Well, the end to my English class is finally here. I would
say that this class was more than just the introduction to university writing.
It was also an introduction to the culture of college. This class was the
perfect example of what I expected college to be like: teachers looking like
students and showing up late sometimes, lectures being more liberal and not so
uptight to the rules, learning expanding to things beyond the class like conferences.
Maybe it was because I had this class for more than one semester, or maybe it
was because it was the first class I experienced a heavy load of work on;
whatever it is, it was a great experience. The funny thing is that as fun as
the class was, I actually felt I learned a lot and I felt that my writing
improved tremendously. I guess I owe it to the fact that Sean was so damn picky
with my writing and so critical that it pissed me off. It was a good thing
though because when my work isn’t “perfect” I work my ass off to make it as
perfect as I can. Sean is an expert at telling me how imperfect my work is so I
guess we go hand in hand. Hell, I imagine he’ll probably be reading this and in
the back of his mind he’ll be criticizing how my sentence doesn’t make sense
here or how I’m not following the format that some ancient French guy created a
long time ago. He’s right but just for now, just for this post, I don’t care
about the French or those random Russians and their triple negatives. Like a
wise man once said: Thug Life (that was right before he got shot -_-). Anyway, I
hope to keep learning and improving my writing as the years go by. I now have
the necessary tools to emerge as one of the best in another English class and I
have the basic understanding of how to write a formal paper. For someone who
tries to achieve nothing short of perfect, I feel I now have the foundation to
one day become something great, at least as far as my English requirements go.
So now I want to take this time to be as cheesy as possible (whoever doesn’t like
it can bite Bender’s shiny metal ass) and say that it has been a pleasure being
in Sean’s English 114A and 114B class. To my classmates and to Sean I want to
say thank you guys, it’s been a ride. Good luck with everything and wish you
all success. Now excuse me while I go and listen to Fake Plastic Trees.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Final Analysis of Project Web
Project web in my opinion is the next generation of teaching
not only the English language, but other languages as well to students. As we
all know, technology is advancing at a very fast pace and it is becoming
essential that students get the proper exposure and training that they need to
fully adjust to the evolving society. If I were to put it in my words I would
say that project text is teaching me something that has been taught for years
and generations, with a modern twist. Twenty years ago, a comic would normally
be read only if a person bought it from a comic store. A video would be watched
only if it was passed on television or if the person owned a physical copy of
the video on a cd or a video cassette. Even more, the way to get your work in
to the world was far more difficult because not everybody had the modern day aid
of the internet. In my opinion project web is a window in to the future of
writing and creating. I say this because only through project web I was able to
fuse writing, pictures, and a video to create a Frankenstein-like project known
as project space. These creations gather a larger audience since it has the
ability to not only describe something, but actually show it. Now the first
form of communication which is language has the power to amplify itself by introducing
a new way of communication which is the web. Language and words can now travel
across the globe and expand infinitely to any corner on this earth’s surface.
This is how I got to read “Abominable” and fan fiction which I was able to
analyze rhetorically and critically. This is also how I was able to compare
different sources of media like Futurama with forms things like the Social
Text. Project web in my opinion is something that should become fundamental for
this generation. As times change, we also need to change.
Project Text (Final)
Vargas, Pedro
English 114B
Sean Pessin
13 May 2012
The Change of a
Structure: The Hierarchy of Dune
With
millions of copies sold worldwide, Dune
is a legendary science fiction saga that captivates the minds of readers. Its
use of human nature along with its military and economic applications make such
a distant future feel so close to the present. Ironically this book was written
fifty years in the past demonstrating Dune’s timelessness. Frank Herbert wrote
Dune in a time where the imagination of science fiction fans was out of this
world because of the enormous technological boom caused by the Space Race. It
was a time where many historical achievements took place and a time where
different systems of hierarchy were rising. A hierarchy is like a class system
that determines who is the ultimate source of power in a society and why. Power
can be obtained through various methods depending on the customs and believes
of the given society. A system might value wisdom and so in that case the ultimate
source of power would be the wisest and more experience candidate. In the case of Dune, the power is divided in
to sections of different natures with different responsibilities. One can look
at it as a dragon with multiple heads where each head represents a different
branch and the dragon represents the power as a whole. One branch might be
slightly more powerful than the other but they are ultimately a power beyond
all else. This particular universe has its power divided in to politics, military,
prestige, knowledge, and economics. In
order to determine who plays what role, how this power changes from one book in
to the next, and how they are connected to one another it is necessary to
observe every individual branch’s source of power. Through analysis we will
determine the relationships between each power and how Paul Atreides, the
protagonist, causes each power to change.
The Powers
The
Political/Military Power
In the hierarchy
of Dune, only one figure had ultimate control over the politics. This figure,
ironically, didn’t show a face until the last chapters of Dune. His power, however, resonated throughout the
book as ultimate and absolute. This power belonged to the Padishah Emperor who
had the ability to decide over any other political figure which included the
Dukes or the Counts. He had the power to set rules over any planet and these
rules were obeyed by all because nobody dared to challenge his power. This power was obtained from different
sources including the legendary Sardaukar from the planet Salusa Secundus.
Power
can be defined in many ways but one well known source of power is the military
force. The Emperor knew this very well and so he used the horrible conditions
of the planet Salusa Secundus to raise an army of elite warriors called
Sardaukar. These warriors were exposed at such a young age to a violent and
horrible environment which forced them to do whatever it took to emerge
victorious. They were a very violent and
brutal force but ultimately, amazing warriors. The Sardaukar were feared by all
the other armies and for a good reason too. Any army who opposed these warriors
never won the battle. As terrible as
the Sardaukar were, however, they were without a doubt a great source of power.
The Emperor needed this power to make sure that his rules and decisions were
followed. These warriors were also a great insurance that made sure nobody
questioned or challenged him. They were
only a portion of his power though. The Sardaukar protected him from a direct
assault but not from a surprise attack or a conspiracy plan. For these he
turned to his other source of power, and a bridge to another branch in the
hierarchy, the “Truthsayer.”
The Power of Prestige/Knowledge
A Truthsayer is
Reverend Mother who underwent a special training that allowed her to detect
lies and falsehood. She worked in conjunction with the Emperor but she was part
of a female exclusive superpower known as the Bene Gesserit. Some called the Bene Gesserit witches and
others addressed them with ultimate respect but everyone knew that these
females were a powerful force. Unlike the Emperor, the Bene Gesserit didn’t
have an army of elite warriors but they had another exclusive source of power
which didn’t require brute force to exercise its will.
The
word Bene Gesserit belonged to the name of a prestigious school in the Dune
universe. This school was exclusive to females and it disciplined them with
mental and physical training that enabled their senses to reach an amazing
level of awareness. Detecting hidden doors and concealed weapons was only a
taste of what their senses could do. Perhaps the most famous skill that a Bene
Gesserit was known for was something called “The Voice.” To use this skill, a
Bene Gesserit would give a command in a certain pitch that controlled the
listener. With an instant command a Bene Gesserit could have someone kneel
before her, not that it was necessary. Because of the prestige they received
from their ancient school, the Bene Gesserit were seen as an elite group; A group
that had ancient knowledge and wisdom which they passed down generation after
generation to their wisest leaders known as Reverend Mothers. The process to
pass down knowledge and wisdom was dangerous because it involved drinking
poisonous water that only a Reverend Mother could transform in to drinkable
water. As one can imagine, they must
have had a strong motive to run the risk of dying so they can pass down the
knowledge.
