Frank Herbert’sDunehas always received praise for its density. Fans of science fiction often use it as a landmark for complexity, scale, and depth in the genre. Newcomers, like those who only enjoy the excellent recent film adaptations, have a strange mix of information. Villeneuve’s adaptation presents a slightly more straightforward tale with a few details sanded off. On the other hand, the books provide so much more detail about terms like Kwisatz Haderach and Lisan al Gaib.
One of the most pleasant aspects ofDune: Part Two’s success has been the widespreadlove for Javier Bardem’s Stilgar. The character isn’t exactly minor in the book, but he didn’t outgrow his original source material until now. Stilgar’s zealous belief, charming sense of humor, and explosive personality stand out as some of the best aspects of the latest adaptation. Bizarrely enough, Bardem’s performance created an enjoyable meme in the form of shouting “Lisan al Gaib” in response to an impressive feat. It will, hopefully, live on for some time.
The Kwisatz Haderach and the Lisan al Gaib
Ultimately, Paul Muad’Dib Atreides is both Lisan al Gaib and Kwisatz Haderach. The two terms each refer toa legendary messianic figurewith unheard of powers. Both the Kwisatz Haderach and the Lisan al Gaib will lead humanity away from their destruction and toward an era of prosperity. They’re distinct definitions for the same basic phenomenon, but the critical differences stand out.
What is the Lisan al Gaib?
The Lisan al Gaib is the prophetic “voice from another world.” The Fremen of Arrakis believe that a messiah will travel to Arrakis, embed themselves in their society, and create a path to save their people. The term probably comes from Arabic, where the same basic phrase translates to “tongue of the unseen.“The Fremen also call this figurethe “Mahdi,” or “deliverer.” Their prophecies predict a foreigner who will come to Arrakis, already understanding Fremen traditions. The Mahdi will be the child of a Bene Gesserit, blessed with their skills and foresight. Paul became the obvious candidate because the legend was set up for someone like him.
The Lisan al Gaib prophecy and belief system exist only because the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood put them in place. A subgroup of the Sisterhood called the Missionaria Protectiva spread a series of mythic lies to primitive cultures. They seeded their Panoplia Propheticus across the galaxy, setting a place in every culture for their eventual savior. This allowed them to operate as agents of the Lisan al Gaib while also ensuring widespread worship for the figure they eagerly awaited. The Lisan al Gaib was a manufactured messiah, but theFremen of Arrakis believedit in their bones. The Sisterhood had their own name for the concept.
What is the Kwisatz Haderach?
The Kwisatz Haderach is the culmination of the Bene Gesserit breeding program. While they spread legends of a mythic savior who would never come, they worked to craft their own champion. The term Kwisatz Haderach means “Shortening of the Way” in an old language. The Sisterhood worked toward it over generations. Their eventual goal was to give birth to a male heir with thegenetic traits of a Bene Gesserit. This chosen son would gain the hereditary memory of both sides of their genetic line and the prescience of a Reverend Mother. The Bene Gesserit would place their Kwisatz Haderach on the Golden Lion Throne and rule the universe. This tale would never reach the ending they had in mind.
How is Paul the Kwisatz Haderach and the Lisan al Gaib?
Paul Atreides fulfills both halves of this mythology.His Bene Gesserit mother, Jessica, was ordered to bear only daughters for her husband. The resulting firstborn should have married House Harkonnen’s most promising boy and conceived the Kwisatz Haderach. Instead, Jessica gave birth to Paul, who quickly proved himself worthy of the title. Paul disliked and distrusted the Bene Gesserit, prompting him to find solace in the Fremen. The Lisan al Gaib myth followed Paul as soon as he joined Sietch Tabr. He was quick to shut them down, pointing out the Sisterhood’s schemes to a zealous crowd. As Paul gradually abandoned his morals and settled into the position he felt fate left for him, he began calling himself the Lisan al Gaib. Onlookers callPaul the Kwisatz Haderachand the Lisan al Gaib interchangeably. He fits both titles. Jessica combines the two into Paul’s personal mythology in this quote from the book:
Kwisatz Haderach, Jessica thought. Did our Missionaria Protectiva plant that legend here, too? The thought fanned her secret hope for Paul. He could be the Kwisatz Haderach. He could be.
The Lisan al Gaib and the Kwisatz Haderach were bothcreations of the Bene Gesserit. They wrote the prophecy that would drive Fremen to believe and created the conditions that would birth their eventual leader. The existence of these two stories demonstrates the role of religion inDune. It’s a weapon as much as it’s a way of life, bonding the lives of millions behind a ceaseless tide of fate. Paul is yet another individual caught in that tide. The special titles are only there to sell him to the crowd.
