Dune Essay, Research Paper

Dune

The book Dune has a science-fiction story line that associates two major

themes frequently in the book. The title and the setting of the book are used

to establish the bleakness and isolation of the planet Arrakis. The plot and

resolution bring together the multiple factions including the emperor and the

two major houses for control of the spice production.

The title of the book Dune, plays a major part of the story. The planet of

Arrakis where most of the novel takes place, is a desolate, isolated spot in the

universe which isn’t valuable for anything, but the spice. The people on the

planet have it hard because of the gigantic sand dunes and the indigenous sand

worms which live under the sand. The planet has no source of water on it except

that of underground, which is very hard to come by. As you can see, “Water is

precious there.” (pg. 30)

The plot of this science-fiction story deals almost entirely of the two

major houses that at this time are sworn to destroy each other and the emperor.

The two major houses want control of the spice on the planet of Arrakis which

allows anyone who has it to fold space. Folding space means traveling anywhere

in the universe without actually having to move. The House of Attreides gets

destroyed by the House of Harkonnens in the fight over the spice. But on the

planet of Arrakis, the local people of that world known as Fremen had had a

prophecy that one day a savior would come and make peace where there was war on

the planet of Arrakis. The duke’s son of the House of Attreides escaped during

the fight for the planet and crashed landed on the dunes where the Fremen lived.

The duke’s son, Paul, became their leader because of his great knowledge. He

learned to control the giant sand worms and use them to his own advantage. The

Fremen were determined to get rid of all the Harkonnens that ruled the world for

one reason: the spice. The Fremen made an attack and ended up destroying the

Harkonnens using the sand worm’s help. And once again, “The Fremen had the

world.” (pg. 488)

In the end, the title of the book had more to do with the story than

anything else. The plot and resolution well summarized the story and pulled

everything together. The book Dune is an interesting and unique display of

imagination that shows the fight between good and evil.