Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Dune, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Violence
Free Will and Fate
Environment and Human Culture
Human Cognitive Advances
Summary
Analysis
In the epigraph from Princess Irulan’s text “Arrakis Awakening,” the Princess relates some of the many facets of Muad’Dib’s fascinating personality. He was a man of contradictory qualities, being both soldier and spiritual leader, monstrous and virtuous, cunning and innocent, honorable and ruthless, and “less than a god, more than a man.” She finds that he cannot be measured by ordinary standards because of his extraordinary life. At the time of his greatest triumph he also becomes aware of death before him, but accepts it. Princess Irulan is not sure that this gracious acceptance comes from a sense of justice, because Muad’Dib is a man “who ordered battle drums made from his enemies’ skins” and reneged on his noble responsibilities in favor of his opportunities as Kwisatz Haderach.
The many dualities in Paul’s personal and public identities serves to heighten his mythic status in the Imperium. He is so skilled and talented that he exists as a more powerful being than all other humans, although Irulan notes that he is not a god and is therefore fallible. Paul’s rise to Imperial power has also resulted in his transformation to a callous and treacherous leader compared to his existence as an honorable young nobleman at the start of the novel.
Themes
Paul takes his rightful place on the Arrakeen throne. Gurney Halleck and Stilgar would prefer he set himself up in a more defendable location, such as a desert cavern, but Paul likes the symbolism of his choice. Count Rabban resided in this mansion, therefore Paul’s re-occupation sends a message of victory to the Arrakeen populace.
Paul prefers the power of symbolism over the safety of the desert when re-claiming Arrakis and confronting the Padishah Emperor.
Themes
Paul asks Halleck to bring Jessica and Chani to him, knowing that Chani will by now have learned of their son Leto’s death. Paul has pushed his own grief out of his mind in the same manner he did after his father Duke Leto’s death. As Paul deals with post-battle matters, he is still plagued by the weighty despair of seeing potential futures that all result in a brutal Fremen holy war sweeping the Imperium.
Since finding out about Leto’s death at the beginning of battle, this is Paul’s first moment to attend to his personal grief. His despair at losing his son is echoed by the reminder that his Fremen will one day sweep the galaxy in a violent religious war; Paul and the Fremen’s victory is at the same time a death sentence for millions across the Imperium.
Themes
Reflecting on the day’s events, Paul remembers the strange ability that Alia has used to bend time to place a future message into his awareness. She is letting her brother know that she has killed “the demented old Baron” (Baron Harkonnen). When Stilgar returns to report finding the Baron’s body in the war’s wreckage, he is shaken by Paul’s demonstration of all-ranging knowledge once more.
Paul is growing comfortable in his predictions of the future based on the many possibilities he sees laid out before him. Alia once more shows her strange maturity and irreverence when she refers to their murdered grandfather as “demented.”
Themes
Get the entire Dune LitChart as a printable PDF.
Paul sends a captured Sardaukar soldier as a messenger to the Pashidah Emperor to arrange a meeting in which Paul will settle the terms of the Emperor’s surrender. Paul promises the word of bond to protect the Emperor and his company during negotiations if they bring no weapons to the meeting. As he tests the Sardaukar soldier to ensure that the man understands the message to be conveyed, Paul realizes that an organization such as the Sardaukar military never knowing anything but victory was a huge weakness in itself.
The mighty Sardaukar forces have never experienced hardship in battle, and therefore they were terribly unprepared for the skill they faced when fighting the Fremen soldiers.
Themes
Stilgar informs Paul that while Chani has taken time alone in her grief, Lady Jessica has asked to meet her son in the conservatory. The Fremen have also found Count Rabban’s dead body. When Paul and Stilgar talk about the planet Caladan’s weather causing water to fall from the sky, Stilgar becomes awed by Paul, ready to follow his every command. The young Duke realizes that such a moment “lessens a man,” and that he has “seen a friend become a worshipper.”
Paul is saddened when he realizes that his religious-political leadership has awed Stilgar to the point that Stilgar is no longer comfortable treating Paul informally as a friend in his Fremen leadership. Paul finds himself increasingly an isolated island of power due to his burden of leadership.
Themes
Jessica finds her son and is shocked by the change that she senses in Paul. He seems removed and cold in manner; Jessica wonders if it is because of his son Leto’s death. Then, though, Paul affirms to Jessica that he is the Bene Gesserit’s Kwisatz Haderach. He has “lived billions upon billions of lives” and “plumbed the depths of both cruelty and kindness.” Paul then bids his mother stand to his side, as the Emperor’s party—including Paul’s future bride—will shortly be arriving.
