DUNE is one of my favourite books. As an autistic person I would even go as far as to say it’s one of my special interests. I’ve read all the frank Herbert penned books. I’ve watched the David lynch movie, and the mini series with future Prof. Charles Xavier, James McAvoy. I’ve scoured countless wiki entries.
So I’m here to tell you, Paul is not a hero. Dune is about how if you give one person too much power, things go sour. Paul is used as an example of the White Savior trope, described as “a white person who provides help to non-white people in a self-serving manner”. In Dune, Paul is the “Kwisatz Haderach” or “one who can be many places at once”. He has superhuman abilities, such as seeing the future, as well as the past knowledge of his lineage, known as “genetic memory”. This is the result of a breeding program spanning 10,000 years.
Thousands of years ago, to coincide with their plans to breed the Kwisatz Haderach, the Bene Gesserit also sent out members to, as they put it, “religiously engineer” planets for later use by themselves. They went to Arrakis (also known as Dune) and told the Fremen (the indegious people of Dune) that in the future a presicent son of a Bene Gesserit would lead them to freedom. This became a prophecy.
So when Paul shows up and fits this, they follow him. Not without trial, but once he proved himself worthy to join the Fremen, they realize he is the one from their legends. After two years with them Paul becomes a leader, a trusted member of the tribe. Over the next 12 brutal years he leads them to a victory against the Baron Harkonnen using the Freman’s superior fighting style and knowledge of the planet, because obviously the Fremen know the environment better than anyone else. They also take control of the Known Universe, spilling billions of lives worth of blood. Paul is physically blinded during an attack on Arrakeen, the capital of Arrakis. However due to his powers he is similar to Daredevil or other figures, he can “see without sight”.
Paul uses the Fremen for his own selfish desires. He takes advantage of their customs, their religion, and their strength to claim the Golden Lion throne and become Emperor of the Known Universe. Thanks in no small part to the work of the Bene Gesserit so many years ago, the Fremen believe Paul is the Mahdi, the one from their legends that will lead them to paradise. He tells them they will make Arrakis into a lush, green paradise. For desert people, thousands of years living in harsh conditions, who would not want this?
Paul becomes bound to Chani (similar to marriage) and becomes further enmeshed in the tribe. Chani is also the niece of the Naib, or leader, of the Fremen group that Paul joins. They go on to have three children. The first is murdered as a baby by the Harkonnens. The second and third are twins, boy and girl. Chani dies giving birth to them.
With their birth, something unexpected happens to Paul. He admits he did not “see” the birth of his daughter through his future-sight, only his sons. Whether it be from the pressure on all sides politically, several assassination attemps in a row, or losing faith in his own powers, Paul decides to walk in to the desert. This cements him with the Fremens, as it follows their laws. He felt he was no longer useful and gave himself up to Shai-Hulud, the sandworms. His children are not yet hours old and he abandons them. They grow up without a father or mother. The emperor of the universe just vanishes.
Paul’s younger sister Alia becomes regent until the twins are of age. Alia also has genetic memory, but in her case she cannot control it. She creates a cult of personality, lavish political titles and further brings corruption on to Arrakis. She resents Paul, and is extremely unstable and regularly consumes huge amounts of the spice. Every action she takes, is seen to only serve herself. She manipulates the twins who will rule once they come of age and even tries to get them to indulge in spice like she does. She marries a clone and has an affair with one of her priests. One of her ancestors, the Baron Harkonnen himself, taunts and eggs her on inside her mind. This eventually drives her to take her own life.
So what did the Fremen gain from the Atreides? Their homelands are destroyed, their way of life is basically commercialized throughout the universe, people using their spice rituals for whatever pleases them. Their off-planet assumed leader, the supposed “savior”, leaves them high and dry so to speak. His younger sister corrupts the people even further and then abruptly leaves in her own way. The proud Fremen warriors have become the empire’s personal army, exploiting their labour and shedding blood for a cause that has changed so much since they met young Paul.
Not even going into the events that happen when the twins grow up, as things get worse from here on out. So I leave you with this. Did the Fremen really need Paul? Or did they end up in a worse place than before he got there? Maybe they were right to be distrustful of outsiders. ※
(via twitter user fellawhomstdve)
LORMAGGOT 