The Lost Symbol (particularly showcased in chapter  121) was that a loving and nurturing family doesn't always ensure a that a child will grow up to be a stable, outstanding person of moral character. The person who this pertains to in the book in particular is Zachary Solomon (aka Mal'akh, as he is commonly referred to as throughout the book). He was born into a family of great wealth and privilege, and to a family who was very adamant in their quest for trying to help better and to help make a difference in the world. Zach however had no interest in such endeavors, and preferred to spend his money for pleasure; and he eventually ended up paying for it, what with his arrest in the Middle East for attempting to carry cocaine across a border.

     This in my opinion was the beginning of his major spiral downward from being just a "rebellious youth" to becoming the "monster" that he was then  perceived as, during his obsessive quest toward becoming a god.

     "The massive tattooed creature before him had begun life as a tiny, precious infant... baby Zach curled up in a wicker bassinette... taking his first fumbling steps across Peter's study... learning to speak his first words. The fact that evil could spring from an innocent child in a loving family remained one of the paradoxes of the human soul,"

     This goes to show how just because a child is born into a seemingly kind and caring family, that doesn't account for the child's OWN personal behavior and character.