Verisimilitude
Human relationships, motivations and American dependence on oil and fossil fuels include contextual references to atomic power, nuclear technology and weapons. Caladan and Arrakis closely resemble the temperate and desert climates of many continents on Earth.)
Info dump
Less obvious than Mond’s lengthy dialogues in Huxley or Gibson’s fragmented insights into cyberspace, Herbert ecological thesis is as much his characterisation as his science. Book II contributes to Herbert’s thesis through Jessica’s extended internal dialogue during her transformation into a Reverend Mother and the descriptions of Fremen water conservation.
Seeding the text
The terraforming of the planet and the survival strategies of the inhabitants are represented by a complex web of ecological inter-dependencies and consistent wealth of details. References to fictional technological discoveries build the world of Arrakis: modes of transport, the ‘thopter’; means of communication; weapons such as the hunter-seeker and the crysknife; stillsuits and forceshield. Similarly, ecologically informed and the hidden sources of Fremen water harvested from the environment present Herbert’s preferred option
Conventions of Science Fiction evident in Dune
· The lone hero battling seemingly insuperable odds including the alien environment and evil villains
· The use of cognitive estrangement, invented lexicon, horror and the sense of wonder
· Links to the values and concerns of the context, environmental, sociological and economic
Notes on techniques in Dune
Language
· Ancient phrasing, invented technological and scientific lexicon contribute to the epic struggle against the hostile environment and place.
· The text within Herbert’s ecological theory of a Darwinian principle - telling of the power struggles between rival political and ethnic forces.
· Herbert adds verisimilitude and historical resonances by providing a glossary of terms at the end of the text in ‘Terminology of the Imperium’.
Structure
· Dune is not anti-science. Herbert traces the complex ecosystem including the life cycle of the sandworms in detail but employs the
o narrative structure,
o complex plot and
o stereotypical characters of an epic Historical Romance.
· The traditional linear plot structure is a vehicle for
o the ecological warning.
o Scientific and technological developments are of themselves not sinister and
o the characterisations are balanced between the two Houses.
Perspectives
o Herbert’s use of parallel and multiple third person perspectives, internal monologues and dialogue provide comprehensive insight into the ecological consequences of a power struggle between global opposing factions – the Houses of Atreides and Harkonnen.
o Narrative shifts reveal plot development and build tension while the epic and archetypal battles accelerate between Fremen, the Emperor’s forces, Paul Muad’Dib and Feyd Rautha to culminate in Paul Muad’Dib reclamation of his role as Duke Atreides, marriage to the Princess and exiling of the Emperor to the prison planet.
o The role of the Fremen, Paul’s gradual transformation to Kwisatz Haberach and the devastating conflict that results from the jihad dominate Book II and III including the insidious interventions of the Bene Gesserit and the covert and unsuccessful machinations of the Guild and the Empire.
Style
o Herbert’s narrative style reflects the folk culture and oral story telling traditions of the Appalachian Indians.
o The narrative is coloured by his experience of the Depression, life on a Washington State farm and life as a skin diver.
o His consultancy with the Lincoln Foundation in Pakistan informs his interest in and understanding of ecology, sand dunes and conservation and redistribution of water: the Fremen capture, condense and conserve moisture from dew in air traps is similar to catch basins in the Sahara Dessert.
o Similarly, robes resembling those worn by the Bedouins disguise stillsuits that conserve most the body’s moisture.
o Herbert’s use of the out-of-date feudal social structure to represent his warnings of the dangers of religious fanaticism and a monopoly of power strengthens the use of ancient expressions and medieval architecture.
o Intertextual references, classical allusions, quotations from the OC Bible and extracts from Imperium documents add meanings to and clarify Herbert’s view.
o Specific quotations from cultural books such as the Manual of Muad’Dib, Muad Family Commentaries, A Child’s History of Muad’Dib, Dictionary of Muad’Dib and The Humanity of Muad’Dib identify religion, belief on cultural myth and social history as foundations in the progression of cultural, race consciousness and religion.
o These quotes provide a structural device that joins the narrative strands and together with specific quotes from the OC Bible, links to Virgin Mary/Eve opposition to further reinforce Herbert’s ecological thesis.
Audience
Herbert targets the substantial science fiction readership but exceeds the conventions to fully explore his ecological thesis and extends the appeal of the Dune Trilogy beyond the sub genre of hard science fiction to include readers of Fantasy and Historical Romance.