Paul’s unemotional relationship with his mother once more emphasizes the isolation he feels as the most powerful individual in the Imperium. He also explicitly signals his plant to marry Princess Irulan and thereby set himself up to take the Imperial throne.
Themes
Jessica snaps at Paul, warning him not to make the same mistake as his father, Duke Leto. Paul coolly replies that a princess is the “key to the throne” but that this is all she will ever be to him. Chani enters, grief written upon her body. Paul is shaken to see that she has been crying, gifting water to their dead son. Paul still feels numbed of emotion but tries to comfort Chani, promising that they will have more sons together.
Jessica is unimpressed by her son’s attitude and decisions. He ignores her warnings, pragmatically viewing a royal marriage as the solution to his desire for increased political power. Although Paul makes no effort to connect with his mother, he tries to comfort Chani—at this moment she is the only person he cares for deeply enough to push through his chilling wall of isolation and power.
Themes
Stilgar starts to indicate that the Padishah Emperor and his party approach, but Paul already seems to know and beats Stilgar to it. Paul’s powers in foresight impress the Fremen once more. Gurney Halleck notes that the Emperor’s group have no throwing weapons. He also notes Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s presence and asks Paul if he wants the Harkonnen removed. Paul says he is fine.
Paul continues to wield his Kwisatz Haderach powers with ease. He is perhaps eager to meet Feyd-Rautha—now that Baron Harkonnen and Rabban are dead, Feyd-Rautha is the only noble Harkonnen whom Paul can manipulate to avenge his father’s death.
Themes
Halleck notes that the Guild have also been in contact making demands. Jessica is shocked by Paul’s casual dismissal of the Guild, but he knows his control over Arrakeen spice puts them in the palm of his hand. Paul also thinks on the process that has brought the Guild to ruin—with their limited foresight, “they’d always chosen the clear, safe course that leads ever downward into stagnation.”
Paul’s contempt for the Guild’s fear of risk-taking as well as their fear of his power over spice sees him treat the powerful galactic organization with derision in a manner that they have never before received.
Themes
Gurney Halleck also informs Paul that Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is with the Emperor, as is Thufir Hawat, Duke Leto’s old Mentat. Paul is surprised that Halleck has left their old friend Hawat in their enemy’s group, but has a glimpse of one possible future in which the Padishah Emperor has ordered Hawat to assassinate Paul with a poisoned needle.
Paul is thrilled to meet with his old teacher Hawat despite the risk the Mentat poses to his life. He is less than thrilled, though, to be again encountering the Reverend Mother who threatened his life on Caladan.
Themes
When the Imperial enemy approach Paul, they are seen to be a dishevelled and somewhat devastated group. Not their leader, though—despite his unkempt look with torn clothes and mussed hair, Emperor Shaddam IV has a presence that commands attention and respect.
Paul’s Fremen army has thoroughly decimated the powerful Imperial forces. Despite his vulnerable position, the Padishah Emperor remains a commandingly authoritative figure.
Themes
Paul’s Fremen guards stop the group on their approach to Paul’s throne. He sees Reverend Mother Mohiam peering out at him, and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s face beside her. Paul also spies a slight man in the party who he has never seen in his dreams or reality before—yet he instantly recognizes the man’s dangerous presence whose face carries “a marker of fear.” Jessica tells Paul that the man is Count Hasimir Fenring, a genetic-eunuch and killer who lived in Arrakeen before the Atreides took over. Paul wonders if fate has denied him a look at Fenring because the man will one day kill Paul. Finally, Paul’s attention is drawn by the beautiful Princess Irulan who shows strength in her lack of fear.
Paul draws on his Mentat and Bene Gesserit training to calmly assess the varied party before him. Although his lack of foresight regarding Count Fenring suggests that the man may play some part in Paul’s death, the narrator will soon reveal it is because of the Count’s close connection with Paul due to Fenring narrowly missing transformation into the Kwisatz Haderach because of his genetic condition.
Themes
Thufir Hawat pushes forward from the back of the Imperial party. He looks old and frail, but Paul is very glad to see him. Hawat apologizes to Lady Jessica; he has learned from Gurney Halleck that his furious blame toward her for betraying Duke Leto has been wrong the whole time. Now that they are reunited, Paul states that because of Hawat’s many generations of service to the Atreides family, Paul is willing to give the Mentat anything he asks for—even Paul’s life. Hawat is shocked, realizing that Paul knows about his assigned assassination.
