/lit/ - Literature

In the sense of looking at Dune from the eye of knowing the author's intentions. You see Duke Leto as almost Kennedy like in nobility, and Paul as a justified hero. But if we're to see it through the eyes unbiased by soothe saying from the narritive built to trick you, it is interesting that you have the Baron Vladmir Harkonnen existing for the audience of everything wrong with power. Orgies, corruption, slavery, sex, all these things that make us repulse. But is it not hypocritical for the reader not to see Paul as similar, since he is responsible for endless death? Duke Leto for being responsible for the death of his house? Shaddam for conspiring?

Everyone is doing something justifiable to themselves, except for the Baron, and I always found his character odd and out of place and too abrasive. But reading it now, I think his character has significance as a cruel irony, that Paul despite his knowing of all things he will be, he still not self aware enough to see his parallel in Baron Harkonnen. Fitting still, narrative wise, it is revealed related to them. It's obvious knowing about it after the fact, but this stuff is so hidden inside of it wound up nobody would ever catch it. It's still clever.

I think the protagonist of the 3 stories really is either Alia or Lady Jessica.