Verisimilitude
Sensory imagery, connotations, similes,metaphors, symbolism, invented lexicon, irony,
minor characters, archetypal characters, contextual allusions to political and cultural paradigms, ritual, symbolism / Mirrors human America’s dependence on oil and the developing ecological crisis. / Duke Leto’s dinner party –characterisations and water rituals 151-173. Muad’Dib and the emperor’s negotiations for the throne 560-561. Lady Fenring’s oasis 87-91
Arrakis deserts –deserts in America, Africa, Europe, possibly Earth’s future. / Dr Keynes, Sand Storm, meeting with worm, rescue.128-150
Rise of fundamentalist religions and messiah figures / Book 1.Paul’s test with the gom jabbar 16-24
Jessica’s transformation into a Reverend Mother, 338-340,404-414
Seeded through Book II& III- 340-364,414-416, riding the maker, 446-451. Alia’s triumph 528-534.
Sense of Wonder
Sensory imagery, connotations, similes,metaphors, symbolism, invented lexicon, irony,
tone, juxtaposition, contrast, minor characters / Space travel / Seeded through text
Stillsuits / See 128-150
Weapons -crysknife / 70-71
Atomics / 519
Forceshield / 128-129
Hunter-seeker / 83-86
Prescient vision / Throughout text, 438-443, Alia 455-459
Terraforming / 366-369
Cognitive estrangement &Alienation
Contextual allusion as above, ritual, symbolism, irony, sensory imagery, connotations, similes,metaphors, symbolism, invented lexicon, irony, minor characters, tone, classical allusions, archetypal characters / The Sandworms / 148-149,304-309, 448-450,534
Stillsuits Recycling human waste / Throughout Books II and III
Baron Harkonnen, Feyd-Rautha / Throughout text,192-195,371-391,421-438,525-530
Piter de Vried, Mentat Assassin / 25-32,193-196
Sardaukar
Psychokinesthetic extension of self experienced by Lady Jessica (see Info Dump) / Throughout text
Seeding the text / Terraforming Arrakis / Windtrap, 364-368
Lone super hero
Duke Leto Atreides
Symbolism, invented lexicon, irony,
minor characters, archetypal characters, contextual allusions to political and cultural paradigms, ritual / Duke Leto, archetypal warrior isolated figure in an alien ecology / 56-65,96-173
Political intrigue / 208-214
Helpless heroine
Lady Jessica aristocratic Bene Gesserit concubine of Duke Leto
Archetypal noble heroine
Chani, Fremen mentor and concubine of Paul as Muad’Dib / Highly intelligent combatants, possessed of mystical powers. Conduit for Bene Gesserit policy and an exemplar of their power / Throughout text414-417, 503-514
Alia
Symbolism, invented lexicon, irony,
archetypal characters, contextual allusions to political and cultural paradigms, ritual / Parallel character to Jessica, androgynous at first and combines the action heroine of later Science fiction with the faithful wife archetype
Daughter to Leto and Jessica / Throughout Book II & III. 561-562
Future prophetess, killer of Baron Harkonnen / 455-459, 529-533
Evil Villains
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen / Archetypal villains of Historical Romance in Debauched, Sadistic and ruthless. / (see Alientation above)
Throughout the text
The rogue Mentant Piter de Vried, Mentat Assassin / Book 1
Feyd Rutha / Evil counterpart of and parallel character to Paul as heir to House of Harkonnen / Throughout text. 386-389,421-430
Invented lexicon / Dialects
Religious terminology
Technological terminology / 586-605
Emotive language / Dialogue and internal monologues resemble in Historical Romance / Throughout text.
Info dump
Mainly integrated into the characterisations, action and dialogue
Symbolism, invented lexicon, irony,
archetypal characters, contextual allusions to political and cultural paradigms, ritual, sensory imagery / Liet Keynes, Fremen leader and Emperor’s planetologist / 128-150, 154-172,247-265,313-320, death of Liet Keynes
Lady Jessica / 460-415
Paul / 360-370,448-450,463-465,554
Analysis of Text and Language in Dune
In your responses make sure to comment on:
· parallel narrative structure of the plot
· restricted characterisation, stereotypical characters
· ethical debates
· detailed delineation of terraforming to survive the alien ecology
· social commentary questioning Imperialistic paradigms and Western economic imperatives detrimental to humanist values and ecological implications
· rise of the Messiah figure, fundamentalism and jihad
When studying Dune
In planning your responses, refer to the rubrics in the Syllabus and the Prescriptions documents. Take into account the HSC Markers’ comments. Remember Science fiction has undergone substantial changes over time due to the influence of a variety other genres and the social, political and philosophical context in which the texts developed