Hawat realizes that his anger has clouded his logic for many years, a weighty error for a Mentat. Paul demonstrates the value of loyalty alongside astute political manipulation in his dealings with the dangerous yet beloved Mentat.
Themes
Paul reaches out to support Hawat, who is almost dead on his feet due to the Harkonnen-administered poison. The Mentat manages to turn proudly to face the Emperor, revealing the poison needle that the Emperor gave him and declaring that he will not betray his service to House Atreides in this final hour. Paul catches Hawat as he collapses, dead.
Paul’s loyalty and honor to his childhood companion serves him well, with Hawat proving a faithful Atreides ally to his death. One of the Emperor and Reverend Mother’s final gambles to destroy Paul has failed.
Themes
Fremen bear Hawat’s body away and for the first time Paul sees fear in the Padishah Emperor’s eyes. Paul uses his Bene Gesserit Voice training to put every ounce of contempt into his address of “Majesty.” The Emperor tries to talk down to Paul, blaming him for the warfare and threatening that the Guild and Great Houses are poised to fight for the Emperor.
Paul’s wielding of the Voice informs the Bene Gesserit-trained Princess Irulan of some of his hidden power. The Emperor’s blustering political protests carry no weight with Paul and his Fremen forces.
Themes
Paul curtly dismisses the Emperor’s posturing as foolish and turns his attention to the two Guildsmen in the group. The Guild refuses Paul’s authority before the young Duke reminds them that he can and will destroy the Arrakeen spice crops forever if they don’t obey him. They label him “mad” but know from their limited powers of foresight that he could follow through on his threat.
This time, Paul uses direct communication with the powerful Guild to force his authority. Once more, his control of Arrakeen spice resources is the key power play that allows him to neutralize the Guild’s threats.
Themes
Paul addresses Reverend Mother Mohiam, whom he has not seen since she tested him with the gom jabbar on Caladan. The Reverend Mother acknowledges that there is now no doubt that Paul is “the One,” and she forgives Jessica for her rebellion in carrying a son and her mistake in creating the all-seeing Alia. Paul coldly tells the old woman that she has no right or cause to forgive Jessica for anything. And he informs her that despite ninety generations of the Bene Gesserit program’s genetic breeding, now that the Kwisatz Haderach is here, he will never help with their cause—the Reverend Mother screams with anger.
The Reverend Mother’s dramatic reaction to Paul’s firm refusal of Bene Gesserit influence over his actions as Kwisatz Haderach acknowledges the sisterhood’s failure in spending 40 generations to carefully attempt to produce a powerful yet puppet human savior they can manipulate to control the Imperium.
Themes
Next, Paul turns his attention to Princess Irulan. He addresses her politely and formally, suggesting that there is an obvious solution to the bloodshed and manipulation. Irulan agrees and is willing to marry Paul, but the Emperor will not have it. While Reverend Mother Mohiam tries to convince him, Paul comforts Chani that despite this marriage to Irulan, Chani is his only beloved.
The younger generation are more adept and practical in political negotiations than the previously all-powerful Imperial and Bene Gesserit leaders. Paul affirms his personal commitment to Chani but will not retract his marriage offer to Irulan because of its political advantage.
Themes
Paul and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen exchange words, and Feyd-Rautha invokes the right of single combat against Paul due to the kanly (formal feud between Great Houses) between the Atreides and Harkonnen families. Paul accepts, with his people unsure why he so easily takes on this great risk. As the room rearranges itself for the combat, Paul thinks on the meaning of this moment in time. He is resigned to the fate of a Fremen holy war that will occur in his name whether he leads it or not. He is also the “race consciousness” of the Kwisatz Haderach who can see the doom of humankind and knows that it needs to shake itself out of destruction through new mixed gene pools for stronger peoples.
Paul once more surprises his supporters with his desire to take great risks during his leadership. As he prepares for battle with the lethal Feyd-Rautha, Paul once more finds himself distracted by his “terrible purpose” in both destroying and saving humanity.
Themes
Paul asks his “cousin” if he is ready to fight; indeed, Feyd-Rautha is excited by what he sees as a sure win over the “yokel Duke.” The Reverend Mother Mohiam trembles as she realizes that Paul knows his maternal grandfather’s heritage that the Bene Gesserit kept hidden all of Lady Jessica and Paul’s lives. She is terrified at the outcome of two Bene Gesserit “end products” now fighting each other to death.
