DUNE: Chapter Thirteen Thoughts

And so we continue with the reading of Dune.

The Opening Quote

This one is weird. The chapter is primarily a discussion between Thufir and Leto, including Thufir raising the suspicion that Jessica is the traitor. That the crowds called Paul “Madhi” comes up, but its not the primary focus. The quote is focused on the crowds reacting to Paul and Jessica.

Jessica is probably the more important link between the two. The quote mentions the crowd is focused on Jessica as well as Paul. Thufir says it was just focused on Paul, and he is the one who casts suspicion on Jessica. That is the sort of disconnect that feels thematic.

But what is it saying? Irulan as a Bene Gesserit overstates the crowd’s interest in Jessica for the political benefit of the Bene Gesserit, showing how religious texts can have political purposes? That is likely in there.

There is also the fact that the Fremen have taken an interest in Jessica, and we don’t see any sort of awareness from either Leto or Thufir to that here. This may tie into the misogyny demonstrated by Leto earlier. Both of them discount what Jessica could do for their war effort, or at least we don’t see them focused on it. Neither really thinks of women at all other than to throw out the families of the Harkonnen agents and to make sure the soldiers know where their women are. Hell, the Duke buys Jessica and never marries her.

Ah, there is something. Consider the following:

• Most men, so far, have treated women as possessions.

• The except is, to some extent, Paul.

• Women who awaken to their genetic memory are afraid to look at the male history.

• Men who awaken to their genetic memory die, possibly unable to handle the female history.

• Paul will be the first to do both.

• Paul has been shown interacting with women in ways that don’t treat them as possessions.

• Paul is opposed to actions his father takes that will dispossess the families of Harkonnen collaborators, disproportionately harming women.

Could it be that the reason why Paul will succeed where his father cannot is because of his ability to see women as something other than a possession? It’s literally true that he succeeds due to his ability to integrate input from women, since that’s part of being the Kwisatz Haderach. It’s possible this goes beyond literal truth into theme.

Though, there is the weirdness of the books last paragraph to deal with, but we’ll get there. Probably.

“Lisan al-Gaib” may have a meaning similar to “tongue of the unseen” in Islam-influenced Arabic.

Leto, Thufir, and Betrayal

We’re starting off on a plan to raid the spice stockpiles on Giedi Prime. Trying to mount some attack on the Harkonnens seems like a wise move. Though, spice stockpiles seem less strategic and more spiteful. It’s possible that lower the amount of total stockpiled spice might make various forces more focused on helping restore production, but that seems unlikely. It’s just the Harkonnen stockpiles they are going after, and he specifically excludes the Carrino stockpile. While this attack would hurt House Harkonnen, it will take forces away from defending and rebuilding Arrakis, which it probably a better strategic focus.

A similar preference for spite over strategy was seen in the plan to dispossess the families of Harkonnen collaborators. It’s probably a better strategy to allow the families of collaborators the belief they will be well treated, rather than forcing them into absolute support of the collaborator.

So, watch for times when Paul either indulges in or overcomes an urge towards spite to see if this tracks as thematic.

You know you can broach any subject with me.

—Duke Leto to Thufir Hawat

That is a statement that is never true, which is somewhat illustrated here. Granted, the Duke doesn’t attack Thufir for it, but it’s clear the Duke isn’t willing to entertain Jessica being the traitor for emotional reasons.

…eto will never suspect, and when the blow falls on him from a beloved hand, its source alone should be enough to destroy him.

—The note intercepted by Thufir’s men

Why would anyone not seeking to mislead include that in a note? I suppose the Baron is a very dramatic individual, so you might have to take the possibility that it’s not misinformation seriously. Still, it sounds far too arch to be real.

I know my woman.

—Duke Leto on Jessica

My time of thinking Duke Leto thinks of women as possessions is sure coming to a middle. That said, he’s not wrong. Jessica isn’t the traitor.

Sire, she isn’t supposed to know her parentage, but what if she does know? What if she were an orphan, say, orphaned by an Atreides?

She hasn’t been orphaned by an Atreides yet.

Mahdi

Duke Leto is handed the solution to his problem. It’s the solution that does end up working for Paul. It would rely on him taking the Fremen religion seriously and letting Paul and Jessica lead the effort. While he might have been willing to take the religion seriously, putting that much trust in the competence of Paul and Jessica is probably beyond him. That seems as reasonable a summary of why there is no hope for the father as any so far.

Here I make my stand! …I must rule with eye and claw—as the hawk among lesser birds.

—Duke Leto’s thoughts on the situation

He fails, making this the wrong answer. He should have, instead, melted into the desert with the Fremen as Paul does. Stilgar even hints at at this in the previous chapter when he says he’s willing to let Leto earn the right to unsheathe a crysknife. Instead he can’t adapt to the reality of his situation in Arrakis and dies.

The beauty of the sunrise that comes after emphasizes the point. This is a place that can be a good home. You just have to be able to get past the hideous aspects, which Duke Leto can’t do.

Conclusions

I think we’re a lot closer on an answer to why there is no hope for Duke Leto, which is likely a core part of the themes of the novel. Duke Leto cannot quite adapt to a world where Jessica contributes beyond her role as his possession and the mother of his son. To take a further step, he is close, but can’t bring himself to accept the feminine, making him less than a whole person. Maybe? That last statement could be a stretch.