In
the case of Dune, knowledge is a powerful source of power for the Bene Gesserit
because its accumulation over many generations gives the Reverend Mothers
information about humanity. It’s similar to a science journal in
which every generation adds an input to it.
The Bene Gesserit used this “journal” to breed humans in an effort to
create a “Kwisatz Haderach”, a male Reverend Mother. While it’s true that a
Reverend Mother has amazing perception, it is also true that her perception is
not ultimate. There is a dark region within a Reverend Mother that is vital to
understanding space and time but a Reverend Mother cannot see it because she is
a female. This is why they needed a male who could serve as the bridge to this
dark region. As one can imagine, breeding humans to achieve this goal was not
something that everyone liked. The Bene Gesserit knew this and to insure that
nobody oppose them, they made allies with the Emperor. This alliance, however,
also served another purpose that not too many knew.
In
order for a Reverend Mother’s powers to work, she needs a substance called
Melange which can only be obtained from the planet Arrakis. Melange is a spice
that tastes similar to cinnamon and it’s created by giant sand worms in the
sands of Arrakis. The spice also has a very addictive property that makes it a
necessity for a Reverend Mother. Obtaining large quantities of the spice
without alerting anyone was made possible by the Emperor who prohibited the use
of satellites on Arrakis. In order to transport the spice, however, both the
Emperor and the Bene Gesserit formed an alliance with another powerful branch
in the hierarchy of Dune. This branch shares the strong addiction to the spice
with the Bene Gesserit but have a different source of power: Economics.
Economic power
is more than just having an abundance of money; it’s also having complete
control over something that everyone needs. In modern history, for example, if
a single firm controlled all the oil of the world, that firm would probably be
the most influential power in the world. In the Dune universe, however, we have
a different monopoly which belongs to the Guild.
The
Spacing Guild was a school of severe training like the Bene Gesserit but it is
known more for its monopoly over space travel and transportation.
Transportation is a crucial service in the universe of Dune because it is the
only way to get resources from one planet to another. Naturally, the Bene
Gesserit and the Emperor use the Guild to obtain spice. In exchange, the Guild
also receives a share of spice for their addictive needs and a high position in
the hierarchy of Dune.
The
three superpowers had absolute control over the universe of Dune for many
years. Some liked their hierarchy and some didn’t but of those who didn’t
nobody dared to challenge the superpowers. These three corrupt powers seemed
unstoppable but they unknowingly created the very source of their demise. This
source was a young man named Paul Atreides who was a victim of their
corruption.
The Downfall
Overpowering
the Emperor
After
arriving in Arrakis, Duke Leto, of the planet Caladan, found himself amazed by
the native population living there. A
population that adapted to the hostile and dangerous conditions of Arrakis in
order to not only survive, but to call that planet home. The Duke then decided
to try and make these natives called “Fremen” allies because he believed that
they were underestimated warriors. Unfortunately the Duke died before he was
able to make allies with these people but his son Paul continued his work and
explored his father’s belief on the Fremen. The belief that these people were
amazing warriors proved to be true and once Paul formed an alliance with the
Fremen the Emperor lost his advantage because he no longer had the strongest
army.
Underestimating
the Fremen turned out to be a fatal mistake for the Emperor and his Sardaukar.
The hostile conditions of Dune turned the Fremen in to incredible warriors just
as Salusa Secundus did for the Sardaukar. After various battles between both
warrior elites, it was proven that without a doubt the Fremen were superior.
This was very significant to the power of the Emperor because his Sardaukar
were his primary weapon and now that they were defeated, he was weaker. Through
rhetoric perspective one can say that the Sardaukar were like the Emperor’s
whip; they symbolized a kind of danger that would be bestowed upon those who
didn’t follow his orders. Now that his “whip” was broken though, he would be
left without an instrument to reinforce his will. This would also mean that now
somebody else has a stronger “whip” that s/he can use against the emperor if
they wished. Naturally, this made the Bene Gesserit uneasy because the Emperor
was their ally. They were even more uneasy, however, when they realized that
the leader of these Fremen was named Paul Atreides and that he had the powers
of a Reverend Mother.
After many years
of breeding, it turned out that the Bene Gesserit achieved their goal in
creating a Kwisatz Haderach. The only problem was that Paul, who was the
Kwisatz Haderach, refused to serve the purpose that they intended him for. He
didn’t want to become a part of the Bene Gesserit and he didn’t share their
ideology. This angered the Bene Gesserit who spent generations trying to create
a Kwisatz Haderach. This also meant that they were no longer as prestigious
because all of their skills and knowledge were now in the hands of a male. Paul
was the only male they were willing to accept in their “prestigious” society
and he not only denied their invitation, but he even insulted their ideology.
By doing so Paul placed himself above the level of the Bene Gesserit who
generated prestiege by excluding a great majority from their society. Unfortunately
for the Bene Gesserit, their quest for power and knowledge required the
cooperation of the Kwisatz Haderach who they spent generations trying to
create. The need for the knowledge that Paul possessed put the Bene Gesserit in
a position where they would have to play by his rules in order to get even the
slightest chance on obtaining some of his knowledge. Unwillingly, the Bene
Gesserit succumbed to Paul. This meant that there was only one more power
remaining for Paul to defeat: the Guild.
In order to attack
something so powerful like an economic power, Paul decided to explore every
possible weakness that the Guild might have. During his time in Arrakis he
learned more about the nature of the spice Melange. He learned how addictive it
can be by experiencing addiction to the drug himself. He also discovered that
the planet Arrakis was kept as a desert planet because water destroys the spice
that so many people are addicted to. Of all the people that are addicted to the
spice, the Guild is probably the one with the most severe addiction to Melange.
In fact, they are so addicted to the drug that Guildsmen are even mutated from
the drug. In a case like this, Paul realized that the ability to destroy
Melange is a power all in its own. Paul blackmailed the guild by threatening to
destroy the spice if the guild doesn’t succumb to him. Naturally, the Guild
thought that he was bluffing but at the same time none of the Guildsmen wanted
to risk the destruction of the spice. With no other choice, the economic power
gave in to Paul’s demands.
Now that the three
superpowers were defeated by a single person, the hierarchy of Dune took a very
interesting turn. The ultimate power now resided within a single being instead
of multiple branches. It was obvious that there would be many changes but one
change in particular made a huge impact in the Dune universe. This change was
introduced with a single word that brought value to a new idea and a new
philosophy which would be followed by all: Messiah.
Dune Messiah
A messiah is a
religious term used to identify he who is in supreme power. It is also the way
that Fremen and many other people viewed Paul. In a sense this word alone gives
Paul so much power because it gives authority without question. This authority,
along with all the powers that Paul took control of made him a much more
powerful leader than the Emperor, Bene Gesserit, or the Guild. This is because
religion is a believe that followers don’t question, especially when the
religious leader has control over all the powers.
In
Dune Messiah Paul is already in the
throne because he married the daughter of the previous emperor. Of course, this
was nothing more than a political move because he didn’t actually love her.
This was like a slap in the face to the Emperor who had no choice but to accept
this marriage. The marriage alone is a symbol of Paul’s power because it
basically means that he can take whatever he wishes, even the Emperor’s
daughter, and the Emperor is powerless to stop him. This powerless feeling came
from the fact that Paul’s Fremen were a far stronger fighting force than the
Sardaukar, the Emperor’s main source of power. It also came from the fact that
Paul’s influence was stronger than the Emperor’s because Paul was seen as a
prophet and a religious figure not just a political one. Paul’s prophet
abilities were also something placed him above the Bene Gesserit. While it is
true that the Bene Gesserit have special abilities, these abilities are
elementary compared to those that Paul exercised in Dune Messiah.
