Frank Herbert Dune Imperialism Essay

Frank Herbert’s Dune and Imperialism Imperialism was a major factor in shaping the history of the 20th century. Despite its popularity among the very powerful governments of the world, many circles expressed opposition to it. Other governments especially opposed it due to the disastrous consequences that often resulted. Some took it further though, and attacked the reasoning behind imperialism. One of these people was science fiction author, Frank Herbert. Through characterization and dialogue in Dune, Herbert creates an allegory to 20th century imperialist actions and ultimately shows an opposition them as well as the ideas that justify them. Herbert targets racism, the desire for economic development, the demand for security, and even popular

This is shown when Stilgar, a Fremen leader, is first speaking with the duke in order to establish cooperation against the Harkonnens. The entire affair is filled with irony, as the fact of the Duke’s control of Arrakis is obscured by the Duke himself for the sake of keeping his control of Arrakis. The exceedingly self-reliant Fremen leader makes the conscious choice to have his people fight on behalf of the House Atreides simply because they have a common enemy, because the Harkonnens had killed a Fremen, not because the fremen truly wish to be governed by the House Atreides and states, “It is said that the Duke Leto Atreides rules with the consent of the governed” (149). This scene has a very peculiar and poignant piece of symbolism in the Crysknife, an artifact of great cultural significance to the Fremen. The knife remains sheathed as Stilgar requests it, as it is their tradition for one to go through various rites before one is permitted to unsheath the Crysknife. The Duke’s various aides persistently defend their ability to unsheath the blade, because, after all, the planet belongs to them. The Duke, however, agrees not to unsheath the Crysknife in order to befriend the fremen so they can help fight the