Dune: Book 2, Part 10 Summary & Analysis

The epigraph from Princess Irulan’s text “The Wisdom of Muad’Dib” states the Fremen’s proficiency in “spannungsbogen,” an ancient term for self-discipline.

After traveling with Stilgar and his Fremen throughout the night, Paul and Jessica reach the Cave of Rocks at dawn. The follow a narrow channel, moving urgently due to the danger of being trapped there if they are spotted by enemies. Arriving at a deep cave, the troop relax again, and Chani offers Paul food while teasing him. Paul notices that the food smells strongly of spice. Stilgar orders that the camouflaged door is put into place and for Fremen to see to “moisture security.”

Jessica can see another cave entrance nearby and notices the beauty of the rising sun on the landscape, which also brings danger with its light. Stilgar also directs her to look toward people working under a distant cliff—they are his Fremen, and his group should reach the sietch that night.

Jessica comments on the Fremen’s discipline. Stilgar tells her that this is for the survival of the tribe, and that they choose a leader using the same value. The leader is the strongest individual, who “brings water and security.” Jessica wonders aloud if she has undermined Stilgar’s authority by besting him in combat, but he replies that it was not a formal trial. He says that all of his people are eager to learning the “weirding way” of Jessica’s fighting style.

Stilgar also reveals that his people have stayed outside overlong into daylight hours because they are trying to gather enough spice to give to the Guild. Jessica wants to know why they are paying spice to the organization that controls interstellar travel. Stilgar reveals that it is Liet-Kynes’s instruction to do so; in return, the Guild refrains from flying satellites over desert areas that the Fremen are terraforming to alter the Arrakeen climate.

Even though it will take more than six generations to see the full result of their work, the Fremen are wholly committed to developing Arrakis into a better home for human life. They dream of a planet where people can walk the earth without stillsuits—an environment that includes healthy plant life and surface bodies of water.

Jessica is shocked to see movement in the distance that looks like Fremen riding on the back of a sandworm. Stilgar states that they cannot ride “a maker” in their current area because worms are not permitted there.

Stilgar implies to Jessica that he is interested to know whether she would consider becoming his wife. He knows that she is very powerful and realizes that one day in future Jessica would need to challenge his leadership, as per the Fremen way of the strongest individual holding tribal authority. Their marriage would negate the need to fight for leadership. It would not involve a physical relationship, as Stilgar knows he will be challenged by younger men if they think he has become distracted from the community’s needs.

Jessica’s respect for Stilgar grows due to his considered foresight and reflection. She considers his offer of marriage, realizing that such a move would solidify her place with the Fremen. However, she concludes that there are too many unknown factors about the effects of such a union on Paul and on her unborn child.

Stilgar suggests that there is another alternative to avoid a need to challenge one another for leadership: Jessica could become the tribe’s Reverend Mother. Their current Reverend Mother is elderly. As Stilgar explains his current status as leader of a Fremen tribe, Jessica is struck by his depth of wisdom and his noble countenance. She wonders about the ancestry of such a man.

Stilgar offers his friendship and trust to Jessica once more. She asks whether she might be the Reverend Mother of the Fremen legend she has been hearing whispers of, but he will not commit to an answer.

With Stilgar and his tribe watching her, Jessica suddenly feels that this is the time for her to prove she is the prophesized Reverend Mother. After a moment of hesitation, she is able to let an external memory come upon her and recite ritualistic words that are known by the Fremen. They rhythmically respond to her chanting. After, Stilgar confirms that Jessica will “pass within” to be a Reverend Mother “If the Shai-hulud grant it.” All of the Fremen now regard Jessica with respect and awe, except for Jamis who stands apart from the group.

Paul is also watching this scene and reacts to it intensely due to the spice-infused food he has just eaten. In his heightened state he can sense an unescapable “race consciousness” and is reminded again of a “terrible purpose.” Sitting on the floor, Paul lets himself be guided into a new awareness where he can now see into past, present, and future with a sharpened clarity of mind.

Paul understands that there is some danger in this heightened awareness and that he must not get lost in the bounds of time. He also now grasps the fact that the foresight he has experienced before this moment was both illuminating and blinding in its accuracy and purposeful error. He sees that a minute decision such as the blinking of an eye or a negligent word can have substantial universal consequences. He also sees violence and his own death by knife wound at the end of many of the future paths laid out before him.