Comment on 'Dune 3', With Timothee Chalamet & Zendaya, Aims To Shoot This Summer
djsaskdja@reddthat.com 5 weeks agoI’ve always thought the space Hitler thing was a pretty big misunderstanding or generalization of Paul’s character. Hitler couldn’t see the result of all outcomes and pick the least bad outcome in the same way. Paul could literally see the future and decided his path would result in the least amount of suffering. No human has ever been forced to experience that burden. I think he’s a fascinating character and the oversimplifications irk me a bit.
nicolauz@feddit.org 5 weeks ago
I’m not sure if you’re saying paul is better or worse then Hitler…
Anyway, I agree that it’s a bit of a oversimplification, but keep in mind that the original source for this comparison is Paul (/rather his author) himself.
djsaskdja@reddthat.com 5 weeks ago
Yep, I remember the line from the book. To me that shows self reflection/awareness that Hitler would’ve never been capable of. Paul understands that he does monstrous things and might be a monster himself. I think it really wears on him which is why the ending happens the way it does. There were ways out of the situation if he really wanted to go full blown space Hitler.
nicolauz@feddit.org 5 weeks ago
I agree there is a hell of a lot of self awareness in this regard… Not as much gilt/remorse as one would hope though.
Overall though (and the core reason I have no problem calling him “Space Hitler”):
He is willing to kill half the universe for the greater good, but then, the key aspect to follow, the way to actually realize the safety of humanity, the Golden Path, he’s too afraid for himself to do and let’s his son do the hardest part. (this is also according to himself, if memory serves)
That said, all of that is personal perspective and a hell of a lot of interpretation - just clarifying why I think the comparison is from my pov fair.
djsaskdja@reddthat.com 5 weeks ago
I don’t think Leto would’ve been able to go through with the Golden Path either if he had ever been a normal human. Leto even calls himself an abomination which is what the Bene Gesserit were testing for at the beginning of the entire story. Paul is a human so he has flaws and can’t follow all the way through with dehumanizing himself to realize the Golden Path. Leto was never human in the first place. He was an abomination so the path was achievable for him. That’s my interpretation anyway.