How Does Frank Herbert Use Metaphors In Dune

Jackson Nely

Erin Rivers

AP Lit. Hour 3

27 April 2023

Strife & Consequences in Dune Frank Herbert was many things in his time before becoming an award-winning author. He was a cameraman, radio commentator, oyster diver, jungle survivor instructor, teacher, reporter and editor for a number of newspapers. A man of many titles, he eventually brought his talents to writing, publishing his first science fiction piece in 1952. It wouldn’t be until 1965 with the publication of Dune that he would become a monumental icon in the world of science fiction writing. In mystical fashion Frank Herbert casts a bold sophistication of artistry and imagination onto the many hundreds of pages we are given in his novel Dune. In a feat of unimaginable storycrafting,

Herbert’s use of these techniques turns this to his advantage. He uses the excerpts from the ‘Manual of Muad'dib’ by Princess Irulan without context, and until the end of the story could be construed in many different ways, giving an air of uneasiness when looking to the future. The use of the main protagonist Paul’s supernatural psychic abilities to foreshadow events before they happen is meant to build suspense, but also to incite it, as in an attempt to avoid this predestined outcome, Paul stumbles towards it. Paul’s precognitive abilities and how he struggles with them set the stage for future conflicts and set the precedent of the self-fulfilling prophecy that Paul constantly fights

As a consequence of Paul’s integration into Fremen society, he must first kill Jamis. This presents Paul with a moral struggle, but one he must accept to achieve his goals. Paul is able to perceive certain consequences before they happen, and many of the wiser characters are able to pick up on their situation to similarly infer where fate may be taking them. And yet, Paul cannot avoid bloodshed in the end. When Paul succeeds, he also loses; loses his son, his friends, his