Frank Herbert's "Dune"

A Critical Companion

Author: Kara Kennedy

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Palgrave Science Fiction and Fantasy: A New Canon

Part of: Springer Professional "Business + Economics & Engineering + Technology" , Springer Professional "Business + Economics"

Table of Contents

About this book

This book offers a critical study of Frank Herbert’s Dune (1965), the world’s bestselling science fiction novel. Kara Kennedy discusses the novel’s exploration of politics and religion, its influential ecological messages, the focus on the human mind and consciousness, the complex nature of the archetypal hero, and the depiction of women’s influence and control. In Dune, Herbert demonstrated that sophistication, complexity, and a multi-layered world with three-dimensional characters could sit comfortably within the science fiction genre. Underneath its deceptively simple storyline sits a wealth of historical and philosophical contexts and influences that make it a rich masterpiece open to multiple interpretations. Kennedy’s study shows the continuing relevance of the novel in the 21st century due to its classic themes and its concerns about the future of humanity, as well as the ongoing nature of issues such as ecological disruption and conflicts over resources and religion.

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

This chapter describes Dune’s place in science fiction as a literary work of art with classic themes, a memorable desert landscape, and messages about ecology that remain interesting and relevant. It explains how the book was part of a shift in the genre of science fiction and had a large impact due to its commercial success and its influence on many stories that followed, including Star Wars. The chapter also provides an overview of Herbert’s influences and interests and draws comparisons between Dune and his other works to show that he developed similar themes before and after his masterpiece. It ends with a brief discussion of the historical context, providing a background that is helpful in unpacking the complexities in this multi-layered novel.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 2. Power, Politics, and Religion

Abstract

This chapter discusses issues of power, politics, and religion in Dune, with a focus on the interplay between feudalism, imperialism, and Machiavellianism. It shows how these features are important in the development of a universe that focuses on humans rather than technology, which allows Herbert to highlight the corruption in the strategies of groups seeking control. The chapter also examines the Catholic, Islamic, and Arabic influences on the depiction of religion and the characterization of the Bene Gesserit and Fremen in the book. It discusses these in relation to Herbert’s criticism of the potential for religion to be used as a political tool.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 3. Ecology and the Environment

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the depiction of the environment and people of the planet Arrakis, otherwise known as Dune. It explains the origins of Herbert’s story in his research on the control of sand dunes in Oregon, and how the book tapped into the emerging movements of ecological awareness and environmentalism in the wake of ecologist Rachel Carson’s revolutionary book Silent Spring. The chapter discusses the role of the ecologist, Dr. Liet-Kynes, in explaining scientific principles to readers even as he overlooks the consequences of his terraforming project and his trust in a hero figure. It recognizes the pivotal role of Dune in offering detailed world-building and an important environmental message about humans’ disruption of ecosystems.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 4. Mind and Consciousness

Abstract

This chapter discusses how Dune was groundbreaking in terms of its characters not because it gave them superhuman abilities, but because it made them three-dimensional and focused on the power of their minds. It looks at Herbert’s intense interest in the nature of human consciousness and his use of different narration styles to make characters seem like real people struggling to survive on an alien planet. The chapter examines the complexity of the characterization of the Bene Gesserit with their extraordinary abilities based on Eastern philosophical traditions such as Zen Buddhism and Yoga. It also explores Paul Atreides as a superhuman figure who takes the reader on his journey of expanding awareness and points to the possibilities of the human mind.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 5. Heroes and Masculinity

Abstract

This chapter explores the complexity of the protagonist Paul Atreides and the ways he does and does not align with the hero archetype and stereotypical characteristics of masculinity. It looks at how his path often aligns with the traditional hero’s journey, but how unusual it is that he shares much of it with his mother, Jessica. It examines him as a courageous and skilled fighter, as well as someone who possesses both masculine and feminine traits due to his genetics and training. The chapter also discusses how Paul appears as a cautious thinker and savior figure who faces numerous limitations, and that his failure to prevent the jihad he foresees points to Herbert’s larger warning about the dangers of charismatic heroes.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 6. Women’s Influence and Control

Abstract

This chapter examines the depiction of women in Dune and the amount of agency or control they have. It focuses on three key avenues of agency—religious, embodied, and political—as the most prominently featured for female characters operating in a feudal, male-dominated universe. The chapter looks at how the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood is modeled after the Catholic Church and uses religion as a tool, and how the Fremen grant religious authority to women. It discusses Bene Gesserit women’s high level of bodily control, seen through their many abilities like the Voice, and their avenues of political control as they seek to shape the future. It also discusses the role of Jessica as a strong mother figure alongside Paul.

Kara Kennedy

Chapter 7. A Complex World

Abstract

This concluding chapter provides an overview of other interesting avenues of interpretation of Dune, some of which have not yet been well-explored in the scholarship. Perspectives that have received some attention include those from philosophy, classical studies, and comparative literature, while emerging areas of study include world-building, linguistics, translation studies, postcolonialism, and posthumanism. The chapter concludes by discussing Dune’s ambiguity and openness to multiple interpretations, which make it ripe for new critical perspectives and debates.

Kara Kennedy

Backmatter

Title: Frank Herbert's "Dune"
Author: Kara Kennedy
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-13935-2
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-13934-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13935-2