What is spice? 

Melange, which is more casually referred to as “spice,” is a substance that can only be harvested on the planet Arrakis. Spice is essentially a psychedelic drug that gives the user heightened awareness, a longer lifespan, and for some (like Paul), the ability to see into the future. Spice’s ability to bestow the user with clairvoyance and precognition has made it possible for humans to do the high-level mathematical calculations necessary to travel quickly and safely through space, thus making intergalactic movements achievable and commonplace. Despite its many useful qualities, spice is highly addictive. Once individuals begin to regularly use spice, they will die if they attempt to – or are forced to – withdraw. 

Spice is a necessary and highly sought resource, making those who possess it wealthy. As such, Arrakis is a volatile and dangerous place because many different people, Houses, and groups hope to take control of spice production. The production of spice is tied to the life cycles of sandworms, meaning that if worms were eradicated, spice would cease to exist. This fact calls into question the wisdom of attempting to terraform Arrakis into a lush planet, as a vast change to its ecosystem could destroy both the worms and spice production.  

What is the Bene Gesserit? 

The Bene Gesserit are a secret and exclusive matriarchal sisterhood that has produced physically and mentally superhuman women for millennia. Among other powers, Bene Gesserit women are trained to have heightened fighting capabilities, control the behaviors of others with the Voice, possess enhanced seductive qualities, and have the ability to tell when others are lying. The purpose of the organization is to gain social and political power through the efforts of their highly trained members in order to influence humanity’s destiny and secure advantageous positions in the political hierarchy. Thus, the Bene Gesserit plan for a variety of outcomes, planting their members in a myriad of different Houses, societies, and planets so that their order can ensure their own prosperity regardless of what path the universe takes.  

The Bene Gesserit have been spreading their own religious myths and prophecies across the universe for millennia, paving the way for their own success. Additionally, the Bene Gesserit’s long-term plans include producing the Kwisatz Haderach, the order’s only male superbeing. While Reverend Mothers can use their powers of clairvoyance to “see” into their genetic past, they can only see the memories of the female line due to their XX chromosomes. The Kwisatz Haderach, however, has access to both female and male ancestral memories due to his XY chromosomes. The Bene Gesserit have planned for the Kwisatz Haderach to lead humanity into the jihad, a universal war that will cleanse and diversify humanity’s stunted gene pool. Paul’s existence and his success on Arrakis are due to the schemes of the Bene Gesserit, who have been waiting for his arrival and had already implanted the myth of the Lisan al-Gaib – a messianic figure – on Arrakis centuries earlier.  

Why does the emperor have Duke Leto Atreides assassinated? 

Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV must put his own power and the stability of his position above all else. While House Atreides has been loyal to the Empire, and the emperor is personally very fond of Duke Leto, the popularity of the Duke and his House is a threat to the emperor’s position. Duke Leto has gained great loyalty and popularity with the people of Caladan, and if House Atreides were to also increase their military prowess, their power and forces could grow to the point where they are able to gain the backing of other Great Houses and dethrone House Corrino from the Imperial seat. To neutralize this threat, the emperor orders Duke Leto and House Atreides to move to Arrakis, where they will rule over the populace and manage spice production. In removing Leto from Caladan, the Emperor has removed House Atreides from most of their loyal followers and forces. Once on Arrakis, House Atreides will be far more vulnerable to attack, and the Harkonnens, working covertly with the emperor, will destroy the family and their forces. 

That said, the emperor’s supposed alliance with House Harkonnen is not as straightforward as it may appear. House Harkonnen jumps at the opportunity to wipe out House Atreides, one of their greatest rivals, but their attack on House Atreides will prove incredibly costly. The emperor hopes that the process of destroying House Atreides will essentially bankrupt House Harkonnen, thus neutralizing any threat that the Harkonnens might pose to House Corrino’s power.  

Was the Lisan al-Gaib prophecy real? 

The Fremen of Arrakis believe in a prophesied figure – the Lisan al-Gaib – who will act as the messiah of Arrakis and lead its people to freedom. Additionally, the myths foretell that the Lisan al-Gaib will be an outsider, not born on Arrakis. However, these myths and prophecies were not created by the people of Arrakis. They were created by the Bene Gesserit. As a society that has existed for thousands of years, the Bene Gesserit have worked throughout the generations to ensure that their sisterhood retains power and privilege regardless of where a Bene Gesserit lives or what circumstances she lives in. The Bene Gesserit utilize many different strategies to protect their positions and well-being, including selective breeding with powerful men and instruction in the Voice.  

One of their projects is the Missionaria Protectiva, which involves purposefully planting useful myths throughout the universe that they can use to their benefit in the future. The Lisan al-Gaib prophecy is one such myth. Essentially, hundreds or thousands of years ago, the Bene Gesserit traveled to Arrakis and planted the messiah myth of the Lisan al-Gaib with the planet’s people. They also cemented the role of the Reverend Mother into the Fremen’s religious and societal traditions. Over time, these myths grew into foundational parts of the Fremen’s spiritual and political beliefs. The Bene Gesserit planted these myths and gave them time to gain legitimacy and power with the hope that, should a future Bene Gesserit find herself alone and/or vulnerable on Arrakis, she could use her training to become a Reverend Mother of the Fremen or play into the Lisan al-Gaib myth and secure her son’s ultimate power within the tribes. This is what Jessica and Paul do when they find themselves stranded on Arrakis and in need of help from the Fremen, although Jessica is already working to secure Paul’s position as the possible Lisan al-Gaib even before the Duke’s capture and death.  

So, was the Lisan al-Gaib prophecy real? No–Paul is not actually a messiah fulfilling his destined role in a real mythical foretelling. The Lisan al-Gaib prophecy was a strategic creation of the Bene Gesserit. There are many similar prophecies scattered throughout the galaxies so that Bene Gesserits can find power and respite wherever they go. These prophecies are purposefully vague to make it easy for Bene Gesserits and their families to use it to their advantage. In the case of Arrakis, all that Paul really needed to do to convince the Fremen that he was the messiah was to be a foreign outsider and show a natural affinity for the “ways” of the desert. Additionally, Jessica gains the Fremen’s respect and ensures her position within the tribe by taking on the Reverend Mother role, which would not have existed on Arrakis without the Bene Gesserit planting it there in the ancient past. 

Why does Paul Atreides marry Princess Irulan instead of Chani? 

When Paul defeats Emperor Corrino, he announces that he will marry Princess Irulan. This means that Chani, Paul’s long-term partner and the mother of his children, must take on the role of concubine in her relationship with Paul. However, considering that Paul has no romantic interest in Irulan and does not wish to unnecessarily subject Chani to the humiliating position of concubine, why does Paul agree to take Princess Irulan as his official wife? After defeating Baron Harkonnen and Feyd-Rautha, Paul has the upper hand. He could have violently usurped the Imperial throne, murdering or exiling the Corrino family and taking his place as Emperor with Chani as his wife. However, this move would have aroused the anger of the Bene Gesserit and the Great Houses, who would be more likely to band their powers together to fight against Paul, House Atreides, and the Fremen. In marrying Irulan, Paul extends an olive branch to the Bene Gesserit and the other Great Houses. Sparing Emperor Shaddam and marrying Princess Irulan not only gives a greater sense of legitimacy to Paul’s Imperial rule, but it also placates the Bene Gesserit, as Paul is now married to a woman in the sisterhood. Paul does not want to lead the universe into the jihad and is acting in a way that protects his House and people without arousing the violent ire of his peers and competitors. Of course, these actions necessitate that he put his political aspirations and duties above his personal wants – thus, Irulan rather than Chani becomes his official wife.  

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