Why Did Stilgar Recognize Paul? What Made Him?
If you’ve seen the movie Dune, then you’d agree with me that it is one interesting movie. Frank Herbert did an amazing job, putting down this amazing story.
One major feature that has made this movie stand out is the way the plot and character was developed, this no doubt one of my best movies of 2024 so far.
Right now we’ll be considering the reason why Stilgar recognizes Paul, does it hold any importance? Read through to find out
The Struggle for Arrakis
In the movie, Dune, which was also Arrakis, was a desert,a very large one that had an important substance called spice melange. This substance was important because it could power ships and also it could extend life.
Because of the special substance dune hold, there have been attempts by Emperor Shaddam IV orders to take over control. But the Harkonnen are no easy people. Despite the threats and attack, they never backed out. This led to war between the two houses.
The Role of the Fremen
The Fremen are actually the native inhabitants of Arrakis, which is known as Dune. They are one and part of the planet and they have this amazing ability they use to survive the harsh desert environment.
There are few happy people that have rejected the rule of the Harkonnen , which they see as being cruel and oppressive. They have a leader called Stilgar, a courageous man with strength and who alway looks out for the interest of his people.
Stilgar’s recognition of Paul as an important figure that could determine the date of the Fremen, contributed to his people survival and the alliance with House Atreides.
What Was The Fremen Belief System Like?
The Fremen were very religious people. They believed in a prophecy that a savior would come among them someday, lead them to freedom and ultimately changed Arrakis into a paradise. They even have a name for the reason person.
They call him Mahdi or the Lisan al-Gaib, which translates to, “Voice from the Outer World.” When paul and his mom arrived at Arrakis, this link it had with the prophecy and the Fremen began to have hope that paul was the savior that was prophesied.
The Missionaria Protectiva
There is a group of influential women in Arrakis known as the Bene Gesserit. It’s more like a sister and they are quite an influence on the Fremen. They have special abilities, they can see things ordinary people can’t see.
They were the one that ignited the idea of a savior coming to save them, and this made it easy for people to really believe that Paul was the savior. The fact that his mom hold the big position played a role critical role in aligning him with these prophecies
Paul Atreides Early Life and Training
Paul Atreides was a very important person in the movie. From a young age, he was taught how to fight, he was also taught strategy, and Bene Gesserit mental conditioning.
His father knew what awaits him in the future, and he equipped him with every discipline and skill he needed to survive.. He skills and quality was what made him unique and outstanding in the eyes of the the Fremen
The Prophetic Dreams
Paul had some certain abilities. He gets a glimpse of the feature and foretells what would happen. This special ability was because of his heritage, ancestry and also his exposure to the spice.
What really convinced Stilgar and other Fremen that Paul was the savior and the Mahdi was because his vision aligned with the Fremen’s prophecy. His ability to see the future made him a potential leader that could liberate the Fremen.
Key Events Leading to Recognition
Below are the events that led to the recognition of Paul as the potential the Mahdi:
1. The Battle at Sietch Tabr
If you’ve the movie Dune, then you’d agree with me that one of the most critical moments in the “Dune: Part Two” is the battle at Sietch Tabr.
This was when Paul showed how good and skilled a fighter he was and that earned him respect from the Fremen’s leader, Stilgar and marked as a potential leader. In the battle, paul demonstrated battle skill, he showed how knowledgeable he was of the Freedmen’s customer.
2. The Duel with Jamis
Remember when Paul and his mother fled from home when they attacked their home and killed Paul’s father? That was when Paul and his mother fled to Arrakis. But before he and his mother were allowed passage, there had to be a combat between Paul and a member of the Fremen.
This was a Fremen’s rite. Jamis volunteered to fight Paul, but in the end, Paul won.This victory was one the things that made him accepted in the Fremen’s community
Stilgar’s Perspective: Why Recognize Paul?
Here is why Stilgar recognised Paul:
1. Evaluating a Leader
The reason why Stilgar recognised Paul was not only because of the foretold prophecy, there were other reasons.
As a good leader that Stilgar was, he would have to take beyond just prophecy, he would have to evaluate if the person would contribute to the overall well being of the Fremen cause.
And he did that with paul, he saw that paul had leadership skill, he is a good fighter and he had a strategic mind, which made him useful to the Fremen.
2. Fulfillment of Prophecies
Stilgar is a very religious man. Unlike other Fremen, Stilgar believed in the prophecy of a Mahdi that would come to save them.
So when Paul came to Arrakis, certain incidents and actions made Stilgar believe that Paul was the prophesied Mahdi that would save them.
What even made Stilgar strong was when Jessica, who was pauls’s mom, use of the Voice, a Bene Gesserit technique. This made Stilgar believed how extraordinary they were
3. Building Alliances
Stilgar is a good and wise leader, he understood that to actually liberate the Fremen and get freedom, he had to build alliances. So when he recognised Paul, he found a way of building an alliance between the Fremen and House Atreides. This alliance was important if he wants to defeat Harkonnen and the Emperor’s forces.
The Transformation of Paul Atreides From Noble to Messiah
It wasn’t an easy road for Paul Atreides, every moment and every decision he made him grow and even shaped him into the leader he was meant to be.
Stilgar also played a role in his transformation and growth, Stilgar recognition made paul to to embrace his role as a leader and a savior. And with these came the biggest revolution ever that changed the fate of the Fremen.
The Impact of Stilgar’s Recognition
Below are the impact of Stilgar’s recognition:
1. A United Front
The start of victory for the Fremen was when Stilgar recognised Paul.This created an alliance between the Fremen and the House Atreides.
This motivated the Fremen and gave them a sense of purpose.This alliance was important if they wanted to survive and defeat Harkonnen rule.
2. The Strategic Advantage
Another reason was because of the enormous knowledge and guerrilla warfare tactics Paul would have. This was important if they want to defeat the Harkonnen and leveraging the planet’s harsh environment to their benefit
Conclusion
In conclusion, it was important that Stilgar recognised Paul. It came with a lot of advantage, which we can see from the movie,paid off.
Paul formed an alliance with the Fremen and they became unstoppable. With the combined force of the Fremen and the resource of the House Atreides, they were able to defeat the Harkonnen.
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