Interesting but flawed reasoning. I have read all of the Dune books, including the ones that were written/completed by his son. Apparently I ahve also read the ones you have much more ofter. Arakis is one of the major characters of the first book (in later books you discover that the planet was not the character instead it is the worms), but ecology and enrinmental activism is not one of the major themes. It is at best a side effect. The major themes of Dune are all religious, moral, and mercantile.
Additionally, there is no commentary about homosexuallity in the novel. BH is simply, intentionally, displayed as possessing the most offensive and disgusting traits imaginable. You would be just as accurate to attempt to fabricate some sort of parrallel between obese people and sexual deviancy in the novel.
You are making the error that entirely too many reviewers have and will do. Attempting to find themes in prose that do not exist because the author did not write them. Too many reviewer tripple-think into wonderful themes and messages by grabbing various images and actions and weaving them into a coherant "message" that simply does not exist, because the author was not writing them.
There is no emviromental activism as we know it today in the novels, there is only an effort to convert a natural desert into airiable land. There is no statement on homosexuallity, there is simply an incredibly evil sadistic individual who partakes in every manner of diviant behavior imaginable, becasue he can.
If you want to investigate the thems, investigate the ones the authro wrote about: Slavery, Religion, Orthodoxy (morallity, i.e "The Greater Good"
, Polotics (money=power, rule by fear vs loyalty). There is plenty to discuss, without creating new themes form whole cloth to further ones oown adgendas and biases. Alas, entirely too many reviewers and critics desire this, instead of investigating and discussing wghat teh auther actually intends.
Though intelectually flawed, your piece is well written and supported by the passages you selected, kudos.
Additionally, there is no commentary about homosexuallity in the novel. BH is simply, intentionally, displayed as possessing the most offensive and disgusting traits imaginable. You would be just as accurate to attempt to fabricate some sort of parrallel between obese people and sexual deviancy in the novel.
You are making the error that entirely too many reviewers have and will do. Attempting to find themes in prose that do not exist because the author did not write them. Too many reviewer tripple-think into wonderful themes and messages by grabbing various images and actions and weaving them into a coherant "message" that simply does not exist, because the author was not writing them.
There is no emviromental activism as we know it today in the novels, there is only an effort to convert a natural desert into airiable land. There is no statement on homosexuallity, there is simply an incredibly evil sadistic individual who partakes in every manner of diviant behavior imaginable, becasue he can.
If you want to investigate the thems, investigate the ones the authro wrote about: Slavery, Religion, Orthodoxy (morallity, i.e "The Greater Good"
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Though intelectually flawed, your piece is well written and supported by the passages you selected, kudos.
Frank Herbert, Dune Chronicles (series reviews within)
16/04/2010 04:11:40 AM
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Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
16/04/2010 06:09:49 PM
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Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 12:08:06 AM
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Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 02:33:38 PM
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Not all themes are intended by the author. That doesn't mean they aren't there.
17/04/2010 06:54:14 PM
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Re: Not all themes are intended by the author. That doesn't mean they aren't there.
17/04/2010 10:44:18 PM
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I was using a fairly precise term when I said "ecological"
18/04/2010 12:13:14 AM
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Re: I was using a fairly precise term when I said "ecological"
18/04/2010 03:34:33 AM
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Please read linked interview...as I call bullshit. Also, why are your walls white?
18/04/2010 05:18:07 AM
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Re: Please read linked interview...as I call bullshit. Also, why are your walls white?
19/04/2010 06:15:26 PM
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That was most of my issue.
21/04/2010 12:12:56 AM
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Just because something plays a dominate role doesn't make it a theme
21/04/2010 02:09:42 PM
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Thank you for saying concisely the point I have been trying to make. *NM*
21/04/2010 06:34:12 PM
- 383 Views
A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
21/04/2010 11:21:38 PM
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Re: A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
22/04/2010 04:58:01 AM
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Re: A theme is merely a dominant strain in a story; there can be more than one theme present
22/04/2010 04:08:28 PM
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Texts have different interpretations and Readers emphasize different aspects
22/04/2010 09:28:05 PM
- 851 Views
Re: Texts have different interpretations and Readers emphasize different aspects
23/04/2010 05:22:22 PM
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Re: Just because something plays a dominate role doesn't make it a theme
29/04/2010 11:36:45 PM
- 879 Views
Not really sure how Larry's definition is archaic.
19/04/2010 07:52:27 PM
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Re: Not really sure how Larry's definition is archaic.
20/04/2010 07:04:40 PM
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Your patronizing manner aside, that's not "archaic" at all.
21/04/2010 01:46:50 AM
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Re: Your patronizing manner aside, that's not "archaic" at all.
21/04/2010 06:23:24 PM
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People who see this as an ecological book are missing the point of the book
16/04/2010 06:28:40 PM
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Books can have more than one theme. Great books almost always do. *NM*
16/04/2010 07:15:11 PM
- 414 Views
I agree with that I just never really the ecological theme to Dune
16/04/2010 10:12:26 PM
- 997 Views
There are several points to the book/series
17/04/2010 12:11:38 AM
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Everyone get something different from a book
19/04/2010 07:01:51 PM
- 1200 Views
I believe those themes become more pronounced later in the series
20/04/2010 10:09:36 PM
- 955 Views
I remember having hated every single character of this book. Some random thoughts
17/04/2010 05:08:25 PM
- 1155 Views
Well, I enjoyed more of the characters this time around, if that helps
18/04/2010 12:14:43 AM
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Re: Frank Herbert, Dune
17/04/2010 08:05:16 PM
- 1393 Views
I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
17/04/2010 10:22:27 PM
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Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
18/04/2010 04:38:10 AM
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Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
19/04/2010 04:04:43 AM
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Re: I guess we'll have a few disagreements here, Dom
22/04/2010 04:31:26 AM
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I thought all of Dune had begun as a serial in a SF magazine. *NM*
22/04/2010 01:58:22 PM
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Dune Messiah (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
19/04/2010 08:42:18 AM
- 1060 Views
Re: Dune Messiah (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
21/04/2010 03:33:46 PM
- 805 Views
I didn't see that in Alia
21/04/2010 11:27:22 PM
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There were a few scenes displaying Alia's abilities/mindset. (spoilers)
22/04/2010 03:54:32 PM
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OK, that makes a bit more sense, as I wasn't for sure what you were arguing at first
22/04/2010 09:14:46 PM
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One of my favorite series!
21/04/2010 03:30:57 PM
- 731 Views
I didn't "miss it" as much as I chose to deemphasize it
21/04/2010 11:29:50 PM
- 655 Views
Re: I didn't "miss it" as much as I chose to deemphasize it
22/04/2010 04:02:26 PM
- 761 Views
Heretics of Dune (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
28/04/2010 06:02:54 AM
- 708 Views
Re: Heretics of Dune (2001 initial read; 2010 re-read)
29/04/2010 03:26:28 PM
- 770 Views