Choice in the novel Dune

In the novel Dune by Frank Herbert, there are a number of themes and ideas presented by Herbert himself such a politics, environmentalism and more to be extrapolated from our world into his future world, where people are order in what one could call a feudal system and people are put their places as Dukes or Mentats (basically human computers) and I believe another theme that should be discussed would be choice. Present in the novel are opportunities to make certain choices (or not make said choices) and I think it presents an interesting conflict, such as Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica, fulfilling the prophecy of being the “Kwisatz Haderach” who is the “male who can truly become one of us” (41) meaning he becomes the leader of the Bene Gesseirt and can transcend space and time with his mind. Paul is also told he may become a Mentat as he is told by his fathering saying he “…may have Mentat capabilities” (74) and that the choice is his “whether to continue or abandon the training” (74). Even as a young boy, Paul has so much choice thrust upon him such as fulfilling a prophecy which he may have no choice or being a human computer and going to school for a very long time. All of his decisions, whether to ignore the prophecy, training, or whatever it may be, as a 15 year old boy this is a lot to have on one’s mind. These choices are also going to have a lot of effect on other people and he must decide what to do. The Lady Jessica is also presented with a slight predicament, when she discovers the peaceful irrigation room hidden where the Atreides are staying on Arrakis, a dry desert planet where water is extremely scarce. There is so much water to douse the plants, it is said it could “…support a thousand people of Arrakis – maybe more” (116). Lady Jessica has the choice of informing the Duke and the Fremen of this room, but the question is should she? If she does, the room could support thousands for water and make life a bit easier, but would the water run out, or could they build another room such as the same and maybe that can produce water to? There are so many options Lady Jessica has and each has its benefits and its cost and it all comes down to the choices these characters make, and how it will affect their future.

Herbert, Frank. Dune. The Penguin Group, 2005. (Print)