Why DUNE's Messiah Is A Lie? | Dune Explained

Dune Explained. Who are the Kwisatz Haderach, Lisan Al-Gaib and the Bene Gesserit?

In the world of Dune, the concept of a promised savior is a reccuring theme. Whether called the Kwisatz Haderach, Lisan al-Gaib or just the Messiah, it all points to humanity's desperate need for a god-like hero. But with his Dune novels, Frank Herbert explores the dangerous side of this need.

Because in the books, this promise turns out to be just a lie; a mere tool the Bene Gesserit use to manipulate and control people. They supposedly have the greatest plan, but as with most things in Dune, their true motivations shrouded in mystery. So if you've only seen the movies, you likely have no idea of why do they make up such a story.

So, what's their masterplan? What's behind it all?

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[c]

It is said the YouTube algorithm was created by the Bene Gesserit.

[ribcagesteak]

Frank Herbert presents an interesting thought experiment: Does knowing the future justify atrocities committed in the present to secure it? Is the future worth saving if it requires the destruction of the present? Many atrocities have been committed in history in the name of the greater good or in pursuit of a better afterlife. Herbert substitutes these goals with actual precognition and concludes that the human capacity for violence remains the same.

[maedre]

it's so funny that because of superpowers people really believe he is the messiah, you are just being manipulated by bene gesserit just like the fremen

[ConspiracistLizardMan]

"The mystery of life is not a problem to be solved" is not a quote by Herbert. It's from Soren Kierkegaard.

[esrasimge]

Great and simple explanation! So the Bene Gesserit literally tried to create a god and expect to control him? Lol.

[danielschaeffer]

The BG’s plan, to marry Leto’s daughter to Feyd Rautha, was moronic, as well as being cold-hearted and immoral. Leto was an honorable and caring father, and would NEVER have allowed his daughter to be married against her will to a sadistic psychopath. He and his allies would have risen in revolt instead of the fremen. Either way the Harkonnens were doomed.

[konekillerking]

Paul wasn’t the tool the BG desired. They wanted full control over the construct.

The Golden Path was for the survival of humanity. Humanity had to scatter to all ends of the Universe if it was to survive.

[KryyssTV]

The underlying point of the Dune mythos was the relentless unpredictability of freewill and the inescapable limitations of human leadership. Even if someone possessed the sum of all human knowledge, could foresee the future and know everything in the present down to the very thoughts of every lifeform that informstion is meaningless without control.

It was freewill that undermined the plan to create the savior of humanity, it was freewill that stopped Paul from following the Golden Path and the same force that led his son to choose it. For all the power of the empire, mastery over memory, mind and body as well as time and space itself that all meant nothing in the face of the most powerful force in the universe that every human has - the power of choice.

[mrbluebell]

The BG hold themselves as cold and dispassionate gardeners over the great tree of humanity. Mercilessly pruning branches and twisting others into idealized forms.

They've forgotten that the tree is very much alive and willing to fight back.

[Lord_RFAS]

In other words: War. War never changes.

[barak]

Also the main conclusion of the books is to beware of heroes and better rely on your own judgment... How blind fanatic ideas can blind us from the truth. And to be ware of mistakes, ones ordered by the heroe or supposably in the name of the leader.

[ukwan]

Leto II worm boy wasn't really the KH either.. he was certainly more powerful.

The KH was meant to be a BG tool to be manipulated, it all derailed when Jessica's ego got out of check.

Helen the emperor's truth sayer certainly saw it that way, she totally lost her shit when Alia was pre born. But let's be honest Alia fucked her up in the end so.. Jessica wins again. 😂

Paul was the fulcrum, the point where the universe's future tipped towards the Golden Path. But he never had the balls to become a worm god 🐛

[AndreFlickUS]

Nice work! I noticed that many people don't understand why Paul isn't 'the' Kwisatz Haderach, likely due to only watching the movies or reading the first few books. This video is a great explanation, packing important points into just 6 minutes. Keep up the good work!"

[sarasweet]

Please do a video on the golden path!! I would love to know why it seems counterintuitive that the golden path was necessary for the continuation of the species--almost as a loophole to justify paul and Letos actions. thanks!

[brycefadeway]

Oh man. Is dune becoming the greatest SF movie ever made and would be next to 2001 and all? My lisan al gaib side of me tells yes 😅

[earthlingjules]

I really enjoyed your video because unlike others I've watched about Dune, it doesn't seem like you just generated and read aloud a chat gpt summary as your script. It was very concise and insightful.

[khanch.]

The end of golden path is the Scattering. Humanity becomes unkillable as whole after it. Spread too far and wide beyond time and space for even a god like being to conquer.

[myrkwood]

The fact that bene gesserit actually represents VERY REAL aspects of our world today and ideas implanted in every religion and belief systems. I cant help but suspect was Herbert also pointing towards systems like bene gesserit controlling humanity without their information for centuries? Because then again look at ALL belief systems dont they all seem a little too similar? Almost like they all came from the same source?

[allergyboy]

The Dune Books warns us by following religions blindly and following false Messiah s fabricated by the Religious system. Instead we must find our inner enlightenment and find the God within Ourselves instead of seeking and outer God and and Outer Messiah ✓

[rebeccaly]

This was a great video essay! Concise but so thoughtful and thought provoking!!