The Emperor Shaddam IV Character Analysis in Dune

Dune The Emperor Shaddam IV Character Analysis

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The Emperor Shaddam IV is the ruler of the empire, and he was born into the role. His House, House Corrino, ruled the Imperium for some 10,000 years, until Paul and House Atreides usurp the throne at the end of Dune. The Emperor Shaddam is a lonely, isolated man whose immense power and responsibility allow him no true friendships. He further insulates himself by refusing to cultivate strong relationships with his children. He did not bear a son, as his wife, a Bene Gesserit, complied with her order’s rulings to only bear daughters. The Emperor Shaddam, however, resented his lack of male heirs, and views his daughters, especially his eldest, Irulan, with distrust and suspicion, especially due to her connection to the Bene Gesserit.

The Emperor Shaddam respects and even loves the Duke Leto Atreides, to the extent that the Princess Irulan speculates that he privately wishes the Duke Leto was his son and heir. However, the same charisma and morality that made the Duke Leto appealing to the Emperor Shaddam also made him threatening. The ongoing tensions between the Great Houses necessitated that the Emperor Shaddam put the survival and ultimate power of House Corrino over his personal like of Duke Leto Atreides. To ensure that there is no threat to his position from House Atreides, he conspires with the Harkonnens to assassinate the Duke Leto.

Choosing power and continued legacy over personal desires is a common theme in Dune, and the choice is no easy feat for the Emperor Shaddam. Unfortunately, the act of assassinating the Duke Leto only increases the Emperor’s isolation, as he has aligned himself with House Harkonnen, perhaps the most morally corrupt and deceptive of the Great Houses. The Baron and Feyd-Rautha certainly cannot offer friendship or respect to the Emperor, and by the time Paul defeats both House Harkonnen and the Emperor Shaddam, the Emperor Shaddam’s power seems greatly diminished. He is paranoid, weak, and entirely reliant on the advice of his Truthsayer, Reverend Mother. His daughter, Irulan, shows herself more capable than her father of accepting reality and making rational decisions. In comparison to the Emperor Shaddam, Paul seems a worthy ruler. He is the Kwisatz Haderach, and thus requires no other entity to provide him with foresight or guidance. Additionally, while the Emperor relies on Count Fenring or the Sardaukar to fight his battles, Paul bests Feyd-Rautha in combat and has won the genuine support of his Fremen armies.