The
Bene Gesserit observe the past and use it to obtain knowledge that they can
exercise in the present. Paul, however, has these same powers and the ability
to see in to the future. This ability is something that makes Paul a much more
powerful force than the Bene Gesserit who spent many generations trying to
obtain this power but failed. It is no surprise that the “witches” took heavy
disrespect by Paul and all of those who followed him in Dune Messiah. Their
social status dropped dramatically as Paul’s power increased but as long as
Melange exists they might also exist. This can also be said about the Guild.
In
Dune Messiah the Guild was still a monopoly but it was controlled by Paul. The
fact that Paul lived in Arrakis and had the ability to destroy the spice kept
the Guild under a leash. Paul even exercised his power over the Guild in Dune
Messiah by executing a Guildsman after he found out about the conspiracy that
he was planning against him. The economic power of the Guild became useless
because even if they became the richest company in the Dune universe, they
still had to answer to Paul for everything.
In conclusion, the
analysis of Dune gave us a better understanding of the relationship between each
power and how Paul changed it. Some things didn’t change as much like the fact that
there was a military elite and the fact that the Guild monopoly still existed.
Other things, however, changed drastically. The Bene Gesserit, for example, lost
a lot of power to Paul who became this powerful leader. In Dune, the Hierarchy
was a dragon with multiple heads and in Dune Messiah it was a dragon with a
single, much bigger head. In Dune,
politics were the driving force while in Dune Messiah it was religion. Both
hierarchies, however, obtained some power from the Spice Melange. A spice
created by Frank Herbert to interpret some of the spectrum of human nature.
Perhaps the spice can represent the addiction to power that people in the
modern era are feeling. It’s ironic that many things change in the hierarchy of
Dune but the power of the spice doesn’t change. Perhaps Frank Herbert is trying
to make the point that no matter how many changes happen or how much time
passes by; this addiction to power will always remain the same.
Project Space (Final)
Pedro Vargas
Sean Pessin
English 114B
May 13, 2012
Project Space
The world of videogames is shaped primarily by
its usage of space. This space is in charge of providing the boundaries and
rules to which a player must adjust to in order to be successful. These rules
can range from the perspective of the game (if it’s a first person or a third
person) all the way to what spaces the character has access to. Naturally, some
of these rules may be similar for some videogames of the same genre but they
are also different in various ways. The fact that they are different is what
makes the experience for every videogame unique. To determine how the rules of
a videogame impact the player’s experience, it is necessary to analyze the way
programmers use space in a videogame. For this analysis I will focus on the
usage of space in the game Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
Castlevania
is an adventure game which takes place in the 11th century. I
figured that adventure games would be the best to use for this particular
analysis because they generally allow the player to roam around and explore the
space without a time restraint. Because Castlevania takes place in a giant
medieval castle, it is obvious that the castle walls would be the boundaries of
the entire game. There is a world beyond the castle that the programmers included but it is not a world that the player has access to.
This world can be seen when the player is at the top of the castle but because
of the distance from the ground, the game doesn’t allow the player to jump off;
or at least that’s the thinking. I also think that the limited boundaries keep
the player on track to reaching the ultimate purpose of the game: Finding
Dracula and killing him. By narrowing an entire world to just one castle, the
player now has no choice but to fulfill the purpose that the game was intended
for. The interior of the castle, however, is also filled with boundaries and
obstacles.
One of the
major obstacles of the game is the enemies that the player has to face along
his quest to slay Dracula. Every space in the castle has its own unique set of
enemies that are specific for the environment. The gardens of the castle, for
example, are filled with poisonous man-eating plants and giant insects. This is
relevant to the game because the player has to change weapons according to his
enemies. Holy water won’t kill plants so it is useless in the gardens of the
castle. To add to the difficulty, these enemies put one at a natural
disadvantage because they can do things in their specific space that the player
can’t. Every room and corridor in the game is designed this way. In the
gardens, for instance, the plants can use the vines growing on the walls to
restraint you so they can kill you. In other areas, enemies hide in the dark
and use the element of surprise to try and bring you down. Some enemies can fly
and others are so big that the player has no other choice than to slay him or her
before they can advance. Logically, one would think that it is just easier to
avoid any confrontation with enemies but the game isn’t designed that way. The
programmers made it so that the player has to defeat certain enemies to obtain valuable objects, like
keys. These keys or objects are necessary to advance in the castle and find
Dracula.
To balance
the position of a natural disadvantage the rules put a player in, the
programmers also included special weapons, armors, or power-ups. These perks,
however, are difficult to find because they are hidden in areas that are not
present in the player’s map. In a way this symbolizes that these perks are a
way of cheating the game. Because they are not in the map which is the space
that the programmer wants the player to focus on; then they are not intended to
be found but are made available anyway. Some common places to find these perks are
behind walls, paintings, or statues. To know exactly where, the programmers
added some small clues like a crack on a wall or the slanted position of the
painting that the player should look out for. The hardest secrets to find,
however, are those that the player can’t see because they are out of the camera
angle of the game. Because the game is a third person (the camera is behind the
character), the player can only see what’s in front of the character. Some
secrets are behind the camera and to find them one would have to pay real close
attention to the secret clues the space gives out. One example of these secret
clues is the lightning outside which a player can see by looking through the
window. This lightning appears after the character defeats the only enemy in
the room who happens to be a very powerful one. The fact that there is only one
very powerful enemy in the room is suspicious but the clue is that the
lightning appears after he is defeated. This means that the player is close to
something important and it is related to lightning. Sure enough, there is a
secret room behind the camera which contains a whip of lightning that has the power to
defeat just about any enemy. The irony is that the whip can break through any enemy
except the most powerful one: the Castle itself. So maybe power-ups give a
player certain advantages but the character is still vulnerable to the
dangerous spaces and boundaries of the castle.
Castles are
known for having hidden traps and dangerous areas. The designers of this castle
turned the entire thing in to a giant trap designed to eliminate the player.
Because the programmers made the boundaries, the player has no choice but to
enter the trap. This trap consist of moving objects, flying weapons, lasers,
giant sharp pendulums, closing walls, spikes on the walls and floors, lava, and
many other things that can kill the character. Ironically, these dangerous
traps don’t harm the enemies. This means that the player will have to be much
more careful while advancing in the castle. The only spaces that don’t have
traps are the points where the player can save the game and the entrance of the
castle. Everywhere else has dangerous traps that become more abundant and
dangerous as the player gets closer to passing the game. Perhaps the most
dangerous trap is not one that has a trap condensed space, but one that uses
the least traps in a given space. In the castle, there are some areas that show
only a light on the character and the entire room is completely dark. Besides a
couple of steps scattered around the room, the floor is bottomless. In this
trap the player has to guestimate where the steps are so that s/he may cross.
If the player misses the steps and falls, s/he will be instantly sent to the
beginning of the level. This is worse than dodging giant pendulums or getting
struck by spikes because it’s an automatic death. The other traps give you a
chance to live but the bottomless traps instantly kill you. One can
learn the patterns in the traps to predict how they will operate but some
spaces of the castle don’t have any specific pattern that a player can learn.
These areas are made this way by random movement.
