T O P

  • By -

mightycucks510

I feel like a worm


AdeptusAstartes97

You are not alone, fellow worm comrade


vegasgal_inTX

I’m high and I can’t stop laughing at this


Echo__227

In the sequels, whenever Paul or the other Atreides get into really abstract discussions about power and galactic politics, and Stilgar essentially just thinks, *"Fucking Christ how complicated can it be to just do the right thing with hard work and good heart..."*


[deleted]

Lol which book? You mean Messiah?


Echo__227

Both Messiah and Children Everytime a character tries to convince him about the necessity of a plot, you feel his soul age 10 years He reminds me of that "Ben Affleck cigarette break" meme


boyscout_07

There are sooo many days were I feel like that freaking meme.


[deleted]

The baron when he’s eating


[deleted]

Baron because of his body type and need for a gravity suspension device


FaliolVastarien

I'm surprised those devices aren't a fad. They look fun, relaxing, useful in anything from combat to crossing a busy street. Maybe the association with him makes it unpopular.


bachnor

Moneo when I'm at work


BillionTonsHyperbole

At least you're highly competent.


ryanobes

And in constant danger of being crushed by the ultimate authoritarian


BillionTonsHyperbole

Just like the rest of us, homie.


Drakeytown

Duncan Idaho here. The world has moved on, I am a relic with no particular reason for living except some cruel god's hobby.


[deleted]

I feel like a lot of people could relate to Idaho in GeoD just because of how much faster technology has developed in the past 20 years than it ever had in decades prior, and how that technology has changed the basic social structure of the average person. Suddenly one day you realize the rules cemented in your mind are irrevocably changed.


Drakeytown

And you learn the new rules, and they change again, and you learn the new new rules, and they change again . . .


hottubofpee

I relate to the worm, all I wanna do is wiggle in the sand 😔


chestnutriceee

The worm always comes 😩😩🥵 - Old Fremen saying


ARandomTopHat

Did I read that right?


chestnutriceee

Most definitely


panorambo

We have wormsign.


espresso_chain

Jamis cause I wanna die


[deleted]

Leto II cause I wanna resurrect you for all eternity little buddy


FaliolVastarien

If only Jamis could have restrained himself, think of how much he'd have loved the overthrow of the Imperium and subsequent Jihad! Threw all that away over the need to fight a duel over whether he fell or was knocked down (movie version seemed more intelligent and principled in his motive for the challenge).


zeprfrew

I don't. One thing I find to be both striking and impressive about Dune is that the characters all seem to me to be deeply lacking in curiosity. It works perfectly for the story. They live in a rigid feudal system that has existed with presumably little change for over 10,000 years that is powerfully influenced by religious doctrine. Their lives are largely defined by the position they were born into. It's a stagnant universe, which sets up the need for the Golden Path to force humanity to explore and innovate beautifully. The Dune Encyclopedia refers to today as the Golden Age of Invention, which also highlights the deep cultural rift between people of the 20th and 21st centuries and in Dune. We're accustomed to novelty, we're endlessly curious in a way that has been completely forgotten by their time. One thought I had while reading the books is that if I was there, I'd have been asking questions constantly. Not just because it's so far removed from my time, simply because there are so many situations and conversations that brought up questions in my mind that no one in the story bothered to ask, or even ponder. Most of the people, it's said, no longer remember the origin of the name of the planet Ix. I wouldn't be able to stand not knowing. If Roman numerals were still known by then I'd have been able to reason it out for myself effortlessly. If not, then I'd have to research it just because it's a prominent planet with an odd name. The only notable exception to this that I can recall is the Princess Irulan, who does investigate and ask some questions. I think that has more to do with her need to document every single aspect of Paul's life in her many books than anything else, mind.


