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
The epigraph from Princess Irulan’s text “Arrakis Awakening” details Muad’Dib’s secret message to the Great Houses of the Landsraad. He asks them to consider if they are profitable rulers or if they are ruled by the profitable Padishah Emperor, comparing the Great Houses to the “rabble” of common citizens.
Paul Atreides boldly challenges the Great Houses to reflect on their relationship between the Imperial throne and the common people. His message encourages the Landsraad to push back against the Padishah Emperor’s unfair manipulations.
Themes
In the safety of the sietch warrens, Jessica is dwelling on Paul’s test to ride a sandworm. It is evening, and she has Reverend Mother duties to perform for a new birth. Jessica has settled into Fremen life well, although she will never be completely at ease in the desert. The environmental dangers are harsh, and the people are tough. Jessica is now accepted wholly by the tribe who treat her with a mixture of respect, love, and fear.
Jessica’s relationship with the Fremen is multifaceted, and although she is now confident in surviving the Arrakeen desert’s many challenges, she also still longs for her previous comfortable life with Duke Leto on the water-rich Caladan.
Themes
Alia enters Jessica’s room with Harah, a female member of Paul’s household. Jessica can see that Harah is troubled deeply and being at odds with the teasing Alia is not helping the woman. Harah informs Jessica that Alia has been causing trouble within the community, hiding at the recent birth and touching the newborn baby’s forehead. This does not help the rumors that Alia is a demon or another supernatural being. Despite her tension with Alia, it is clear that Harah cares fiercely for the young girl and empathizes with her outcast status.
Despite her vast wisdom, Alia does not control her childlike curiosity even when she knows it will upset fellow Fremen. Surprisingly, Harah—who dislikes her position as a servant in Paul’s household—is a fierce advocate for Alia and defends the child against the rest of the Fremen’s criticism.
Themes
Harah tells Jessica that she will not remain in Paul’s household much longer—she has held out this long so that her sons receive special training according to their guardian father’s powerful status. She surprises Jessica with her revelation of some Bene Gesserit talents. Harah has also decided to marry Stilgar, becoming one of his wives. Jessica reflects that Harah could have been a good companion for Paul, though not a wife. Jessica is similarly worried about the love match between Paul and Chani, noting that her son is a nobleman who needs to secure a marriage for political advantage. Jessica loves Chani, though, and Harah points that Chani wants what is best for Paul also—perhaps even marriage to a more influential woman.
Harah continues to surprise, counselling Jessica that her concerns about Chani’s influence on Paul are likely unfounded. The narrator’s description of Harah shows that she shares many similarities with Jessica—they are both strong-willed and mentally astute women who want the best for their children.
Themes
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One of Stilgar’s wives, Tharthar, arrives to speak with Jessica. Tharthar is concerned that when Paul successfully passes the test to ride a sandworm, he will challenge Stilgar’s leadership and fight to the death as per Fremen tradition. In fact, it seems inevitable because so many of the young Fremen men are actively calling for the challenge. However, the rest of tribe agree that they are better off with Stilgar alive. Alia suggests she will talk with the young men to try and deescalate the situation.
Fremen culture is evolving beyond their traditional concerns to determine leadership by a fight to the death. This is perhaps a result of Paul’s influence on the tribe. The suggestion that two-year-old Alia will work to resolve the situation reminds readers of the child’s extraordinary abilities and strangeness.
Themes