The castle
has some dangerous areas where the space constantly changes and rearranges so
that the player is never comfortable. These areas are some of the most
difficult to get by in the entire castle. One very interesting thing about
these areas is that the boundaries constantly change. Sometimes the walls get
closer which gives the player a narrower area to fight the already adapted
enemies, other times the ceiling gets lower which limits the player’s ability
to escape enemy attacks by jumping. What’s frustrating about this change of
space is the fact that the player has no way of controlling it. The walls and
the ceiling will move randomly and the player can’t do anything about it except
to go by the change and defeat the enemies. The fact that the player can’t
break the walls or the ceiling symbolizes that the castle has ultimate power
over the individual. This control of space is also evident when the player
reaches the boss of every level of the castle.
Fighting
every boss in the game is difficult because every space in the arena is
designed to protect the boss. Usually, a player can’t attack the boss of a
level directly because every boss is protected by some sort of shield. In one
level, for instance, the boss was a vampire who controlled these giant swords
which protected him. Before the player can strike this vampire, s/he must first
destroy three magical orbs which give the vampire his power. These orbs,
however, are found in every corner of the room. This means that the player will
have to dodge and block attacks from the vampire while s/he destroys these
orbs in the furthest ends if the room. This also applies to the level in which
the player fights Dracula. Because Dracula is supposed to be the final boss of
the game, fighting him would naturally be far more difficult. In order to
strike Dracula the player first has to go to the furthest corners of the entire
castle to gather the necessary ingredients to create a weapon that actually
hurts him. Then after the player has this weapon, s/he must fight Dracula in a
very small room. By increasing the space
between each of these ingredients, the player is exposed to many more attacks
and dangers. Then by decreasing the space in which the player fights Dracula,
it makes dodging and blocking his attacks far more difficult. Only after a
player actually manages to defeat Dracula under these conditions can s/he pass
the game.
In
conclusion, the usage of space in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence sets rules
that give each player a challenging but great experience while playing the game.
This is done by bounding the player to the castle using the giant castle walls
as boundaries and making it so that the player must travel around the castle so
s/he can collect vital items. To get these items, the player will have to face
countless enemies and a dangerous castle which was designed to use its space to
kill you. The player, however, is bound by the rules of the game to experience
as much of this danger as possible in order to pass the game. At the end of the
game, the player watches as the castle crumbles down which symbolizes that it
has been defeated. Throughout the game there wasn’t a single weapon that had
the power to damage the castle but by passing the game, the player gets the
satisfaction that s/he got to finally destroy it. Ironically, this is the only time in the entire game that the player leaves the
boundaries of the castle but the player still isn’t allowed to explore outside
of the castle. This ultimately means the programmers still have ultimate
control over the space and they decide what part of it the player can explore. The
rules set by the space in this game may be similar to other adventure games but
the experience of playing Castlevania: Lament of Innocence will always be
unique.
Project Text (Revised)
Vargas 1
Vargas, Pedro
English 114B
Sean Pessin
March 7, 2012
The Change of a
Structure: The Hierarchy of Dune
With
millions of copies sold worldwide, Dune
is a legendary science fiction saga that captivates the minds of readers. Its
use of human nature along with its military and economic applications make such
a distant future feel so close to the present. Ironically this book was written
fifty years in the past demonstrating Dune’s timelessness. Frank Herbert wrote
Dune in a time where the imagination of science fiction fans was out of this
world because of the enormous technological boom caused by the Space Race. It
was a time where many historical achievements took place and a time where
different systems of hierarchy were rising. A hierarchy is like a class system
that determines who is the ultimate source of power in a society and why. Power
can be obtained through various methods depending on the customs and believes
of the given society. A system might value wisdom and so in that case the ultimate
source of power would be the wisest and more experience candidate. In the case of Dune, the power is divided in
to sections of different natures with different responsibilities. One can look
at it as a dragon with multiple heads where each head represents a different
branch and the dragon represents the power as a whole. One branch might be
slightly more powerful than the other but they are ultimately a power beyond
all else. This particular universe has its power divided in to politics, military,
prestige, knowledge, and economics. In
order to determine who plays what role, how this power changes from one book in
to the next, and how they are connected to one another it is necessary to
observe every individual branch’s source of power. Through analysis we will
determine the relationships between each power and how Paul Atreides, the
protagonist, causes each power to change.
Vargas
2
The Powers
The
Political/Military Power
In the hierarchy
of Dune, only one figure had ultimate control over the politics. This figure,
ironically, didn’t show a face until the last chapters of Dune. His power, however, resonated throughout the
book as ultimate and absolute. This power belonged to the Padishah Emperor who
had the ability to decide over any other political figure which included the
Dukes or the Counts. He had the power to set rules over any planet and these
rules were obeyed by all because nobody dared to challenge his power. This power was obtained from different
sources including the legendary Sardaukar from the planet Salusa Secundus.
Power
can be defined in many ways but one well known source of power is the military
force. The Emperor knew this very well and so he used the horrible conditions
of the planet Salusa Secundus to raise an army of elite warriors called
Sardaukar. These warriors were exposed at such a young age to a violent and
horrible environment which forced them to do whatever it took to emerge
victorious. They were a very violent and
brutal force but ultimately, amazing warriors. The Sardaukar were feared by all
the other armies and for a good reason too. Any army who opposed these warriors
never won the battle. As terrible as
the Sardaukar were, however, they were without a doubt a great source of power.
The Emperor needed this power to make sure that his rules and decisions were
followed. These warriors were also a great insurance that made sure nobody
questioned or challenged him. They were
only a portion of his power though. The Sardaukar protected him from a direct
assault but not from a surprise attack or a conspiracy plan. For these he
turned to his other source of power, and a bridge to another branch in the
hierarchy, the “Truthsayer.”
Vargas
3
The
Power of Prestige/Knowledge
A Truthsayer is
Reverend Mother who underwent a special training that allowed her to detect
lies and falsehood. She worked in conjunction with the Emperor but she was part
of a female exclusive superpower known as the Bene Gesserit. Some called the Bene Gesserit witches and
others addressed them with ultimate respect but everyone knew that these
females were a powerful force. Unlike the Emperor, the Bene Gesserit didn’t
have an army of elite warriors but they had another exclusive source of power
which didn’t require brute force to exercise its will.
The
word Bene Gesserit belonged to the name of a prestigious school in the Dune
universe. This school was exclusive to females and it disciplined them with
mental and physical training that enabled their senses to reach an amazing
level of awareness. Detecting hidden doors and concealed weapons was only a
taste of what their senses could do. Perhaps the most famous skill that a Bene
Gesserit was known for was something called “The Voice.” To use this skill, a
Bene Gesserit would give a command in a certain pitch that controlled the
listener. With an instant command a Bene Gesserit could have someone kneel
before her, not that it was necessary. Because of the prestige they received
from their ancient school, the Bene Gesserit were seen as an elite group. A group
that had ancient knowledge and wisdom which they passed down generation after
generation to their wisest leaders known as Reverend Mothers. The process to
pass down knowledge and wisdom was dangerous because it involved drinking
poisonous water that only a Reverend Mother could transform in to drinkable
water. As one can imagine, they must
have had a strong motive to run the risk of dying so they can pass down the
knowledge.
In
the case of Dune, knowledge is a powerful source of power for the Bene Gesserit
because its accumulation over many generations gives the Reverend Mothers
information about humanity. It’s
Vargas
4
similar to a science journal in
which every generation adds an input to it.
