Dune Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dune - Essay Example The Bene Gesserit sisterhood also had superhuman powers, when using melange, a popular spice, to awaken genetic memories of their ancestors. During this backdrop a politcal struggle between three fuedal houses erupt. These houses were the Imperial House Corrino, and two lesser Great Houses, the Atreides and the Harkonnens. Shaddam IV, the Corrino Emperor, felt that Duke Leto Atreides of the Great House Atreides was becoming too popular. Baron Vladimir Harkonnen aided the Emperor in defeating the Atreides. They send the Duke Leto Atreides’ Great House to a planet Arrakis where Melange is grown. After removing the Duke from his planet of power, the evil forces against him attack. When trying to assasinate Baron Vladimir Hakonnen, Duke Leto is killed. After Duke Leto’s death, his son, Paul Atreides, and Paul’s mother, Jessica, escape into the desert. Because of Jessica’s ablities as a Bene Gesserit, plus Paul’s abilities as her son, they join the desert tribal group of the Fremen. Paul becomes the messiah, or political and religious leader, of the Freman. Paul then uses the Freman warriors to take control of Arrakis and the spice trade of the Melange, forcing the Shaddam IV to abdicate so he could become emperor.. The political theme in Dune revolves around a fuedal system like in Medevial Europe. There are Lords, Vassals, and Fiefs. The Lords or nobility are the Three Great Houses, Vassals are the people working for the nobility, and Fiefs are the planets like Arrakis. Colonialism and post colonialism themes run through this novel also. The colonist, Paul Atreides, rallied the natives, Fremen, to overthrough a oppressive government, Shaddam IV. The religious aspect of Dune is intertwined in the political one. By believing in the Missionaria Protectiva, or contrived religious myths, the Freman are convinced that Paul was not only the messiah, but the political leader as