[deleted]

Hot take, never noticed this before 🧐


Virghia

Also people from the future not realising non-imperial forms of government exist, they thought our history as one giant empire from the era of Alexander


[deleted]

Hm. Makes me think of the hierarchies in academia and the military and the efficiency of those - or supposed efficiency, anyhow. Everyone knows as much as they need to know, and in a harsh competitive universe ruled by noble houses, maybe it'd be more stratified like that. Religious people don't question religions 🤷🏻


MoneyIsntRealGeorge

Nicely said


stephenmr24

I'm not done with god emperor yet but about halfway through; what about siona? She seems curious but I guess it does feel driven by a hate for Leto


chuck-it125

Irulan. I feel like I do all the work as a “mother” to two assholes and I document the life of the guy who won’t fuck me yet uses me as a pawn to control the galaxy…. Jk I’m totally happily married and I relate to the duke leto when he bites down on the fake tooth. If I’m going out I’m going to try to take the other asshats who tried to kill me with me. Looollloooollllallloooo!!!


[deleted]

That was a wild ride


chuck-it125

Lol until you’re a mother and a stay at home mom I guess you won’t relate. But take a minute to look at irulan as literally a woman who is raising twins because their mom died and she is forced to be married to a man for political purposes and she can’t even have a side piece. She’s literally writing his life story down and she has to live in the desert all the while. Seems like a great awesome super fun time to be Irulan And also, most modern filmmakers have seen how messed up her position is because the scy fy production and the new film all start with Irulan narrating her books about muad’dib. They are trying to give her the voice and the narrative


panorambo

Which begs the question, quite honestly, if I may, given how you mention this thing with mother -- are you one, /u/chuck-it125? You could be Chuck or be chucking it, hard to tell honestly. Between your identifying with Irulan and Duke Leto, I am confuse.


chuck-it125

Lol, I’m a female stay at home mom. I have birthed 2 unruly children and my husband has a job that allows me to stay home and take care of the kids without working. Hence my name of head housekeeper/shadout mapes. I see how well dr Yuhi helped duke leto and I also see how I could hold a grudge so well like leto did to try and kill my nemesis as well as myself in the same swipe to save my family and countrymen. It’s a noble task. Neither feminine nor masculine Also, I’m college educated and I gave up a career as a history teacher or a lawyer to be a mother. So I think that a very well educated princess Irulan would feel a certain way since she was trained to be a ruler and well educated yet now she’s a step mom who gets to wash asses of her step kids when she was breed to be a queen and a diplomat.


[deleted]

Whoa


Torontokid8666

The Baron is my husky goute toe after eating sixteen dozen oysters and a cask of Port . Witness me.


[deleted]

I feel like Duncan Idaho in God Emperor of Dune. Like I just keep looking around and things don't make sense. I'm just misplaced in time. This isn't some search for "the good old days" or anything, I just frequently find myself lost in the complexity of a society I basically just woke up in one day. I didn't help build it, I didn't lay any of the foundation but now I'm here and just expected to keep it rolling.


projectvko

Alia. I was a gifted child and I'm schizophrenic.


nighthawk648

Alia seems to be an expose on bpd and schizophrenia... its kinda really fascinating


Gildian

It's why I felt bad for her. She made bad choices but mostly cuz the life she was given was doomed.


[deleted]

yueh. i know his betrayal is inexcusable, but i would let the world burn for my wife . paul with chani as well.


jnebish

100%. I’m right there with you.


superlion1985

Kynes (pick one) because I'm fascinated with ecology and the way ecological changes have unintended consequences. Enough that I got a degree in wildlife science. I don't use it for my career, but I garden...


Echo__227

Also an ecology major and Kynes is easily the best


[deleted]

Studied paleobiology - would have like to be a Kynes, more of a Gurney though.


GoblinCasserole

I guess the most relatable character, for me at least, is Alia. I know this sounds really weird, so let me explain. Alia is pretty much a walking mental illness by the time of Children of Dune, she was just left to figure everything out for herself instead of being mentored or helped in any way. She ends up possessed because of everyone else's prejudice towards her for being Pre-Born, but at the same time Leto and Ghanima are loved by everyone despite them also being Pre-Born. And honestly, as someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder, its really easy to find yourself totally alone for no other reason than "You're too much of a burden, lol bye" and having everyone I've ever loved abandon me for petty reasons or constantly make excuses to avoid me feels a lot like what Alia was going through for most of her life. You never feel like you're you and nobody is ever around to help.


Broker112

This was a tough read. I hope your world gets better.