The Bene Gesserit used this “journal” to breed humans in an effort to
create a “Kwisatz Haderach”, a male Reverend Mother. While it’s true that a
Reverend Mother has amazing perception, it is also true that her perception is
not ultimate. There is a dark region within a Reverend Mother that is vital to
understanding space and time but a Reverend Mother cannot see it because she is
a female. This is why they needed a male who could serve as the bridge to this
dark region. As one can imagine, breeding humans to achieve this goal was not
something that everyone liked. The Bene Gesserit knew this and to insure that
nobody oppose them, they made allies with the Emperor. This alliance, however,
also served another purpose that not too many knew.
In
order for a Reverend Mother’s powers to work, she needs a substance called
Melange which can only be obtained from the planet Arrakis. Melange is a spice
that tastes similar to cinnamon and it’s created by giant sand worms in the
sands of Arrakis. The spice also has a very addictive property that makes it a
necessity for a Reverend Mother. Obtaining large quantities of the spice
without alerting anyone was made possible by the Emperor who prohibited the use
of satellites on Arrakis. In order to transport the spice, however, both the
Emperor and the Bene Gesserit formed an alliance with another powerful branch
in the hierarchy of Dune. This branch shares the strong addiction to the spice
with the Bene Gesserit but have a different source of power: Economics.
The
Economic Power
Economic power
is more than just having an abundance of money; it’s also having complete
control over something that everyone needs. In modern history, for example, if
a single firm controlled all the oil of the world, that firm would probably be
the most influential power in the world. In the Dune universe, however, we have
a different monopoly which belongs to the Guild.
The
Spacing Guild was a school of severe training like the Bene Gesserit but it is
known more for its monopoly over space travel and transportation.
Transportation is a crucial service in the universe of Dune because it is the
only way to get resources from one planet to another. Naturally, the Bene
Gesserit and the Emperor use the Guild to obtain spice. In exchange, the Guild
also receives a share of spice for their addictive needs and a high position in
the hierarchy of Dune.
The
three superpowers had absolute control over the universe of Dune for many
years. Some liked their hierarchy and some didn’t but of those who didn’t
nobody dared to challenge the superpowers. These three corrupt powers seemed
unstoppable but they unknowingly created the very source of their demise. This
source was a young man named Paul Atreides who was a victim of their
corruption.
The Downfall
Overpowering
the Emperor
After
arriving in Arrakis, Duke Leto, of the planet Caladan, found himself amazed by
the native population living there. A
population that adapted to the hostile and dangerous conditions of Arrakis in
order to not only survive, but to call that planet home. The Duke then decided
to try and make these natives called “Fremen” allies because he believed that
they were underestimated warriors. Unfortunately the Duke died before he was
able to make allies with these people but his son Paul continued his work and
explored his father’s belief on the Fremen. The belief that these people were
amazing warriors proved to be true and once Paul formed an alliance with the
Fremen the Emperor lost his advantage because he no longer had the strongest
army.
Underestimating
the Fremen turned out to be a fatal mistake for the Emperor and his Sardaukar.
The hostile conditions of Dune turned the Fremen in to incredible warriors just
as Salusa Secundus did for the Sardaukar. After various battles between both
warrior elites, it was proven that without a doubt the Fremen were superior.
This was very significant to the power of the Emperor because his Sardaukar
were his primary weapon and now that they were defeated, he was weaker. Through
rhetoric perspective one can say that the Sardaukar were like the Emperor’s
whip; they symbolized a kind of danger that would be bestowed upon those who
didn’t follow his orders. Now that his “whip” was broken though, he would be
left without an instrument to reinforce his will. This would also mean that now
somebody else has a stronger “whip” that s/he can use against the emperor if
they wished. Naturally, this made the Bene Gesserit uneasy because the Emperor
was their ally. They were even more uneasy, however, when they realized that
the leader of these Fremen was named Paul Atreides and that he had the powers
of a Reverend Mother.
Making
the Prestige kneel
After many years
of breeding, it turned out that the Bene Gesserit achieved their goal in
creating a Kwisatz Haderach. The only problem was that Paul, who was the
Kwisatz Haderach, refused to serve the purpose that they intended him for. He
didn’t want to become a part of the Bene Gesserit and he didn’t share their
ideology. This angered the Bene Gesserit who spent generations trying to create
a Kwisatz Haderach. This also meant that they were no longer as prestigious
because all of their skills and knowledge were now in the hands of a male. Paul
was the only male they were willing to accept in their “prestigious” society
and he not only denied their invitation, but he even insulted their ideology.
By doing so Paul placed himself above the level of the Bene Gesserit who
generated prestiege by excluding a great majority from their society. Unfortunately
for the Bene Gesserit, their quest for power and knowledge required the
cooperation of the Kwisatz Haderach who they spent generations trying to
create. The need for the knowledge that Paul possessed put the Bene Gesserit in
a position where they would have to play by his rules in order to get even the
slightest chance on obtaining some of his knowledge. Unwillingly, the Bene
Gesserit succumbed to Paul. This meant that there was only one more power
remaining for Paul to defeat: the Guild.
Blackmailing
the Guild
In order to attack
something so powerful like an economic power, Paul decided to explore every
possible weakness that the Guild might have. During his time in Arrakis he
learned more about the nature of the spice Melange. He learned how addictive it
can be by experiencing addiction to the drug himself. He also discovered that
the planet Arrakis was kept as a desert planet because water destroys the spice
that so many people are addicted to. Of all the people that are addicted to the
spice, the Guild is probably the one with the most severe addiction to Melange.
In fact, they are so addicted to the drug that Guildsmen are even mutated from
the drug. In a case like this, Paul realized that the ability to destroy
Melange is a power all in its own. Paul blackmailed the guild by threatening to
destroy the spice if the guild doesn’t succumb to him. Naturally, the Guild
thought that he was bluffing but at the same time none of the Guildsmen wanted
to risk the destruction of the spice. With no other choice, the economic power
gave in to Paul’s demands.
Now that the three
superpowers were defeated by a single person, the hierarchy of Dune took a very
interesting turn. The ultimate power now resided within a single being instead
of multiple branches. It was obvious that there would be many changes but one
change in particular made a huge impact in the Dune universe. This change was
introduced with a single word that brought value to a new idea and a new
philosophy which would be followed by all: Messiah.
Dune Messiah
A messiah is a
religious term used to identify he who is in supreme power. It is also the way
that Fremen and many other people viewed Paul. In a sense this word alone gives
Paul so much power because it gives authority without question. This authority,
along with all the powers that Paul took control of made him a much more
powerful leader than the Emperor, Bene Gesserit, or the Guild. This is because
religion is a believe that followers don’t question, especially when the
religious leader has control over all the powers.
In
Dune Messiah Paul is already in the
throne because he married the daughter of the previous emperor. Of course, this
was nothing more than a political move because he didn’t actually love her.
This was like a slap in the face to the Emperor who had no choice but to accept
this marriage. The marriage alone is a symbol of Paul’s power because it
basically means that he can take whatever he wishes, even the Emperor’s
daughter, and the Emperor is powerless to stop him. This powerless feeling came
from the fact that Paul’s Fremen were a far stronger fighting force than the
Sardaukar, the Emperor’s main source of power. It also came from the fact that
Paul’s influence was stronger than the Emperor’s because Paul was seen as a
prophet and a religious figure not just a political one. Paul’s prophet
abilities were also something placed him above the Bene Gesserit. While it is
true that the Bene Gesserit have special abilities, these abilities are
elementary compared to those that Paul exercised in Dune Messiah.