Like his uncle, Feyd-Rautha arrogantly underestimates the power of the desert in having trained Paul and the Fremen into formidable opponents. Meanwhile, the Reverend Mother despairs further when she realizes that the two final male heirs of the Atreides and Harkonnen Houses that the Bene Gesserit sisterhood has genetically cultivated for so long are about to fight each other to the death—once again, Paul Atreides is the undoing of countless years of Bene Gesserit planning.
Themes
As the two men circle each other, Feyd-Rautha is exceedingly confident in his taunts and knife thrusts. Paul wonders if a possible opening on Feyd-Rautha’s left side is actually a trap with a flip-dart hidden in the Harkonnen’s girdle. Paul’s suspicions prove true: it is a feint within a feint, as the flip-dart is hidden on the opposite side to where Feyd-Rautha lures Paul. There is further treachery with a muscle-slowing soporific on the Harkonnen’s borrowed blade that belongs to the Padishah Emperor. Finally, though, after a well-matched fight (except for Feyd-Rautha’s deceit), Paul gains the upper hand and kills the Harkonnen.
Unsurprisingly, Feyd-Rautha rigs his fight. Like Baron Harkonnen, he plots complex layers of deceit to trap his enemies. However, Paul is able to draw on his training to defeat his cousin. Feyd-Rautha’s death ends House Harkonnen and one of the Bene Gesserit’s most important assets, unless Lady Fenring was earlier successful in conceiving a child with Feyd-Rautha.
Themes
Seeing Paul’s impressive triumph in besting Feyd-Rautha, Emperor Shaddam IV turns to his most trusted friend and member of household, telling Count Hasimir Fenring to kill Paul at once and using any means possible while the young Duke is spent from the fight. Count Fenring and Paul look at one another and Paul realizes why he has never seen the man in his dreams and visions—the Count is an almost-Kwisatz Haderach, undermined by his genetic anomaly as a eunuch. Count Fenring has instead turned his considerable talents into a secretive and introspective existence. Through their momentary connection of brotherhood, Fenring can feel Paul’s deep sympathy for him. For the first time in his life, the Count opposes the Emperor’s orders, stating “Majesty, I must refuse.”
Faced with one of the most dangerous threats that could end his life, Paul’s compassion rather than his impressive powers is his saving grace. Paul and Count Fenring are men of great power in their own right and can empathize with one another’s weighty and lonely existences. This fleeting connection is intense enough for Count Fenring to betray his lifetime of loyalty to the Padishah Emperor.
Themes
The Padishah Emperor is enraged by Count Fenring’s betrayal and hits him across the face. Paul starts to set out his terms to take the throne—as well as allowing Paul to marry Princess Irulan, the Emperor will step down from the throne and move to live on Salusa Secundus. When the Emperor complains that Paul breaks his bond of safe negotiations, Paul states that he keeps his bond—but Muad’Dib is not beholden to it. Paul also predicts that the Fremen will be able to terraform Arrakis into a paradise and that he cannot stop the Fremen holy crusade that will one day sweep across the Imperium.
The Padishah Emperor is not only shocked by Fenring’s betrayal after a lifetime of loyal service; he knows that he has run out of options to defeat Paul and maintain his Imperial rule. Paul shows a ruthless side when he manipulates his various leadership titles to state that his Fremen persona, Muad’Dib, made no such promise of safe negotiations.
Themes
As dowry, Paul demands the Pashidah Emperor’s entire CHOAM holdings and titles, as well as holdings for Gurney Halleck and all other surviving members of House Atreides. Jessica considers that she may like to live on Caladan again one day, and Paul claims that he will be making Stilgar the governor of Arrakis. When asked, Chani says that she wants for nothing. She is still saddened by her grief and Paul’s marriage of politics. He reassures her again that she is he is hers and hers alone, and that they will bear more children together. Jessica assures Chani that history will remember them as Atreides “wives” despite their status as concubines.
Jessica’s comments demonstrate she has come to accept Duke Leto’s decision to never marry her, instead keeping her as his concubine—a political marriage is too advantageous to give up for love. Paul’s daring plans all come to fruition—he now commands the Guild and has defeated the Emperor and House Harkonnen, thus securing a political marriage to Princess Irulan and effectively taking over Imperial rule. Paul rewards his most loyal supporters with prestigious new titles and wealth; his new authority now allows the Fremen their collective dream of altering the Arrakeen climate to better their future generations. However, the novel’s conclusion ends ominously—once more the narrator reminds readers that Paul cannot prevent the predetermined Fremen holy crusade that will cause galactic destruction in his name.
Themes