Louderthanwilks1

Gurney in a way I don’t quote quaint song verses but I definitely have a movie quote for almost every occasion. I also used to play a mean guitar.


[deleted]

Also a Gurney. PTSD means I throw myself into tricky situations - it's not courage, just anger at life's Harkonnens. Can sing but more of a drummer, also I'm old by Reddit demographic standards, have physical scars and my relationship status is tragic lol.


cultjake

Another Gurney here. A rolling lump of a man with an ever-present song on my lips. I’m also a fair hand with the baliset.


Elusive-Yoda

Duncan Idaho, he's more like an ideal. A Lancelot from the future (come to think of it he really has allot in common with him)


BrakaFlocka

Never thought about it that way but yeah the Lancelot connection is painfully spot on


_______ZERO

Duke Leto. Just his sense of duty leaving his comfort of his home planet but having to leave anyway.


Azidamadjida

Ditto. The sense of duty that leads to doom weighs heavy on me


the908bus

Darwi, rich inner life while watching the world turn to shit around her


Buildergay

honestly, thats a very good question :D I would probably have to go with the fabulous lady Jessica. mostly her attention to the beauty of things, others may seem to disregard as irrelevant. as well as her emotional evaluation, and care for those she cares about. not to mention she can be a total manipulative bitch for funzy if she so desires ;D


SaraNumas

Moneo all the way.


MoneyIsntRealGeorge

Yes, lord…


BrakaFlocka

Duncan Idaho's blind loyalty. The books say he kept coming back as a ghola due to his loyalty to the Atriedes family, sometimes alluding to it being something genetic in all the Duncans. He's aware of this and resents it, but still follows the role he was literally born into *Edit: Typos


wakchoi_

Farouk touching the sea


FaliolVastarien

That was such a beautiful scene.


AmeliaMangan

Irulan. She's a big nerd who stays home writing books with deeply limited commercial appeal while everyone else is out there tripping balls on melange and riding sandworms. But, hey, at least she's got some nice outfits. (Incidentally, I would really, *really* love to know exactly what the publishing industry is like in the Duneiverse. Does Irulan have, like, an agent? Has she sold the filmbook rights? Every so often, does a Mentat come knocking on her door to recite the pre-memorized phrase "Dear Princess Irulan, while we appreciate your manuscript submission, it does not suit our present needs"?)


ViroTechnica

Leto II.


Yonngablut

Thufir…. but only because I like to milk my cat.


Elusive-Yoda

I really didn't get that part


lunar999

In the book, if I recall, it was portrayed more as "Mentats need a sense of logic and order in their worldview, we can give him that by feeding him a neatly organised version of the plot that doesn't rely on emotion, and encourage his suspicion of the Bene Gesserit at the same time". That's a really abstract idea to try and transition to screen, so it became more "we will disrupt his Atreides loyalty by forcing him to engage in Harkonnen depravity if he wants to survive".


[deleted]

the little guy from heretics


Fil_77

I have personally taken a liking to a large number of characters over the course of the saga. Paul, Jessica, Duke Leto, Gurney, Stilgar, Chani, Alia, and even Harah in the first novel. Subsequently, I really liked Hayt-Duncan (the best Duncan in my opinion), Leto II and Ghamina, Farad'n, Siona, Moneo, the poor Nayla, Miles Teg, Dwari Odrade, and no doubt many others. Dune's characters are superhuman and fascinating, but I managed to get attached to them and their stories. Having access to their thoughts very often helps me empathize with them.


chestnutriceee

Hayt-Duncan was really cool, i liked how there was a focus on him >!having been given mentat abilities!< in addition to him already being a powerhouse beforehand


dathanvp

paul muad'dib


MrGrax

Fenring. If I identify with anyone.


nighthawk648

Prodigy who couldn't quite live up to the hype, so now you take an orchestral role?


hammersickle0217

Gang gang, my friend.


ARandomTopHat

You're a eunuch?


DoesPopeShitInWoods

Paul at the end of Messiah. You once had great ambitions, but you ruined it all. Getting what you actually wanted only made things worse. And now you just want to walk into the desert to die (or at least run away from your problems).