The
Bene Gesserit observe the past and use it to obtain knowledge that they can
exercise in the present. Paul, however, has these same powers and the ability
to see in to the future. This ability is something that makes Paul a much more
powerful force than the Bene Gesserit. Using data to predict the future is
something the Bene Gesserit tried to achieve but failed to.
In
conclusion, the Dune universe had many different sources of power which changed
after Paul overthrew the first hierarchy. Some things didn’t change as much
like the military elites and the Guild monopoly but other things changed drastically.
The Bene Gesserit, for example, were overshadowed by the power of Paul and Alia
in Dune Messiah and therefore took a different role. In Dune, the Hierarchy was
a dragon with multiple heads and in Dune Messiah it was a dragon with a single,
much bigger head. In Dune, politics were
the driving force while in Dune Messiah it was religion. Both hierarchies,
however, obtained some power from the Spice Melange. A spice created by Frank
Herbert to interpret some of the spectrum of human nature. Perhaps the spice
can represent the addiction to power that people in the modern era are feeling.
It’s ironic that many things change in the hierarchy of Dune but the power of
the spice doesn’t change. Perhaps Frank Herbert is trying to make the point
that no matter how many changes happen or how much time passes by; this
addiction to power will always remain the same.
Project space (revision)
Pedro Vargas
Sean Pessin
English 114B
May 13, 2012
Project Space
The world of videogames is shaped primarily by
its usage of space. This space is in charge of providing the boundaries and
rules to which a player must adjust to in order to be successful. These rules
can range from the perspective of the game (if it’s a first person or a third
person) all the way to what spaces the character has access to. Naturally, some
of these rules may be similar for some videogames of the same genre but they
are also different in various ways. The fact that they are different is what
makes the experience for every videogame unique. To determine how the rules of
a videogame impact the player’s experience, it is necessary to analyze the way
programmers use space in a videogame. For this analysis I will focus on the
usage of space in the game Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
Castlevania
is an adventure game which takes place in the 11th century. I
figured that adventure games would be the best to use for this particular
analysis because they generally allow the player to roam around and explore the
space without a time restraint. Because Castlevania takes place in a giant
medieval castle, it is obvious that the castle walls would be the boundaries of
the entire game. There is a world beyond the castle that the programmers added
but it is not a world that the player has access to. This world can be seen
when the player is at the top of the castle but because of the distance from
the ground, the game doesn’t allow the player to jump off; or at least that’s
the thinking. I also think that the limited boundaries keep the player on track
to reaching the ultimate purpose of the game: Finding Dracula and killing him.
By narrowing an entire world to just one castle, the player now has no choice
but to fulfill the purpose that the game was intended for. The interior of the
castle, however, is also filled with boundaries and obstacles.
One of the
major obstacles of the game is the enemies that the player has to face along
his quest to slay Dracula. Every space in the castle has its own unique set of
enemies that are specific for the environment. The gardens of the castle, for
example, are filled with poisonous man-eating plants and giant insects. This is
relevant to the game because the player has to change weapons according to his
enemies. Holy water won’t kill plants so it is useless in the gardens of the
castle. To add to the difficulty, these enemies put one at a natural
disadvantage because they can do things in their specific space that the player
can’t. Every room and corridor in the game is designed this way. In the
gardens, for instance, the plants can use the vines growing on the walls to
restraint you so they can kill you. In other areas, enemies hide in the dark
and use the element of surprise to try and bring you down. Some enemies can fly
and others are so big that the player has no other choice than to slay him or her
before they can advance. Logically, one would think that it is just easier to
avoid any confrontation with enemies but the game isn’t designed that way. The
programmers made it so that the player has to defeat certain enemies to obtain
valuable objects, like keys. These keys or objects are necessary to advance in
the castle and find Dracula.
To balance
the position of a natural disadvantage the rules put a player in, the
programmers also included special weapons, armors, or power-ups. These perks,
however, are difficult to find because they are hidden in areas that are not
present in the player’s map. In a way this symbolizes that these perks are a
way of cheating the game. Because they are not in the map which is the space
that the programmer wants the player to focus on; then they are not intended to
be found but are made available anyway. Some common places to find these perks are
behind walls, paintings, or statues. To know exactly where, the programmers
added some small clues like a crack on a wall or the slanted position of the
painting that the player should look out for. The hardest secrets to find,
however, are those that the player can’t see because they are out of the camera
angle of the game. Because the game is a third person (the camera is behind the
character), the player can only see what’s in front of the character. Some
secrets are behind the camera and to find them one would have to pay real close
attention to the secret clues the space gives out. One example of these secret
clues is the lightning outside which a player can see by looking through the
window. This lightning appears after the character defeats the only enemy in
the room who happens to be a very powerful one. The fact that there is only one
very powerful enemy in the room is suspicious but the clue is that the
lightning appears after he is defeated. This means that the player is close to
something important and it is related to lightning. Sure enough, there is a
secret room behind the camera which contains a whip of lightning that has the
power to defeat just about any enemy. The irony is that the whip can break
through any enemy except the most powerful one: the Castle itself. So maybe
power-ups give a player certain advantages but the character is still vulnerable
to the dangerous spaces and boundaries of the castle.
Castles are
known for having hidden traps and dangerous areas. The designers of this castle
turned the entire thing in to a giant trap designed to eliminate the player.
Because the programmers made the boundaries, the player has no choice but to
enter the trap. This trap consist of moving objects, flying weapons, lasers,
giant sharp pendulums, closing walls, spikes on the walls and floors, lava, and
many other things that can kill the character. Ironically, these dangerous
traps don’t harm the enemies. This means that the player will have to be much
more careful while advancing in the castle. The only spaces that don’t have
traps are the points where the player can save the game and the entrance of the
castle. Everywhere else has dangerous traps that become more abundant and
dangerous as the player gets closer to passing the game. Perhaps the most
dangerous trap is not one that has a trap condensed space, but one that uses
the least traps in a given space. In the castle, there are some areas that show
only a light on the character and the entire room is completely dark. Besides a
couple of steps scattered around the room, the floor is bottomless. In this
trap the player has to guestimate where the steps are so that s/he may cross.
If the player misses the steps and falls, s/he will be instantly sent to the
beginning of the level. This is worse than dodging giant pendulums or getting
struck by spikes because it’s an automatic death. The other traps give you a
chance to live but the bottomless traps instantly kill you. One can learn the
patterns in the traps to predict how they will operate but some spaces of the
castle don’t have any specific pattern that a player can learn. These areas are
made this way by random movement.
The castle
has some dangerous areas where the space constantly changes and rearranges so
that the player is never comfortable. These areas are some of the most
difficult to get by in the entire castle. One very interesting thing about
these areas is that the boundaries constantly change. Sometimes the walls get
closer which gives the player a narrower area to fight the already adapted
enemies, other times the ceiling gets lower which limits the player’s ability
to escape enemy attacks by jumping. What’s frustrating about this change of
space is the fact that the player has no way of controlling it. The walls and
the ceiling will move randomly and the player can’t do anything about it except
to go by the change and defeat the enemies. The fact that the player can’t
break the walls or the ceiling symbolizes that the castle has ultimate power
over the individual. This control of space is also evident when the player
reaches the boss of every level of the castle.
