Liet-Kynes Character Analysis in Dune

Dune Liet-Kynes Character Analysis

Save

Liet-Kynes is the Imperial Planetologist on Arrakis, but while he is sworn in loyalty to the Emperor, his real allegiance is with the Fremen. He, along with his father before him, hopes to “terraform” Arrakis over several centuries, eventually turning the planet into a green one with plentiful water, in which humans can live easily and without stillsuits. However, this plan would never be green-lighted by the Imperium, as changing the ecology of Arrakis would negatively impact spice production. Thus, Liet-Kynes and the Fremen do their work in secret, paying the Spacing Guild with spice in exchange for minimal surveillance so that they can keep their plans hidden from the Emperor.

Initially skeptical of the Atreides family, Liet-Kynes soon realizes that the Duke Leto is a moral and competent leader. This leads him to help Paul and Jessica escape when the Harkonnen plot to destroy the House Atreides comes to fruition, despite great personal risk. In many ways, some of Paul’s success can be attributed to Liet-Kynes. Due to Liet-Kynes’ role as a quasi-religious leader of the Fremen, who is guiding them toward the distant vision of a lush planet, the Fremen are already primed to accept outsiders like Paul as their ultimate ruler and savior. Paul adopts Liet-Kynes’ dream of a green Arrakis when he becomes the leader of the Fremen, making him Liet-Kynes’ greater and stronger successor. His succession is solidified in the eyes of the Fremen by taking Chani, Liet-Kynes’ daughter, as his partner.

It’s uncertain whether Liet-Kynes would have approved of Paul’s actions as the Lisan al-Gaib. Before his death, Liet-Kynes reflects on his foolishness, not only in his decision to help the House Atreides, but also in his belief that the ecology of Arrakis could be changed into something entirely different. His last thought – that the greatest forces in the universe are chance and accident – directly contradicts the actions and beliefs of everyone else in Dune, all of whom are desperately trying to control the outcome of the universe and the destiny of their own people. Liet-Kynes’ final moment of prescience seems to suggest that Paul’s ascension to power and the Fremen’s dream of a green Arrakis are doomed.