The Virtues of Duneism in Duneism

As with many stories, Dune is a tale that can be used to impart many lessons, morals, and virtues. The following list is by no means extensive (yet), but contains what I feel are some of the virtues that can be gleaned. Listed next to it are people or groups that embody these virtues.

1. Be Cunning (The House Atreides)- the universe of Dune is filled with political intrigue. Houses of the Lansraad make moves of power through wealth, manipulation, spies, smugglars, assassins. That House Atreides has lasted as long as it has is proof of its cunning. With some exceptions, it should be also noted that, while other houses are clearly cunning as well, Atrides tend to use it as an elusive measure or for equanimity rather than an attempt to get ahead or out of personal greed.

2. Be Compassionate (The House Atreides)- From the time they arrived on Arrakis, the Atreides began changing customs to benefit the poor and disenfranchised members of the community. Giving away water instead of selling it to the beggars, treating the Fremen with respect, and so on. Compassion, in general but especially towards your fellow humans, is one of the most noble qualities anyone can possess, even if they aren’t noble born.

3. Be Ecologically minded and practice Conservation (Liet-Kynes)- Dr. Liet-Kynes had a vision for Arrakis, a nearly waterless planet, to be a veritable new Eden with rivers and gardens. Whatever world we find ourselves on, the importance of maintaining its balance, beauty, and resources, for present and future generations, cannot be over stressed.

4. Strength (Duke Leto I Atreides)- While it cannot be denied that physical strength is important, the strength I speak of here is a quiet, reserved strength. The kind of strength to push through fatigue, isolation, bad circumstances, and whatever else may beset you, and still get the job done. The strength that allows perseverance, that comes from determination, to do what is right no matter what personal sacrifice it requires. This is the strength of spirit, willpower, and constitution. Leto I Atreides spent his few days on Dune with little sleep, planning his defenses, making allies, making time for his son, plotting his financial course of action. He admitted to Paul that he was tired, yet he pushed on to do what needed to be done.

5. Expand Your Mind (The Bene Gesserit, The Mentats)- While we may lack the spice of Dune that allows conscious expansion, that does not mean we cannot learn and increase in knowledge. The Mentats existed before the spice was discovered, and though by the time of Dune they were using all means to increase their abilities, they started with nothing but the knowledge of how to learn and observe and became nearly machine-like in their ability to calculate, to weigh variables and determine outcomes, making them invaluable as master strategists. The Bene Gesserits also focused much on collecting knowledge and expanding the abilities of their minds. Allowing them almost total control of their physical beings as well, which leads me to…

6. Health and Evolution of Body (The Fremen, the Bene Gesserit, Leto II)- The Fremen were physically hardened by learning to adapt to their environment. The Bene Gesserit mastered their minds to the point they had near-perfect control of their bodies, able to diagnose and treat a foreign entity like poison and neutralize it. Leto II allowed himself to merge with the sandworms in a symbiotic fashion, evolving into something more than either was on its own. We too, as various scriptures and religions teach, need to treat our bodies as temples, expanding their abilities, evolving them to fit our environment, and toughening them up to face the trials of our lives.

7. Be Hardy (Stilgar)- This encompasses a strength that transcends mind, body, and spirit, while allowing for all of them. Take a farmer as an example. They may be strong, they may not be. They may be book smart or lack any formal education. But within them is a well of reserve that allows them to be one with, and, simultaneously, masters of, their environment. I chose Stilgar as an example because he was harden by the desert life, life in the seitch, life with precious little water to be had, but he adapted and endured, becoming a survivor and a thriver in his environment.

8. Loyalty (Duncan Idaho, Gurney Halleck)- These two men were loyal to the house Atreides for many lifetimes. They were never in question as to where their loyalties were. First Leto, then Paul, then Leto II, could count on Duncan Idaho to carry out a task to its fullest end, to be there when needed, and to die if necessary before he would break his bonds with the Atreides. Gurney Halleck too was loyal to the end of his days to the house Atreides. We all need those people in our lives who will brave any storm with us, fight any battle by our side, be there as much in the bad times as the good. Furthermore, we all need to BE those people for the ones around us.

9. Be Courageous (Leto II)- It may seem an odd choice to choose Leto II as an example of courage. Why not Duncan or Gurney, Paul or Stilgar? Leto II became hated, inhuman, tyrannical. But he did so knowing it was what was necessary for the greater good of all human kind. He knew the darkness and loneliness of the path ahead. He knew how people would curse him and his memory. Yet, he stepped up where his father could not, became the monster, so that all humanity would benefit. We normally lack the courage to speak out against a total stranger for fear of how they may see us for even a few minutes of our life. We need to cultivate the sort of courage that would allow us to be despised for 3,500+ years to accomplish what is right. To face a path that we know will not be easy, that will work against us with every turn, and to walk it anyway is truly courageous.