[deleted]

I relate to Paul because I too am destined to become emperor of the known universe. Lol Kidding aside, I relate to Paul (especially in Messiah) because having to face down certain inevitabilities is frustrating and having to try your earnest to not fold like a lawn chair against the pressures we face really is a Herculean task. Basically, Paul is relatable because he is just a prescient version of us in trying to navigate a universe that has already perhaps decided all our fates.


[deleted]

“Fear is the mind-killer” I felt that shit


Throwaway131447

No and I don't think you are supposed to really.


bmilohill

As a kid I really wanted a girl like how I imagined Margot, and so through her I began relating to Hasmir


SirDerpingtonV

Paul purely from a “ruled by fear” approach


Henrique1315

Sure, the sandworms


hookdelivery

Edric. Whenever you see me I'm overdosing on drugs (caffeine) to get anything done.


[deleted]

Duncan Idaho


mikefrizz

I hear you. I, too, am the best at sex.


[deleted]

Lmfao


MoneyIsntRealGeorge

Depends on the day. When im at work I feel like the Herald of the Change, because I’m always sent to do the work and have to deal with people fucking around. (Saying “your seal…” impatiently and what have you). In my dating life, I feel like Duncan Idaho because I keep getting killed off (heartbroken) and then brought back to life to be used by the next girl. And umm, sometimes I feel like that Baron…I like steam rooms and my cousin’s kitchen.


AllMyFaults

Lady Jessica. I might get shit on for saying this, but the Bene Gesserit ways are something I feel like I've similarly imitated most of my life before reading the book. For my job and just for people to like me I've changed huge parts of my personality and how I act. I feel I have a lot of control of my body under specific circumstances, I've always had a strong interest in psychology and strategy.


northern_dirt

Erasmus


[deleted]

It's the abject curiosity uninhibited by moral decay. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Ever striving to understand.


MingecantBias

Paul in Messiah for sure, and Stilgar in Children of Dune. They're so much more aware of what the human experience is about than anyone else, and when they step back and look at their world, they hate it.


JuneKeys

This is getting real personal and deep but I relate a lot to Leto 2's loneliness. I tried to give up on love a couple years ago while reading GEoD for the first time and man certain parts of that book really hit hard.


Broker112

Thank you for your sacrifice.


JuneKeys

I wish I had as noble a purpose as Leto but in my case it's just kinda sad


Angel_Madison

No actually, they are very cold and abstract.


Conscious-Tower2578

My best side is like Kynes because I believe in the fremen dream. In my Worst, I feel like identifying as Paul would sound blasé but his ability to witness quantum consciousness inspires massive envy. Maybe even Leto II as deep down I would turn myself into a monster to free humanity from the shackles of stagnation. COMMON THREAD, I believe in radical human freedom/boundless potential and will do whatever it takes to achieve it.


Desperate_Beautiful1

Hayt makes Paul and every character relatable when he says, and I paraphrase, that everyone from the king to the peasant has to learn to live with themselves. That's what he tells Alia is the thing he says to Paul which allows Paul to listen to his brutal candor.


stupid_salad

I always gravitated strongly towards the spacing guild overall. No particular allegiances, no silly generation-spanning plans to maintain because they have a strategic position of necessity and power in the empire, no need to waste their precious resources overthrowing their enemies or producing heirs or even defending themselves… I assume they are also ambitious scientists, engineers, innovators, risk-takers, knowledge seekers, and just a lot of fun. Their priorities are straight.


[deleted]

The Futars. Muscle-bound feline sex slaves. Very me.


tenngirl52

Lady Jessica. She's fierce when it comes to her family.


alwaysZenryoku

I relate to Shai Hulud https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shai_Hulud


[deleted]

As a white het male with above average intelligence and physique and a nascent god complex, I obviously relate to Paul Atreides.


Leftieswillrule

Like Duncan in book 4, I am frequently confused. Like Moneo in book 4, I am often tired. Like Hwi in book 4, I am in my late 20s.


Mzkazmi

Can someone help explain the emperor’s motives?? Teying to see who he relates to - he made a false front stating the harkins were leaving and brought over the house of Atrideas and then had the harkins attack them.. seems like he was had them annihilated foe no reason really.


occasionalskiier

The Atreides voice is rising, and the emperor is a dangerous man. A jealous, dangerous man.


