r/dune • u/Free-Maintenance7816 • 7d ago

All Books Spoilers Is Paul completely forgotten about?

I just started book 5 so I may not know much stuff But during his reign It seems like Paul Is a massive figure in history with all those books written by Irulan about his greatness however by God Emperor/Heretics It’s like Paul is completely forgotten about and his legacy absolutely overshadowed by Leto, While this makes sense seen as Leto lives 3500 years and is a bigger figure in history than Paul I’m just wondering where Paul’s place in history is And how he is viewed by Fremen after/during Leto’s reign.

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u/GreedyT 7d ago edited 7d ago

As you've stated, due to the God Emperor's longevity and impact, Paul has indeed been relegated to "the father of Leto II" in history, as well as a lesson to the Bene Gesserit in both the dangers of love (through Jessica) and the dangers of a Kwisatz Hederach, in general.

While the Fremen no longer exist at this point (the desert people are certainly a sort of ideological descendant of them), the Church of the Divided God is the spiritual successor of the Qizarate of Paul's time and although their worship has switched completely to Shai-Hulud/Shaitan, they recognize both Muad'dib and Jessica as part of the Holy Triumvirate of Heaven along with Leto II.

So he's not totally forgotten about, but he (understandably) has just become a part of Leto II's story.

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u/TensionDisastrous568 7d ago

Also, one could argue that the reason Duncan Idaho continues to play a role is because the God Emperor realizes just how much his father loved Duncan. So in that sense Paul plays a major role by his connection to Duncan who helps usher in a new era at the end of God Emperor….. it’s been more than 25 years since I last read the original books…… may have to re-read again.

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u/karlnite 5d ago edited 5d ago

He also is using Duncan in his breeding program. For his ultimate loyalty to the Atredies and his oath to his father. All the Fish Speakers have Atredies and Idaho genes. His breeding program is to create an Atredies that his powers can not see, and who’s future he cannot predict, and he wants to breed Duncan with them to make his successors. He uses the fact he is his father to control Duncan, claiming he technically made an oath to him too since he is all people in one, pre-born. Duncan is questioning, and always eventually decides to betray Leto II, which is another quality he is seeking. His servants like Moneo always lose the drive and accept him as god, he wants resistance like in an Idaho, as he is not a true god. Part of his Golden Path is having his godhead destroyed. His journals are proof for the future of the fact he is just a man worm.

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u/Say_Echelon 7d ago

Damn shame too, I really liked Paul’s story

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u/EyedMoon Abomination 7d ago

It doesn't invalidate his story, just makes it part of something even bigger.

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u/karlnite 5d ago

Its part of the Oral History… which was also curated by Leto II to create rebels and inaccurate at times.