To Sum Things Up

          The book Dune was written by Frank Herbert and is still today one of great scientific novels written. Dune was written in the early 1960s, when drug experimentation was beginning to enter the mainstream society of America. The book explores the concept of drugs as a way of opening “perception.” Consuming mélange, which is highly addictive in large quantities, allows Paul to see through time and perceive the future. The drug Spice is found on the planet Arrakis. Without the existence of the drug Spice, there would be no sense of hierarchy. Obtaining the spice you have to have some type of power status. The higher status, the easier it is to obtain the spice. In today’s society you see how power comes to play. Having money determine your status in this world, the more money, the more money and power you obtain. The definition of power is: the ability to do something in a particular way. The importance of status is shown throughout the books. Power is key to the people living in the Dune universe; they always need to be on top. With spice it determines the hierarchy of the individual on these various planets.
          Spice is known to be like the Truthsayer drug according to the Reverend Mother. People take the drug to advance their capabilities to see falsehood. Many had taken it, yet died trying. The drug had become the main priority of the planets and will do anything to get rid of anything in their way. The need for spice led the war between the Atreides and the Harkonnens. The books show how each act on their desire to succeed the drug. With the battle you see how power comes to play, and to whoever wins the battle their status can rise up. Not only is spice the prize but also their reputation of whoever can be the greater power.
          When looking at the characters in Dune it is know that they are all tied to spice. If there was no spice there would be no motives for the Emperor, Paul and Leto and the Baron. But because of the high demand there could only be one who was to obtain all. To whoever was to gain that power sets the hierarchy and to those who are not necessarily in the battle stay up with the hierarchy. The battle between the Atreides and Harkonnes, the Harkonnes and the Fremen, the Fremen and the Sardaukar, the Emperor and Paul all lead up in a big or small degree is of spice.