The Devil's Advocate Symbolism. What do they all mean?

[BobGrant2012]

I just watched this film last weekend and tried to research what all the symbolisms portrayed in the film mean but unfortunately I couldn't really find anything that I'm really looking for. Specifically I'm interested in the symbols related to Al Pacino's office. What does it mean when he came into the room after Keanu Reeves (if anything), what do the white souls behind his desk mean, and any other things that were mentioned or showed in the film to do with his office (another I remember is when the characters ask where he sleeps- does that mean anything?) Anyway if anyone can give pointers to other websites or some explanations that would be a great help. Thanks

 

[Conscious Bob]

Ex Nihilo - Out of Nothing...

Or rather the sculptures were 'inspired' by Frederick Hart's Ex Nihilo Tableaux commissioned for The Washington National Cathedral.

Did you wonder about the name of Al Pacino's character in his human guise?

 

[Sneezy]

It is a tip o' the hat to Paradise Lost, is it not?

 

[Conscious Bob]

Indeed it is.

 

[RosemaryT]

I'll watch the film again and try to answer your question

 

[BobGrant2012]

Thanks all. I will watch Paradise Lost over the weekend to see what you guys are saying

 

[Conscious Bob]

The 'Paradise Lost' we're talking about is the poem by John Milton (which is massive by the way).

The poem starts with Lucifer in shock having been cast out of heaven with his army and finishes with Adam and Eve being driven out of the Garden of Eden because of the temptation of Lucifer.

 

[Conscious Bob]

You don't need to read the poem to work out why the sculpture appears in the film, work it out.

 

[Conscious Bob]

Made the connections yet?

 

[Conscious Bob]

Ah well BobGrant2012, I don't know if you're still interested but I'll just tie this up now.

All the symbolism in The Devil's Advocate points to one book, The Book of Genesis in the Bible.

The original Ex Nihilo (shown in the film as the gray figures behind the desk) were sculpted by Frederick Hart based on his research on The Book of Genesis.

Paradise Lost by the english poet John Milton is also based on The Book of Genesis.

Couple of other nods in the film, in The Book of Genesis Adam and Eve were the only human couple in the Garden of Eden, Keanu and Charlize find themselves similarly alone in 'The Center of The Universe'* and Eve's sin was vanity, John Milton's final line in the film 'Vanity, definitely my favourite sin'.

*Edit, love that nickname.