Rose Baker - Herbert's "Dune" and Martyrs

  In class, we talked about Jesus and Christianity as an example of myth. Myths and martyrs are dangerous to systems of control because even if they’re suppressed, they can survive and grow stronger. They last because they’re tied to belief, memory, and emotion---things you can’t fully erase. That’s what makes them more powerful than systems built on forced order or control. Even though much of the early church died gruesome deaths, and were consistently ordered to stop spreading the gospel, the "myth" of Jesus has continued for over 2000 years.

    In Frank Herbert's Dune, we see something similar. The Bene Gesserit know how powerful myths can be, and instead of waiting for one to form naturally, they build one on purpose. Through the Missionaria Protectiva, they plant stories and prophecies across different cultures, preparing the world for someone to fulfill the one part they can't fabricate, the living, breathing "savior" who must be visible and proven to bring about the fullness of the faith they've worked to create. When Paul steps into that role, he becomes part of something much bigger, something that feels ancient and holy, but was actually planned and manipulated over centuries.

    The difference is that Paul’s myth didn’t grow out of suffering or truth; it was designed. But once it takes root, it’s just as powerful, maybe more. The people believe it, and belief makes it real. Dune shows how myth, even when fake, can still move people, shape history, and escape the control of the ones who made it.

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