Project Text Final

Nina Molina 

Professor Pessin

English 114B

21 April 2012

Power of Spice 

Just like drugs on planet Earth, Arrakis possess an addictive drug known as “spice.” If consumed, it gives the person an insight of the future, however if exposed to this drug one must keep taking it. If failing to do so death will come. This is one of the main conflicts in the novels Dune and Dune Messiah written by Frank Herbert. Spice became the target of many royal families, like the Atreides and the Harkonnen. For the Harkonnen their purpose was to simply get all their spice however way they can and no matter what stood in the way. As for the Astreides, they wanted wanted control over this drug, that way they end the crave. The addiction led to many deaths whether from fighting to gain possession of it or simply from the drug itself. Not only are people but the universe is centered around this absurd narcotic. Depending on spice and having power by having a great amount of the substance only means that it  possessed power over them.  Spice is power because power comes from spice. 

Dune the first of the series by Frank Herbert was written in the decade 1960’s when the experimentation of drugs was at its peak. Dune digs into the effects the drug “spice”  has on those who consumes it --physically as well as socially. Baron Harkonnen, a self-centered ruler is willing to go to any extent to get his hand on the planet Arrakis only to have all the spice he desires, he even has an evil plan to kill the Duke, who has authority over the spice.  Arrakis, is the home of the Fremen and the spice, it is unlike other planets because of its harsh climates and its scarce supply of water.  Though, the Fremen and everyone else would want to change the environment of Arrakis to fit their need, they don’t pursue it because changing the planet’s environment and climate will lead to killing the sandworms -- who have a great role growth of spice. By abiding the necessities of the sand worms, which goes back to the spice, to keep their humanity and place in the planet it goes to show that the power is held by the melange. 

Paul Atreides, the son of the Duke Leto and Lady  Jessica,  is little and lack masculine physical features however he is quick to think and is powerful, that is because since he is claimed to be “the one” many look up on him and he is also powerful in the sense that he has the ability to see things that people for so long failed to do. Although, he is still fifteen in Dune, he’s been claimed to be “the One” since birth. In the beginning of the novel, he goes through a test held by the Reverend Mother, a test by enduring pain to determine if he is human. He wasn’t sure why he had to go through that, but shortly he learned that his mother also went through it, and what the purpose was. After given the test the Reverend Mother started to see the Kwisatz Haderach in Paul. Lady Jessica, was raised a Bene Gesserit, however she rebelled against their order to have a daughter, rather had a son (Paul.) She is the concubine of the Duke, regardless they care for their relationship like a marriage. She is a great mother to Paul, she acts as the good conscience that keeps him going. Duke Leto, the head of the House of Atreides, has gained power over Arrakis - land of spice - through the exchange of the planet Caladan. The Duke is normally a caring and thoughtful person, but when dealing with betrayers and competitors he becomes brutal and cold- hearted. Baron Hakonnen,  leader of the House of Harkonnen, he too is ruthless. The Baron is the main enemy of the Atreides, he only thinks of himself and what will make him better. He thought out a plan to destroy his enemies and planets just to get his hand on unlimited supply of spice. 

Dune Messiah, the second book of the series, also by Frank Herbert is a continuation of the first novel. The expand of this book  doesn’t deal much about people fighting over the drug, but more of how it effects some of the characters such as Alia. Alia Antreides, is the daughter of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica, just like her older bother she too posses powers. She has the ability to “become one with others.” She is the main reason for the death of her evil grandfather Baron by poisoning him with gom jabbar. She grew up living with the Fremen.  In Dune Messiah, she falls for Paul’s educator, Duncan Idaho, who dies in the previous novel but is brought back to life by Tleilaxu means. 

Spice is known to be like the Truthsayer drug,  according to the Reverend Mother, people take it to advance their capabilities to see falsehood. Many has tried the drug to become insightful, yet failed and died.  Apparently, it has become the center of attention for many planets which leads to countless clashes between powerful people such as the Baron Harkonnen and the Duke. The two books demonstrated the effects it has on an individual, even more the dangers powerful people will do to get their hands on it. The people surrounding the planet Arrakis have become dependent on this wealth that they have become trapped in it. That is because, they’re so caught up in trying to acquire the drug that they even risk their lives, along with other’s lives. On the other hand some are caught up in becoming the Kwisatz Haderach, but failed to do so and die. Losing lives to have the littlest to an eternal supply, oversees the value of life but rather are blinded by what they think to be more special. 

Since melange has became the center attention of the universe, it only meant that whoever has their hands all over the planet ,they can control the planet and the distribution of spice. Royal individuals such as  Baron Harkonnen will do what he can to take the Duke’s control over the spice. Not only does he go out of his way to arrange a trade between planets, he also hires someone to get gain the Duke’s and his family’s trust so he’ll have access to the Duke’s plan, only to betray them. “‘The Harkonnens have been stockpiling for more than twenty years.’ ‘They mean the spice production to fail and you to be blamed.’ ‘They wish the Areides name to become unpopular,’ the Duke said”  (Herbert 43). The Duke is well aware of the intentions of the self-seeking Harkonnens, he tells Paul that knowing you who and where the traps are, is the first step to avoiding the trap itself. The Duke is not narrow minded to think  that only the Harkonnens are after the spice he knows other Houses are also stockpiling in spice, however he doesn’t accuse them just yet because that will lead to more enemies, instead he keeps a close watch on them. Spice is power because this substance is irresistible that royal individuals will do what they to dominate over the planet. It only shows how crooked people think when in comes down to things as irrelevant and think so highly of it. 