Fighting
every boss in the game is difficult because every arena is designed to protect
the boss. Ironically, the player fights through many dangerous spaces to get to
an even more dangerous space so that s/he can reach the most dangerous out of
all the spaces. In every level the most dangerous space is the one where you
fight the boss. Usually, a player can’t
attack the boss of a level directly because every boss is protected by some
sort of shield. In one level, for instance, the boss was a vampire who
controlled these giant swords which protected him. Before the player can strike
this vampire, s/he must first destroy three magical orbs which give the vampire
his power. These orbs, however, are found in every corner of the room. This
means that the player will have to dodge and block attacks from the vampire while
s/he destroys these orbs in the furthest ends if the room. This also applies to
level in which the player fights Dracula. Because Dracula is supposed to be the
final boss of the game, fighting him would naturally be far more difficult. In
order to strike Dracula the player first has to go to the furthest corners of
the entire castle to gather the necessary ingredients to create a weapon that
actually hurts him. Then after the player has this weapon, s/he must fight
Dracula in a very small room. By
increasing the space between each of these ingredients, the player is exposed
to many more attacks and dangers. Then by decreasing the space in which the
player fights Dracula, it makes dodging and blocking his attacks far more
difficult. Only after a player actually manages to defeat Dracula under these
conditions can s/he pass the game.
In
conclusion, the usage of space in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is primarily
designed to expose the player to all the dangers of the castle so s/he can
reach Dracula and kill him. This is done by bounding the player to the castle
using the giant castle walls as boundaries and making it so that the player
must travel around the castle so s/he can collect vital items. To get these
items, the player will have to face countless enemies and a dangerous castle
which was designed to use its space to kill you. The player, however, has no
choice but to try and survive these traps so that s/he can get to Dracula and
kill him. At the end of the game, the player watches as the castle crumbles
down which symbolizes that it has been defeated. Ironically, this is the only
time in the entire game that the player leaves the boundaries of the castle but
the player still isn’t allowed to explore outside of the castle. This
ultimately means the programmers still have ultimate control over the space and
they decide what part of it the player can explore. In a way it’s like a tease
that keeps the players wondering what lies beyond those walls. The forest might
be filled with more mythical creatures or it might be filled with other kinds
of creatures. It’s one of those mysteries that keep the players interested in
this universe. At some point this universe was just a part of someone’s
imagination but thanks to the technology, we can now be a part of it. Space is
something filled with many mysteries but for the first time in history, we are
able to create it.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Project Text (Draft)
Vargas, Pedro
English 114B
Sean Pessin
March 7, 2012
To be titled
With
millions of copies sold worldwide, Dune
is a legendary science fiction saga that captivates the minds of readers. Its
use of human nature along with its military and economic applications make such
a distant future feel so close to the present. Ironically this book was written
fifty years in the past demonstrating Dune’s timelessness. Frank Herbert wrote
Dune in a time where the imagination of science fiction fans was out of this
world because of the enormous technological boom caused by the Space Race. It
was a time where many historical achievements took place and a time where
different systems of hierarchy were rising. A hierarchy is like a class system
that determines who is the ultimate source of power in a society and why. Power
can be obtained through various methods depending on the customs and believes
of the given society. A system might value wisdom and so in that case the
ultimate source of power would be the wisest and more experience
candidate. In the case of Dune, the
power is divided in to sections of different natures with different
responsibilities. One can look at it as a dragon with multiple heads where each
head represents a different branch and the dragon represents the power as a
whole. One branch might be slightly more powerful than the other but they are
ultimately a power beyond all else. This particular universe has its power
divided in to politics, military, prestige, knowledge, and economics. In order to determine who plays what role,
how this power changes from one book in to the next, and how they are connected
to one another it is necessary to observe every individual branch’s source of
power.
The Political/Military Power
In the hierarchy
of Dune, only one figure had ultimate control over the politics. This figure,
ironically, didn’t show a face until the last chapters of Dune. His power, however, resonated throughout the
book as ultimate and absolute. This power belonged to the Padishah Emperor who
had the ability to decide over any other political figure which included the
Dukes or the Counts. He had the power to set rules over any planet and these
rules were obeyed by all because nobody dared to challenge his power. This power was obtained from different
sources including the prison planet of Salusa Secundus.
Power
can be defined in many ways but one well known source of power is the military
force. The Emperor knew this very well and so he used the horrible conditions
of the planet Salusa Secundus to raise an army of elite warriors called
Sardaukar. These warriors were exposed at such a young age to a violent and
horrible environment which forced them to do whatever it took to emerge
victorious. They were a very violent and
brutal force but ultimately, amazing warriors. The Sardaukar were feared by all
the other armies and for a good reason too. Any army who opposed these warriors
never won the battle. As terrible as
the Sardaukar were, however, they were without a doubt a great source of power.
The Emperor needed this power to make sure that his rules and decisions were
followed. These warriors were also a great insurance that made sure nobody
questioned or challenged him. They were
only a portion of his power though. The Sardaukar protected him from a direct
assault but not from a surprise attack or a conspiracy plan. For these he
turned to his other source of power, and a bridge to another branch in the
hierarchy, the “Truthsayer.”
The Power of Prestige/Knowledge
A Truthsayer is
Reverend Mother who underwent a special training that allowed her to detect
lies and falsehood. She worked in conjunction with the Emperor but she was part
of a female exclusive superpower known as the Bene Gesserit. Some called the Bene Gesserit witches and
others addressed them with ultimate respect but everyone knew that these
females were a powerful force. Unlike the Emperor, the Bene Gesserit didn’t
have an army of elite warriors but they had another exclusive source of power
which didn’t require brute force to exercise its will.
The
word Bene Gesserit belonged to the name of a prestigious school in the Dune
universe. This school was exclusive to females and it disciplined them with
mental and physical training that enabled their senses to reach an amazing level
of awareness. Detecting hidden doors and concealed weapons was only a taste of
what their senses could do. Perhaps the most famous skill that a Bene Gesserit
was known for was something called “The Voice.” To use this skill, a Bene
Gesserit would give a command in a certain pitch that controlled the listener.
With an instant command a Bene Gesserit could have someone kneel before her,
not that it was necessary. Because of the prestige they received from their
ancient school, the Bene Gesserit were seen as an elite group. A group that had
ancient knowledge and wisdom which they passed down generation after generation
to their wisest leaders known as Reverend Mothers. The process to pass down
knowledge and wisdom was dangerous because it involved drinking poisonous water
that only a Reverend Mother could transform in to drinkable water. As one can imagine, they must have had a
strong motive to run the risk of dying so they can pass down the knowledge.
In
the case of Dune, knowledge is a powerful source of power for the Bene Gesserit
because its accumulation over many generations gives the Reverend Mothers
information about humanity. It’s similar to a science journal in which every
generation adds an input to it. The Bene
Gesserit used this “journal” to breed humans in an effort to create a “Kwisatz
Haderach”, a male Reverend Mother. While it’s true that a Reverend Mother has
amazing perception, it is also true that her perception is not ultimate. There
is a dark region within a Reverend Mother that is vital to understanding space
and time but a Reverend Mother cannot see it because she is a female. This is
why they needed a male who could serve as the bridge to this dark region. As
one can imagine, breeding humans to achieve this goal was not something that
everyone liked. The Bene Gesserit knew this and to insure that nobody oppose
them, they made allies with the Emperor and another Branch of power who too had
a tremendous influence in the Dune universe. This branch didn’t use a military
or prestige to get its power; it used another source that is as equally
powerful: economics.
