Topic B
April 29, 2015
by Annie Murphy
Paul Atreides, the hero of Dune, changes drastically during the second book. After his father, the Duke, dies, Paul has to quickly step into his role as the leader of the family. Also, he fully accepts his Bene Gesserit training as he is forced to guide his mother through a desert he is completely unfamiliar with, full of dangerous creatures and people who want to kill them. Paul, despite only being fifteen, is regarded even in the beginning of the book as a boy who acts like a grown man. As the book progresses, he is forced to become even more mature in how he deals with people. He begins commanding the men his father used to lead. He picks up where his father left off in his diplomatic relationships and politics. Also, while Paul is growing up and taking leadership upon himself, he struggles with his relationship with his mother. He blames her for many of his problems that she really couldn't prevent. Becoming resentful of his parents while gaining more responsibility is common to a person his age, despite the strange setting of the novel and the circumstances Paul is in. Paul Atreides evolves adeptly, but naturally in the second book of Dune.
Paul's growth from Book 1 to Book 2 is pretty big in terms of maturity, but it seems a bit unnatural to me. After having your father killed, I'd probably be a lot more emotional than just getting over it quickly and carrying on calmly. I'd also panic if I had to try to survive through a desert in fear of death. Since Paul didn't really show these emotions too much, it must mean the Bene Gesserit training is really something. Paul blaming his mother is probably something I'd do if I was in that sort of situation; its a part of the maturity process. Yes, Paul's matures from Book 1 to Book 2, but it doesn't strike me as being entirely natural.
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