This put up incorporates spoilers for “Dune” Components 1 and a couple of, in addition to for Frank Herbert’s novel, “Dune.”
The “Dune” collection has a fame for being overly stoic, however there has at all times been one clear counter to that critique for followers to level to: the very romantic storyline between Jessica and Leto. These two liked one another a lot that they unwittingly spurred a collection of occasions that led to the deaths of billions of individuals throughout the universe. They’re principally like Anakin and Padme from the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, besides competently written.
However despite the fact that Jessica and Duke Leto clearly love one another, they have been by no means married. As an alternative, Jessica’s official position was as Leto’s concubine. She bore his son, however by no means acquired the glory of being known as his spouse. This will sound like an insult, and within the motion pictures, it definitely looks as if an ungainly matter for them to speak about; at one level in “Dune: Half 1,” Leto (performed right here by Oscar Isaacs) tells Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) that he ought to’ve married her. It is a second that is particularly touching since we (and Leto) know that his loss of life is nearly definitely quick approaching.
So, why did not the 2 marry? Effectively, it is largely a political factor.
Leto stayed single to maintain his alliance choices open
The society in “Dune” is considerably just like the feudal system you will discover within the “Recreation of Thrones” books. The the Aristocracy in each worlds not often marry for love however for his or her financial or political prospects. Simply as Ned marrying Catelyn helped assure an alliance between the Starks and the Tullys, Leto may’ve secured an alliance with a strong home/household by marrying a lady from them.
The principle distinction between the customs of the “Dune” and “Recreation of Thrones” worlds is that there is far much less stigma round youngsters borne out of wedlock within the “Dune” universe. Leto may have a child together with his concubine, Jessica, and there would by no means be any doubt that the child was his legit inheritor. In that sense, the customs in “Dune” are arguably extra just like that of feudal Japan; Woman Ochiba in “Shōgun” was “solely” the late emperor’s concubine, as an example, however her son with him remains to be thought-about the inheritor and he or she nonetheless maintains a strong, revered position in her nation after the emperor’s loss of life.
Leto by no means married a lady from a strong household, but it surely appeared necessary that he stored that choice open. If his political state of affairs modified in a method the place an alliance was mandatory, he needed to have the flexibleness to adapt accordingly, which he could not do if he was already married to Jessica.
One other issue was Jessica’s standing as a member of the Bene Gesserit, a gaggle of very highly effective, sneaky house witches. The Bene Gesserit aren’t significantly beloved by most typical individuals within the “Dune” universe, partly because of their tendency in the direction of psychic tips. There was a political benefit in Leto not giving off the impression that Jessica had as a lot energy and affect within the relationship as she actually did. By preserving her within the concubine position, Leto averted any accusations that Jessica was the one answerable for Home Atreides.
Why did not Paul marry Chani?
Historical past works in cycles, the “Dune” books typically argue, which is why it is no shock that Leto and Jessica’s son Paul results in an analogous dynamic. Within the books, he marries the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Irulan, however his real love is Chani, a Fremen girl who loves him unconditionally and finally ends up bearing his son. It is an ungainly state of affairs for the characters to finish the primary e-book on, however at the least the dynamic between Leto and Jessica helps to persuade Chani (and the reader) that it may work out for them.
The current motion pictures have dealt with issues a bit otherwise. In “Dune: Half 2,” Chani (Zendaya) ends the story very pissed off at Paul (Timothée Chalamet), selecting to go away him with Irulan relatively than stick round as his concubine. It is one of many extra controversial adaptive selections within the film, though I for one will wait till “Dune: Half 3” resolves the state of affairs earlier than making any robust judgments. Because it stands now, nonetheless, the “Dune” motion pictures appear to have rejected the concept that there was something actually noble about Jessica’s concubine standing with Leto. Jessica deserved higher, “Dune: Half 2” implicitly argues, and Leto actually ought to’ve simply married her when he had the prospect.
Both that, or the film’s making an announcement about how far Paul and Jessica have fallen morally; the concubine setup might have labored with a person as seemingly honorable as Leto, however when Chani seems at what Paul and Jessica are doing together with her individuals, she desires nothing to do with them. One other studying of Chani’s rejection of Paul is that she appears appalled by the concept of Paul marrying one other girl, even whether it is only for political functions. Both method, the result appears clear: e-book Chani might have been high quality with following in Jessica’s unconventional footsteps, however film Chani is a complete completely different story.
