An understanding of the function of spice is essential to understand the world of Dune and Dune: Prophecy. Although the HBO prequel series is set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune movies, there are many similarities even if there are new characters and dynamics at work.
While it is marginalized in the current TV series, the planet Arrakis and the struggle over spice are at the heart of the 1965 Frank Herbert and Denis Villeneuve film adaptations of the novel Dune.
In contrast to many science fiction worlds that depend on the capabilities of artificial intelligence or extremely sophisticated computers, Dune’s world depends on spice, or more precisely, “Spice Melange.” It’s the reason behind the famous vivid blue eyes that Paul Atreides and Chani have in the Dune movies, as well as the bulk of Paul’s storyline.
Dune’s characters and relationships are understandable, but in order to completely comprehend the world’s operations, one must be familiar with spice’s functions and place in the known cosmos.
In the Dune Universe, Spices Are the Most Valuable Resource
Since spice is important to many parts of the narrative, those tiny particles of orange dust have enormous power and influence in the Dune universe. It’s the world’s most valuable resource, yet it can only be found on Arrakis, a planet with a harsh environment and a Fremen population that frequently opposes Imperium soldiers.
Because of this, the Imperium faces ongoing difficulties in generating spice, and some houses, like House Atriedes and House Harkonnen, have been given the responsibility of managing the process under the fiefdom of the planet.
Although it can have similar effects, spice is also associated with power for other reasons. Spice was inspired by psychedelic mushrooms. Spice is a vital resource for the known universe’s economy because it may provide its users with skills and improvements.
The Spacing Guild’s Navigators utilize it extensively to map out their routes before journeying, which enables them to make precise hyperspace leaps without the aid of computers—which are prohibited in the Dune world.
Despite the enormous and ongoing hurdles, the cultivation of spices is beneficial because of their uses. Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino offers the post to House Atreides in order to incite strife between them and House Harkonnen, and the primary conflict in Dune revolves around the importance placed on the house chosen to rule Arrakis.
How Dune’s Conflict Has Been Caused by Spice?
Although the main battle in the original Dune novel and the Denis Villeneuve film adaptations is the war between House Atreides and House Harkonnen, the conflict over Arrakis also recurs throughout Brian Hebert and Kevin J. Anderson’s works, whether or not it is the main focus.
Even though he finds it difficult to manage the production of spices, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is incensed when Duke Leto Atreides is given the domain of Arrakis, and he schemes to overthrow House Atreides throughout the 2021 Dune movie.
As shown in Dune: Prophecy, spice is a major source of tension between the Empire and the Fremen, aside from the great houses. The Fremen depend on the manufacture of spice for many aspects of their everyday lives, which naturally leads to conflict with those outside their control who gather it.
The Fremen hate foreigners who come to Arrakis for spice, but Duke Leto Atreides was smart enough to realize that it would be preferable to cooperate with them in a way that would benefit both parties than to engage in conflict with them.
In Dune, Spice Has Unique Powers
In the Dune universe, spice serves a number of functions related to the human psyche. In Dune, the greatest power comes from the mind rather than from artificial intelligence or computers, and consuming spice can improve perception and activate previously untapped brain regions.
Because of the lack of computers, it is essential to have human minds that are capable of fulfilling their functions. In general, spices provide several health benefits and can also extend human life.
Like all drugs, spices can become a person addicted, and long-term use and exposure can change a person’s physical characteristics. Exposure causes Fremen to have vivid blue eyes, and after too much drinking, the Spacing Guild Navigators hardly look human. In Dune, Paul Atreides uses spice to increase his prescience.
The Use of Spice in Dune: Prophecy Explained
Every narrative in the Dune universe is immune from the influence of spice, even though Dune: Prophecy is not as focused on it as the movies. Although he rules from Selusa Secundus, Javicco Corrino is the emperor, but his hold over the known universe isn’t as firm as he would like it to be.
The first episode reveals that the manufacturing of spices on Arrakis has been hampered by Fremen raids. Javicco suggests a marital arrangement with House Richese in exchange for their fleet of fighter ships since he knows that maintaining authority on Arrakis depends on getting things in order.
One of the primary characters in Dune: Prophecy is a soldier named Desmond Hart, who has miraculously survived his most recent deployment on Arrakis. Although his most recent tour ended with a catastrophic attack that killed every man in his group, he has twelve tours under his belt.
Javicco saw this on a holographic video at the end of episode 1, and Desmond also escaped being swalled up underground by a big sandworm. Desmond somehow emerged from the sandworm’s inside with enigmatic new abilities that might be related to spice.
Spice has a connection to the main prophecy in HBO’s prequel series as well. In her last vision, Mother Superior Raquella saw a sandworm on Arrakis and spice. Although there isn’t yet a complete sequence in Dune: Prophecy situated on Arrakis, the show’s flow of spice is connected to practically every element.
The flow of spice is important to all of the series’ main factions, including the Sisterhood, the Imperium, and the Rebellion. The original novel’s Baron Harkonnen once remarked, “He who controls the spice controls the universe.”
Understanding the power of spice and how it affects everything from politics to human capacities is crucial to appreciating the complex dynamics of the Dune universe. Do you want to know more? To learn more about Dune: Prophecy, spice, and the never-ending battles it causes in this epic tale, visit our website.