Prophecies Of Dune, Part 2
The syncretism of the religions, Catholicism and Islam and Buddhism in the series had import as well. But I may leave that for a part three of this blog series.
Herbert also had a keen interest in the ecology of Earth. He studied the sand dunes on the Oregon coast and how scientists battled with nature in relation to these dunes; their battle against the slow creep of the sand dunes in the early part of the 20th century which nearly took over a town on the Oregon coast. They planted European beach grass to halt the progression of the sand dunes which was engulfing roads, cars and even homes. Thus, the titular name of the series. It is interesting how in such cases sand dunes can continue to take over the land until there is nothing but desert. I believe that this phenomenon has happened in other lands around the world, such as certain parts of Africa and the Middle East. I’ve heard that the Saharan Desert, aeons ago, was significantly smaller than it is today and that many areas in the Middle East, places that once encompassed ancient Biblical lands, were once garden-like and green, flowing with water. The desert has overtaken these places today. The role of water scarcity and ecology were important themes in the Dune series as well as religion and politics, as they are today, even more-so than in the past. A.I. will become a major problem for us all in regards to access to clean, drinkable water, because the type of chips that were pursued when this technology was still in its infancy uses enormous amounts of energy and they require fresh water to keep the massive data centers they inhabit from over-heating. Fresh water is not nearly as plentiful as salt water. Thus, humanity faces a catastrophic issue in the near future if this isn’t addressed properly.
(Spoiler alert!) Then, there is the question of the role of Woman. I speak of the frightening concept of Personhood Erasure, detailed in the civilization of Ix. There is the mystery of the axlotl tanks throughout the series. The axlotl tanks of Ix and recurrent views on women’s roles in society among some internet communities seem a little too similar for my comfort. The resurgence in primitive attitudes towards women in certain internet communities - the idea that all a woman is good for is having babies - has roots in other things that I may write about in another post. I believe that it’s part of fear of the future and the slow decay of a major civilization, which is a cyclical pattern that humanity repeats throughout time.
That She, Woman, has no other value to her man or to society other than to give birth is an idea as old as time and ever disrespectful of the role women were sent to play on this earth. And in the most primitive minds, give birth to sons, only. The lowest most miserly kind of thought.
While I have traditional views on quite a few things this is not true on everything. One thing I will never support, as a woman, is this idea that I have no value beyond my womb. God would never have gifted me or other women with intelligent minds if this were the case. He would have approved of the idea of females simply being turned into axlotl tanks to simply breed, nothing but machine and flesh, a womb and a vagina that has no sentience, no mind. It brings me back to the concept in the Dune series of the Ixian civilization, where the males have turned the females into breeding tanks, quite literally; machined tanks waiting to be inseminated. While this is not literally happening to women today the idea that what you do outside of your traditional role, what you think or what is on your mind has no importance to a man was always present in almost every culture. The constant question of motherhood, or lack thereof, brings attention to this theme in Herbert’s work. The attitude that women should love and take care of their families is godly, a fine thing. It respects the traditional ideal of Womanhood. But the idea that all we are good for is to stay in the home and remain pregnant is ignorant. It’s the attitude behind the idea that can be the problem. Such disrespectful attitudes towards women in a culture usually signals that that culture is moving backwards, not towards traditional values but towards ignorance and darkness. Womankind was created as a helper by God for Man. Not a mule. When Adam first saw Eve he exclaimed his delight in poetry. At Genesis 2:23 he said:
Then the man said:
“This is at last bone of my bones.
And flesh of my flesh.
This one will be called Woman,
Because from man she was taken.”
Of course, things fell apart afterwards, but that’s gristle for another post. I would add that the Apostle Paul made it clear that one could find blessings from either marriage (and children) or singleness and that this was true for both men and women. Woman has a purpose in God’s family, and birthing children is but one of those paths - not the only path.
This subject also reminds me of what happens in a society when machines are allowed to have too much influence over daily life. People are no longer human but numbers or objects. There seems to be a correlation here. The Ixian males saw one half of their planet’s population as nothing more than machined objects, there to give birth and nothing more. They had no personhood, so they turned their females into grotesque, unsentient baby-making machines. Ixian females no longer had heads, chests, arms or legs, only abdomens, thighs and the necessary reproductive organs. The realization of it, when I first read it as a girl, was frightening. And the thought has always stayed with me. I don’t think this was shown in any of the films made about the series over the years, not even the latest ones. I think I understand. Such a thing would have been too grotesque. But it’s something to ponder, as we all sit on the edge of Today and watch the fall of Western Civilization. I am sure many do wonder, what will come next?
Check out my Red World trilogy, very much inspired by the Dune series. An audiobook version is in the works.
Happy reading!
The serpent queen reigns and has held the people of Hybron under thrall through promises of prosperity, deceptive words and fear. She has brought great prosperity to the land - for a deadly price.
Rapheth, a youth being groomed for greatness is unsure of his destiny and his past is shrouded in mystery to protect him. Rapheth learns of forbidden things and hidden underneath these things one may find the long arm of the queen, who searches to destroy all those who stand in her way.
Spies are everywhere, spies for the Ainash priesthood, spies for the queen, double spies and threats of war from the east and the south. Every tongue makes promises of revealing secrets, promises of the coming of great and wondrous things; prophecies that speak of kings, wars and momentous changes but which changes will come about? Which are true and which are false? Which tongues are imparting the sayings of life and peace and which will lead the realm to doom?