The Economic Power
Economic power
is more than just having an abundance of money; it’s also having complete
control over something that everyone needs. In modern history, for example, if
a single firm controlled all the oil of the world, that firm would probably be
the most influential power in the world. In the Dune universe, however, we have
a different monopoly which belongs to the Guild.
The
Spacing Guild was a school of severe training like the Bene Gesserit but it is
known more for its monopoly over space travel and transportation.
Transportation is a crucial service in the universe of Dune for various
reasons. Take the planet of Arrakis, for example. This planet is known for the
production of the spice “Melange” which tastes like cinnamon and almost
everyone in the Dune universe is addicted to it. Without transportation, there
would be no way to get this spice to everyone who needs it which includes the
Guildsmen themselves. Some who haven’t read Dune might wonder why it is that
the Guild is a monopoly and why it’s allowed to stay a monopoly. The answer is
because the guild works in conjunction with the Emperor and the Bene Gesserit.
If
space travel and transportation was to be divided in to many firms rather than
a single powerful firm, it would make it much more difficult for the Emperor to
keep track of what is being transported and to where. Suppressing competition
also allows the Guild more opportunity to get extra Melange for their addictive
needs. The bigger reason, however, is because being a monopoly makes it easier
to collect all that power and share it with its other two allies, The Emperor
and the Bene Gesserit. This tripod would
be unstoppable if it went rogue and so the question then rises: how can anybody
defeat such powers?
The Downfall
The
answer to this question began with an observation from Duke Leto of the planet
Caladan.
After
arriving in Arrakis, Duke Leto found himself amazed by the native population
living there. A population that adapted
to the hostile and dangerous conditions of Dune in order to not only survive,
but to call that planet home. The Duke then decided to try and make these
natives called” Fremen” allies because he believed that they were
underestimated warriors. This theory
proved to be true and one of the three superpowers lost his advantage because
he no longer had the strongest army.
Underestimating
the Fremen turned out to be a fatal mistake for the Emperor and his Sardaukar.
The hostile conditions of Dune turned the Fremen in to incredible warriors just
as Salusa Secundus did for the Sardaukar. After various battles between both warrior
elites, it was proven that without a doubt the Fremen were superior. This was
very significant to the power of the Emperor because his Sardaukar were his
primary weapon and now that they were defeated, he was weaker. Through rhetoric
perspective one can say that the Sardaukar were like the Emperor’s whip; they
symbolized a kind of danger that would be bestowed upon those who didn’t follow
his orders. Now that his “whip” was broken though, he would be left without an
instrument to reinforce his will. This would also mean that now somebody else
has a stronger “whip” that s/he can use against the emperor if they wished.
Naturally, this made the Bene Gesserit uneasy because the Emperor was their
ally. They were even more uneasy, however, when they realized that the leader
of these “Fremen” was named Paul Atreides and that he had the powers of a
Reverend Mother.
After many years
of breeding, it turned out that the Bene Gesserit achieved their goal in
creating a Kwisatz Haderach. The only problem was that Paul, who was the
Kwisatz Haderach, refused to serve the purpose that they intended him for. If
this wasn’t bad enough, the Bene Gesserit encountered a little girl with the
name Alia who too had the powers of a Reverend Mother. Alia, as it turns out,
is Paul’s sister and she was turned in to a Reverend Mother while she was in
the womb of her mother who was undergoing the poison drinking ritual. This is
significant because now the passing of knowledge tradition was broken by both
Paul and his sister Alia. The Emperor’s truthsayer even referred to Alia as an
“abomination” out of anger and frustration. With nothing more to defend
themselves, however, the Bene Gesserit succumbed to Paul and his sister Alia.
They were no longer so prestigious because a child and a male could do
everything they could do and more. Paul, for example, could see in to that dark
region because he is a male and Alia could strike fear in the truthsayer’s mind
at will. These powers and the Fremen, however, are not something Paul could use
against the economic power of the Guild. For this he would have to take a very
drastic measure.
In order to attack
something so powerful like an economic power, Paul decided to explore every
possible weakness that the Guild might have. During his time in Arrakis he
learned more about the nature of the spice Melange. He learned how addictive it
can be by experiencing addiction to the drug himself. He also discovered that
the planet Arrakis was kept as a desert planet because water destroys the spice
that so many people are addicted to. Of all the people that are addicted to the
spice, the Guild is probably the one with the most severe addiction to Melange.
In fact, they are so addicted to the drug that Guildsmen are even mutated from
the drug. In a case like this, Paul realized that the ability to destroy
Melange is a power all in its own. He
exerted this power and the Guild at first thought it was a bluff because Paul
too is addicted to the spice but then they realized that Paul was being serious.
The Guild then succumbed to Paul when they realized that they had no choice.
Now that the three
superpowers were defeated by a single person, the hierarchy of Dune took a very
interesting turn. The ultimate power now resided within a single being instead
of multiple branches. It was obvious that there would be many changes but one
change in particular made a huge impact in the Dune universe. This change was
introduced with a single word that brought value to a new idea and a new
philosophy which would be followed by all: Messiah.
Dune Messiah
By marrying
the Emperor’s daughter, Paul rose to the throne and became the absolute power.
He controlled all the powers of the previous hierarchy but introduced a new
concept which became the leading source of power in the new Dune universe:
Religion.
In
the old hierarchy the Fremen were considered insignificant and worthless but
that completely changed in the new Dune universe. Now the Fremen were well
known for their fighting abilities and for being the people that Paul
identified with the most. The Fremen who defeated the Sardaukar were now the
elite fighting force for the new Emperor who they saw as a Messiah. While it’s
true that both fighting elites have a similar background there is also a major
difference. The new military power was fueled by faith rather than the violence
the Sardaukar possessed. A faith that they obtained from a leader who had the
ability to sense things beyond the comprehension of anyone else and see the
future.
This
ability was something that the Bene Gesserit failed to master and comprehend.
While it is true that they had generations of knowledge in their heads, they
had no idea how the future would turn about. In a sense they were useless compared
to Paul who not only had their abilities, but the ability to see the future.
With Alia by his side, Paul had the knowledge of the Bene Gesserit and the
power of the Kwisatz Haderach. This power was something that the Bene Gesserit
dreamed of having but now it resided within brother and sister.
As
for the economic power of the Guild, it was still present in the new hierarchy
but under a very tight leash. Space transportation was still vital to the Dune
universe and Paul decided to keep the monopoly because it was easier to follow.
Paul did, however, have complete control over the guild and he exercised this
control in Dune Messiah by executing a Guildsman when he discovered a
conspiracy plan against him.
In
conclusion, the Dune universe had many different sources of power which changed
after Paul overthrew the first hierarchy. Some things didn’t change as much
like the military elites and the Guild monopoly but other things changed
drastically. The Bene Gesserit, for example, were overshadowed by the power of
Paul and Alia in Dune Messiah and therefore took a different role. In Dune, the
Hierarchy was a dragon with multiple heads and in Dune Messiah it was a dragon
with a single, much bigger head. In
Dune, politics were the driving force while in Dune Messiah it was religion.
Both hierarchies, however, obtained some power from the Spice Melange. A spice
created by Frank Herbert to interpret some of the spectrum of human nature.
Perhaps the spice can represent the addiction to power that people in the
modern era are feeling. It’s ironic that many things change in the hierarchy of
Dune but the power of the spice doesn’t change. Perhaps Frank Herbert is trying
to make the point that no matter how many changes happen or how much time
passes by; this addiction to power will always remain the same.
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