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 “Muad’Dib: The 99 Wonders of the Universe” reveals that Muad’Dib believed that a person could never fully hold an individual identity if they held the role of religious leader. The combination of law and responsibility makes individualism impossible.
Paul’s revelation of the difficult responsibilities of a religious leader speak to his impossible desire for a quiet life dedicated to Chani and their children.
Themes
Paul and the Fremen are successful in trapping the smugglers who infringe on Fremen territory. Gurney Halleck, Duke Leto’s old weapons master and Paul’s childhood teacher and friend, leads the smugglers’ party. Halleck is shocked by Paul’s appearance, having thought him dead in the years since the Harkonnen attack on House Atriedes. Halleck is further surprised to learn that Paul is the identity behind the mysterious Fremen leader Muad’Dib. The weapons master declares his loyalty to Paul, his Duke. The two begin plotting how they can destroy the Harkonnens.
Halleck shows his dedication to House Atreides by immediately swearing loyalty to Paul, despite his lack of knowledge of who Paul has grown into as the Fremen leader Muad’Dib. Halleck is a valuable addition to Paul’s forces because the weapons master is an elite fighter and military strategist. Like Stilgar, Halleck is also unafraid to break convention by sharing a friendship with the powerful young Duke.
Themes
Halleck and the smugglers accompany Paul and the Fremen into a cave. Some of the smugglers are undercover Sardaukar soldiers and stage an attack. The Fremen easily overpower them, killing most of the Padishah Emperor’s fighters and capturing the others.
Once again, Fremen prove their remarkable fighting skills by overpowering the feared Sardaukar soldiers with ease. Paul has a potent army backing him against the Padishah Emperor and House Harkonnen.
Themes
Playing a game of strategy, Paul arranges for the Sardaukar captives to escape so that they can report back to Emperor Shaddam IV on Paul’s name and the elite Fremen fighting force. Paul also reveals political nous when he reassures Stilgar that he will not be killing the Fremen to take his leadership—Stilgar is too valuable for that, and Paul has a plan to assume authority in a different manner.
Paul’s military tactics demonstrate his Mentat abilities in complex strategy. He is also unafraid to alter Fremen tradition, refusing to kill such a valuable soldier as Stilgar.
Themes
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