Blog Post #5

Topic D
May 15, 2015
by Annie Murphy

An important motif in Dune is how human life is treated by the main characters. Duke Leto taught Paul while he was still alive the moral code of the house of Atreides. That moral code is based around treating human life with respect. When Paul kills someone for the first time, he is extremely remorseful and only kills him because he has to. Paul reminds his friend, Gurney about their moral code before the battle against the Emporer's forces, saying that how they treat others as people instead of pawns is what seperates then from their enemies, the house Harkonnen. The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and his nephew, Feyd-Rautha don't hesitate to kill in order to better themselves and become more powerful. Even the Emporer is willing to kill all of the Fremen is it means stopping an inconvenient revolt in Arrakis which prevented them from getting the spice which they are dependent on financially, but also addicted to. Paul ultimately defeats these enemies by exploiting weaknesses like their distrust and lack of respect for others.

Blog Post 5

Amanda Modelski
5-17-15
English Blog Topic C
Blog 5



During Dune, Jessica and Paul's relationship changes very quickly in a matter of days.  Before running away into the desert, Paul and Jessica had a very calm, almost normal mother-and-son relationship.  Paul was taught by her in the Bene Gesserat way, only bothering with "the mind-body lessons his mother had taught him" (pg 7) and other aspects of his training.  He didn't question anything about it; he had no idea what he was or the burden that would fall on his shoulders.   Jessica hadn't bothered to explain anything to her son about his potential future, and when it all came crashing down, it completely changed their dynamic.  After running away into the desert, Paul becomes more aware of his messiah status and his powers.  He is understandably upset that his mother hadn't told him of this, and blames her for making him the way she did.  They also mourn the death of the Duke together, and are emotionally vulnerable from the events that have happened.  The desert in this way acts as an equalizer for both Paul and Jessica, bringing both of them to each other's level and, even though they argue, it helps them understand each other better where there might have been confusion or nothing at all before.

Sandstorm of Feelings

~Blog Post #4~

Topic E

May 8, 2015

By: Andrew Pono

In Book 2 of Dune, when Paul is operating the 'thopter in the desert sandstorm, it brings on a feeling of turbulence and uncertainty.  This setting gives a view of Paul starting to question his mother and also allows him to mature a bit more in all the craziness.  Even though there's a chance that he and his mother will die, he's still calm, remembering his training about fear, as I talked about in my first blog.  Paul's relationship with his mother also starts to have cracks in it.  He doesn't seem to trust her as much and yells at her for things she has no power over.  The sandstorm is a maelstrom filled with whirling sand, and Paul's emotions while flying through it are personified through the chaos of it all.  

Blog Post 4

Amanda Modelski
5-9-15
English Blog Topic C
Blog 3

While Piter de Vries may not be the most reoccurring character in Dune, or the longest-lasting, he played a vital role that helped key plot points in the novel.  Once such case is the fact that Piter was the main assassin of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.  He also created the plan to destroy the Atredies House and worked to restore the Baron Harkonnaen's stewardship of Arrakis. To start the fight against the Atredies, he invented a deadly, gradual "residual" poison that killed Thurfir Hawat, the Mentat of the rival house.  Piter was a Mentat himself, a person who is mentally like a computer.  However, he was twisted, meaning that he was both sadistic and amoral, "trained and conditioned to perform certain duties" such as torture (pg 28).  He tortured the Doctor Yueh into betraying the House Atredies, which indirectly led to his death when Yueh planted the poison tooth in Leto's mouth.  If Piter had lived, he would have been governor of Arrakis, having chosen the position over the possession of Lady Jessica, and may have brought victory to the House Harkonnen.

Blog Post 4

Topic C

May 7, 2015

The relationship between Paul, the hero of Dune, and his mother, Jessica evolves to become deeply complicated as the plot moves forward. As Paul gains independence and accepts his role as the leader of his family and a hero to the Fremen. Paul's initial rage at his mother after the death of his father for turning her son into a warrior remains throughout the book, but Paul still fosters resentment over making him who he is, and what he has to do because of it. He thinks to himself that his own mother is his enemy for setting in motion the chain of events that he must complete because of his role in the prophesies. Soon after, Paul meets and eventually marries Chani, a Freman girl who Jessica is very wary of. There is a sense in the book that Chani takes over Jessica's protective duties over Paul and distances the mother and son more. Paul and Jessica's relationship near the end of the book is far from their closeness at the beginning.

Blog 3

Amanda Modelski
5-2-15
English Blog
Blog 3


A subject that was brought up in Dune's second book was the will to survive.  When Jessica and Paul are in the desert, Jessica says to herself "this world has emptied me of all but the oldest purpose: tomorrow's life".  In this scene, a more dramatic atmosphere is being laid down, and the characters are truly exposed to the harshness of the desert of Dune.  Paul and Jessica have been living comfortable lives in their palace while all of the citizens of Arrakis suffer, and are now getting to experience the daily struggle of survival that the Fremen and other desert peoples face each day.  This is not only an intense experience for Paul and Jessica, but it is relatable to the average reader in both modern day and in the time it was written.   While the reader most likely is not royalty in exile experiencing the desert landscape firsthand, it can be shocking to see and read about the conditions of living in the Middle Eastern and similar desert climate.  When learning about the life in such areas, we can more greatly appreciate the will and survival of the creatures and people in that habitat, just as Paul and Jessica experience in Dune.

Yes, Sire

~Blog Post #3~

Topic C

May 1, 2015

By: Andrew Pono

In the beginning of Book II in Dune, Paul and Kynes negotiate and come up with a blackmail plan to remove the Emperor from power.  If the Emperor refused to give up his seat, Paul and Kynes would give information saying that the Emperor got help from the Sardaukar to try to destroy the Atreides, causing a united riot against him anyway.  At first Kynes and Paul argued with each other: Kynes not trusting Paul since he's still young, and Paul trying to use bribery of making Arrakis lush to gain Kynes' loyalty.  At the end however, Paul gains Kynes' loyalty by pledging his own in return.  The relationship between Paul and Kynes was in conflict since they both didn't trust each other, but grew in the end after pledging their loyalty to one another.  The only thing that made the two trust each other was that Paul admitted wrongdoing, something unusual for a Harkonnen, and made a solemn promise, something very sincere and true from the Atreides.  This relationship is significant because both Paul and Kynes are both leaders of their respective groups, and they need to work together in order to overthrow the Emperor.  Both Paul and Kynes want the Emperor to be out of power, so they had to come up with some solution to be able to work together, and pledging loyalty to one another worked flawlessly.