Just like many luxuries in life people will go to any degree to have possession of their wants, to some killing others has become as easy as taking candy from little kids. “The Harkonnens sneered at the Fremen, hunted them for sport, never even bothered trying to count them. We know the Harkonnens policy with planetary populations- spend as little as possible to maintain them” (Herbert 45). Although many powerful families want their share of melange, the Harkonnens do it without remorse. 

Royal families are fighting over this drug because they have become dependent on it and its brings riches to them, they look at it as a necessity for life, but just like any luxuries they’ve become blinded by its feel-good effects, that they don’t realize the negative effects it has on their bodies as well as their universe.  Spice is not only powerful  because of its effects but the cost of the drug is expensive therefore bringing riches to the controller. 

They become so caught up in wanting to see the future that they become imprisoned by it and eventually cause their own death.  of Paul believes that the dependency and the addiction of spice is ridiculous, especially because he lost his father from it. 

“‘The spice,’ he said ‘It’s in everything here- the air, the soil, the food, the geriatris spice.  It’s like the Truthsayer drug. It’s like a poison!’ She stiffened. His voice lowered and  repeated: ‘A poison -- so subtle, so insidious...so irreversible. It won’t kill you unless you  stop taking it. ” (Herbert 196).

Ironically, Paul relies on the drug to see the the future, but he is considered to be “the One” -- the Kwisatz Haderach - unlike those who failed,  Paul found “the gift of the spice with his inward eye.” He has the ability to see where no one else can and he has the ability to be at many places at once.  “The spice changes anyone who gets this much of it, but thanks to you, I could bring change to this consciousness. I don’t get to leave it in the unconsciousness where its disturbance can be blanked out. I can see it” (Herbert 196). Paul thanks his mother because she had faith in him and saw something special in his son, although he isn’t the daughter she was told to have she still believed that there was something about her son and that is why she took him to the Reverend Mother in the first place. This drug have dominance over Paul in the sense that his ability to foresee is intensified whenever he is under the influence.  

Along the way of trying to keep control of the planet and the spice, Paul had to go through  the pain of losing his loved ones. As much as he wanted to put an end to it, he refused to give up. “Have you suffered more from them than I?” (Herbert 480). Paul questioning Gurney before he fights Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Being blessed as a “the One”  Paul sometimes thought it was a curse instead because along the way he’s lost some of the most important people in his life. He thought to himself, “ How little the universe knows about the nature of real cruelty!” He is most certainly right because the root of all evil started from the spice. 

During the course of Dune Messiah, not as many fights over the spice happens, because it took place twelve years after the events during Dune. At this time Paul becomes the Emperor, by taking the role of messiah for the Fremen. His ultimate goal as a ruler is to lead people away from destruction of themselves, however some doubts his abilities and wants to dethrone him. 

Regardless on the time span, issues about dependency of spice still lingered in the planet of Arrakis. Whereas, before they fought to have control over the substance  this time around Paul had authority over the planet and the spice, however, time did not change their weakness to spice. Because they relied upon it and they thought highly of it, spice has shaped their universe and it became an essential to their lives. It’s just like any other irrelevant drug or substances it takes a toll on the individual where they become heavily reliant to it, when they can simply substitute it with safer matters.

“Here was another ingredient of ideal history: a material whose psychics chemistry  unraveled time. Without melange, the Sisterhood’s Reverent Mothers could no perform  their feats of observation and human control. Without melange, the Guild’s Steermen  could not navigate across space. Without melange, billions upon billions of Imperial  citizens would die of addictive withdrawal. Without melange, Paul-Muad’dib could not  prophesy” (Herbert 7).

As stated above, its apparent that without this specific drug no one  would be able to function as they need to, therefore having a collapse in their universe. Ironic that this drug that’s the cause of many lost lives is also the reason of keeping a place together. This coms to show how powerful spice is.  Ultimately, although Paul now claims the power over the planet and the drug, he doesn’t necessarily posses it because he can’t control others away from it. Until then having power over spice is not achieved. 

Paul is fortunate because he is “the One” and spice doesn’t have very much of a negative effect on him, unlike many who wrongly believe that they can survive from it. They become addicted to this drug which eventually leads to their death, because once they stop having it, they die.  “Melange was valuable, but it exacted a price -- addiction. It added years to a life -- decades for some -- but it was still just another way to die” (Herbert 87).  By taking this drug people gamble their lives  just to have power over it or just to have the sensation of feeling insightful. 

Alia, Paul’s little sister, just like many others gets caught up in consuming spice to see the future,  that they don’t realize how damaging it is. “What is the future if you die?” Duncan ask Alia. She has become dependent in the drug because she claims that her “vision’s incomplete, just fragments. It flickers and jumps. I have to remember the future,”  if she doesn’t take a good amount of spice. This is obviously not a valid reason to take more dose than she could handle, let alone rely on it. Duncan wanted her to get help, but stubborn as she is she was convinced that it won’t harm her --that’s definitely a sign of addiction. 

Spice does not only have dominance over those who get addicted to the substance, but those who  control the planet of Arkannis have dominance over about everyone in the universe. It addicted people, killed people, caused clashes between families, and shaped the universe whether good or bad. In the duration of the two novels by Frank Herbert, Dune and Dune Messiah it dealt with the effects this drug has on people -- their planets. This substance should be taken with precaution, because it’s deathly and addictive, but people don’t acknowledge that. 

Work Cited

• Donald Palumbo Science Fiction Studies , Vol. 25, No. 3 (Nov., 1998), pp. 433-458 
• Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York: Berkley Group, 1977. Print.
•  Herbert, Frank. Dune Messiah. Print.
• Lorenzo DiTommaso Science Fiction Studies , Vol. 19, No. 3 (Nov., 1992), pp. 311-325 
• Plants of Desert Dunes. by A. Danin Review by: Martin L. Cody Journal of Biogeography , Vol. 24, No. 3 (May, 1997), pp. 397-398