Abuse Of Power In Dune

The Chosen One: Paul Atreades

The movie Dune, directed by Denis Villenueve, is based off of the first book in the science fiction book series Dune by Frank Herbert. The story of Dune is a complex and intricate view into a quasi-feudal system of government run by the influence of a resource called “Spice”. There is a lone emperor who holds a majority of the power, but there are separate houses of power that also hold influence. The most important of which are House Atreades and House Harkonnnen. In order to eliminate the threat of House Atreides, House Harkonnen lure them into a trap, using the essential resource of spice as bait. The series is headed by the protagonist, Paul Atreades, as he is forced into a destiny for which he did not ask.

He has no control and cannot enforce his will whatsoever on the visions, causing him to be a prisoner to the unknown. This form of imprisonment also stems from Lady Jessica’s influence, though in this case she does much more than just give birth to Paul. She teaches him a secret power among the Bene Gesserit called the “Voice.” This mysterious power allows Paul to enforce his will upon others as long as he finds the right “pitch.” The side effect of this power seems to be his dreams. Paul dreams of his future home, Arracus, as well as a very specific native Fremen inhabitant, Chani. He discusses these dreams with Reverend Mother Mohiam where she asks him, “Do you dream things that happen just as you've dreamed them”(29)? Paul answers, “Not exactly. Sometimes''(29). Paul lies at first as if to hide what little information he has about his powers. His hesitation and lack of confidence in his knowledge of the dreams only demonstrate further his lack of ability to exactly understand what he is a part of and who he is. Not only does this contribute to the fact that he is forced into a destiny he did not ask for, but unlike most mythical protagonists, Paul has no idea what the endgame for his destiny truly

At the end of the Dune movie Paul has been inducted into the Fremen after completing a ceremonial ritual. He journeys into the desert with the Fremen as they travel, “Around them the sands stretch toward the horizon. Toward a future he cannot see”(110). At the end of the movie, Paul has experienced extreme trials and tribulations such as losing his father, the destruction of his house, and starting from scratch with almost no resources on a new planet. Even though all of these events have occurred, the movie ends with him still being in the dark as to what his future brings. It is this perspective of the unknown that makes Dune’s interpretation of the chosen one so unique. The lack of a concrete path gives Paul the ability to forge his own in a sense. With no sight of a true goal or purpose. Paul takes it upon himself to lead and become emperor. He has no set of instructions and no mystical guide to show him the way, he only has cryptic visions and extremely limited resources. Paul’s future, as well as the futures of the millions that he has been forced into representing, rely on the path that Paul sets for himself with the limited tools that he has been provided with. That is what makes him the true “chosen one”, the ability to choose his own path within a path chosen for