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dune - How did Paul Atreides Differ From the Intended Kwisatz Haderach?


It's been a while since I've re-read the Dune books, but I remember the Bene Gesserit were upset with Jessica because she was ordered to bear only female children. The long range plan was to breed one of her daughters with Feyd Harkonnen line to produce the Kwisatz Haderach.


And, of course, if you're familiar with Dune, you know how well that worked. We know the Sisterhood could not control Paul, and we don't know whether they could have controlled the Kwisatz Haderach if he had been born when they expected.


Other than the Bene Gesserit not being able to control Paul, was he, as the Kwisatz Haderach, what they expected? How was he different than the person they intended to produce or create?



Answer



What the Bene Gesserit sought was a man who could see far into the future, and predict the course that needed to be taken to achieve outcomes beneficial to the Bene Gesserit order.


In a way, that is exactly what they obtained.


However, the Bene Gesserits were blinded by their own arrogance. They truly believe that they are wise enough to decide what is best for humanity, yet they weren't aware of the forces that loomed in the future.


When Paul, and later his son Leto II, saw what the possibilities of the future were, they recognized the disaster that lay on the paths that the Bene Gesserit would have taken, as well as all other paths besides the Golden Path that led to the eventual salvation of the human race.


The existence of the Golden Path itself, and the dangers it sought to avoid, were factors that the Bene Gesserit could not have planned on, and would have been an unforeseeable influence on the Kwisatz Haderach regardless of whether he was born as the Bene Gesserit intended.



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