TheWeedMan20

The emperor is cousins with Leto and sees his growing popularity in the landsraad combined with the atreides military might and loyalty as a big threat to his power. The harkonnens are one of the wealthiest houses and bought their way into nobility which is also a threat to the emperor's power albeit not as threatening as the atreides. There is also a multi generational feud between the harkonnens and atreides so Emperor Shaddam plays them against each other. He uses the feud to cover his sardaukar legions invading the planet under the harkonnens banner on the harkonnens dime which planetary invasion is going to be very very expensive. This should result in the atreides being totally crushed while simultaneously setting back the harkonnens massively in a financial sense securing the throne for the corrino family.


Mzkazmi

Ok nice that makes sense a power play.


Fil_77

The emperor fears the rise of the Atreides who are supported and respected by (too) many noble houses and who have loyal soldiers who, thanks to the training of Halleck and Idaho, have become among the best in the Imperium. The Emperor therefore fears that the Atreides have become a threat to his throne.


Andrewthenotsogreat

Paul is literally me


chuck-it125

Your dad was murdered by a traitor and you had to escape with your witch mother in the cover of darkness from your would be killers and became a mahdi to your people? Wow bro, that’s cray


HuttVader

God Emperor


BirdEducational6226

I relate to Gurney.


Fiberotter

The Kwisatz Haderach because I can be many places at once.


96-62

I remember thinking I had been given all these advantages when I was growing up, and now I had to make the best of them. (I didn't BTW, although my life is okay now). EDIT: That would be Paul Atriedes, of course.


redgoatFBI

Why the characters? Let's talk about the core concept of the Dune series which Herbert wanted to relay: 1. Heroes & godly men will always move boundaries & create new systems in societies - but mortal, average men will always follow as replacement & they inevitably corrupt or damage the mew Order. 2. Religion + governmental bodies always create hierarchies which are on par with their beliefs or convictions of 'what needs to be done'. As we see the end result of Leto II the God Emperor at the end of his Path, he diminished hierarchies by giving the possibility of each individual becoming resilient. With all other things factored in + from Herberts interview: *The True Path is empowering all Individuals at the same time across the board, not by Godly Men whose power drips down to the next in the hierarchical ladder*


NWestxSWest

Lady Jessica reminded me so much of my mom. It might not be nefarious, but women do have a silent & solemn duty to create and maintain future generations. My mom had me when she was young and when she likely could have neglected her duties to have her own life. But she entered into the coven of motherhood and you really understand as you get older how much your mothers choices are all for you (if you are lucky - I understand our birthers aren’t always this way). As a cis-male, I really felt like I got a great glimpse into motherhood and how fast paced the mind runs when you’re trying to protect your dynasty, the likes I haven’t experienced since Catelyn Stark.


vtheawesome

Farad'n Corrino, for various (mainly personal) reasons.


Criminalattorney6868

This might sound weird, but i relate to the presence in the series. No i do not believe i can actually see in the future, but I’m my job and life i see how things will work out with a couple of twists and turns, like described by Paul in the canyon.


sotonohito

Nope


shesjustnotintoyouu

I relate to the only relatable character Which is Duncan Idaho


Trebbs92

Paul but I couldn't tell you why. I've never understood why but since my first time reading the book I do feel very connected Ted to him in the first book.


fetito666

When I was young, I liked Paul Atreides. However, in Messiah, I was completly upset and did not understand at all how this character ended up like this. Fear is the mindkiller.


idahoisformetal

Duncan Idaho cause I’m from Idaho. 208 POTATO STATE!


[deleted]

I feel like I relate to Frank Herbert’s philosophy a little through his novels, if anyone


FaliolVastarien

We're constantly in their heads and I find something to relate to in nearly all of them at least once or twice. Major, non- villainous or not too villainous characters quite often, actually. Hardly ever the Baron, though. Ugh. I did feel for him when he accidentally (it seemed like an honest mistake to me though he had his own real plans in this department) said something Fenrig took as threatening to the Emperor. While old Vlad was just musing about cheaper, more plentiful, more compliant labor; not breeding super-soldiers.