Wanted to discuss @dwr.eth take that Paul Atriedes is supposed to be more like a “Darth Vader” than a “Luke” (ie that he followed a darker path of power by pursuing the Messiah prophecy)

Disclaimer: I haven’t read the books. But I didn’t experience the movie that way. 

1/2

building /bracket | hosting /greatbooks + /gray | ex-BCG, ex-PHD | poli + phil + econ

I experienced it as Paul seeing with clarity that, although he preferred a more idealistic path (one where he stays authentic to both true love and true speech) he discovers that the only way to achieve the desired outcome is to engage in politics — ie, marital alliance (false love) and rhetoric (false speech)

2/3

It’s an interesting case where he would have preferred to be truly moral, but realized that to *achieve* the moral outcome, he had to compromise his morals in appearance (which is perhaps what politics generally requires of good people)

I saw it as a complex take on the political hero’s journey.

/fin