Summary
- Despite his heroics, Paul becomes an emerging villain as he fulfills his prophesied role as the Lisan al Gaib in Dune: Part Two.
- The debate over Paul being the Chosen One continues as he reluctantly embraces his destiny and leads the Fremen in a Holy War.
- Paul’s transformation into a villain is solidified when he consumes the Water of Life and sees the narrow future where he must lead the Fremen to victory.
Warning: Spoilers for Dune: Part Two.Dune: Part Two is Denis Villeneuve’s epic follow-up to his 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name. Since the film hit theaters at the beginning of March, critics and audiences alike have raved about the visually stunning saga that follows Paul Atreides on his journey to wage war against those responsible for the destruction of House Atreides. In the first film, Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), is assigned to oversee the planet of Arrakis and its spice production, a vital interstellar resource. However, the same spice is also sacred to the Fremen, the indigenous population who have lived on the desert planet for generations. Unfortunately for Paul and his family, the “gift” of Arrakis was merely a political maneuver by the Emperor to eliminate House Atreides and their emerging popularity.
In the middle of the night, they’re attacked and slaughtered. In the wake of such a betrayal, Paul and his Bene Gesserit mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), find themselves in Fremen territory after escaping the murderous clutches of House Harkonnen, who perpetrated the attack. Subsequently, Paul begins to learn their ways after he’s eventually welcomed by Stilgar (Javier Bardem), the Fremen leader of Sietch Tabr, as well as others in the Fremen community who believe him to be the Lisan al Gaib, a messiah part of a prophecy that dates back thousands of years.
In the beginning, Paul rejects such a notion and merely seeks to fight alongside the Fremen and help them lead themselves to freedom while simultaneously avenging his father’s murder. Paul possesses a great respect for the Fremen and their ways and ultimately has no desire to play a part in the prophecy. However, he’s unable to thwart people’s deep-seated beliefs, especially after his mother becomes a Fremen Reverend Mother who vigorously works to convert the nonbelievers. As such, while viewers initially saw Paul as a hero in the Dune films, by its end, Paul undoubtedly morphs into an emerging villain despite being the Chosen One in the eyes of his followers.
Is Paul Really the Chosen One?
Throughout Dune 2, the concept of Paul as the Chosen One is continuously debated. While Fremen like Chani (Zendaya) believe such a prophecy is meant to enslave people who will simply wait for their savior rather than fight their oppressor, Fremen like Stilgar see the signs and believe the prophecy to be true. As such, Paul’s identity as the Chosen One remains contested, especially because Paul himself doesn’t embrace his role in any of it. Much like Chani, he believes it to be dangerous Bene Gesserit propaganda.
However, he cannot deny his visions. In the end, Paul is the Chosen One because he assumes the role of the Lisan al Gaib. The Bene Gesserit laid the groundwork, the Fremen believed in it, and Paul inevitably heeded the call to lead. He’s the Chosen One because everyone, including him, made it so. Whether such a reality makes him a hero or a villain is the ultimate question.
What Makes Paul a Villain?
Dune: Part Two
4.5/5
- Release Date
- March 1, 2024
- Runtime
- 166 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Despite his best efforts, Paul is ultimately a villain because he behaves like an antihero before he fully embraces his identity at the Lisan al Gaib. Initially, he doesn’t possess the outright qualities of a person who wants to lead the masses, but in denying his natural heroic abilities, he further feeds into the notion that he is the only person fit to lead the Fremen. Throughout Dune 2, Paul continuously answers the call to every challenge the Fremen put in front of him. Because of this, he solidifies the beliefs of those who think he’s their messiah while continuing to ignore the real-world consequences such beliefs have on Arrakis.
While Paul isn’t the same kind of villain as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler), his actions still point him in the direction of a Holy War. He might have well-meaning intentions, given what the Fremen and House Atreides have endured from the Emperor and House Harkonnen, but those intentions don’t matter if the outcome is full-scale war. His attempts to prevent the visions that plague him inevitably come to fruition because he thinks he can find a way forward on his own. He’s certainly been placed in a difficult position, seeing that the majority of Fremen wouldn’t have followed his lead had they not believed he was the Lisan al Gaib. However, he cemented his prophetic path when he listened to the spirits of the desert and drank the Water of Life, which was the catalyst for Paul’s villainous transformation.
Why the 1984 Dune Movie Bombed at the Box Office
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two benefitted from the mistakes made with David Lynch’s disastrous 1984 adaptation.
Is Paul Really a Villain or Simply a Fallen Hero?
It could be argued the only way forward was the path Paul chose. If he hadn’t consumed the Water of Life, then he would not have been able to see his visions clearly. After he’s revived by Chani, he’s finally able to see all possible futures that lie in front of him, and the one in which he and the Fremen prevail is narrow. Because of this, Paul is a fallen hero of sorts who sacrifices himself, and the love he has for Chani, in order for the Fremen and his followers to emerge victorious before the start of their Holy War. However, a fallen hero can still be a villain. As such, no matter how Paul might have been portrayed leading up to Dune: Part Two’s conclusion, he becomes a villain, nonetheless.
Dune is currently streaming on Max, and Dune: Part Two is currently in theaters.
