Paul’s Major Part 2 “Dune” Revelation Makes No Sense

Paul Atreides’ revelation of Arrakis’ real name in Dune: Part Two is treated as a huge moment that proves his clairvoyance, but he’s not actually the first character to call the planet “Dune.” After Dune: Part One laid all the groundwork, Dune: Part Two provided all the payoffs. Paul started living up to the “Lisan al-Gaib” prophecy, with some fervent followers falling in line and others questioning his leadership, and the Fremen waged all-out war against the forces of House Harkonnen.

There are a ton of epic moments in Dune: Part Two, from Paul riding the sandworm to Feyd-Rautha having fun in the gladiatorial arena to the climactic knife fight between the two. But there’s one moment that’s presented as a big deal, but doesn’t actually make sense in the context of the story. The Fremen are flabbergasted when Paul reveals the original name of Arrakis, “Dune,” but the planet’s Fremen name wasn’t exactly a secret – it was already mentioned in Dune: Part One.

Baron Harkonnen Called Arrakis “Dune” Before Paul

The Baron called Arrakis “my Dune” in Part One

In his big speech to the Fremen, Paul reveals that Arrakis was once known by a Fremen name: “Dune.” For the audience, this is a big moment, because it finally explains the meaning of the film’s title (besides being a desert-related moniker for a story set mostly on a desert planet). But it’s depicted as a big moment for the Fremen listening to the speech, too. Everyone reacts with shock and it’s taken as cold, hard evidence that Paul has supernatural insight.

But Baron Harkonnen calls Arrakis “my Dune” in Part One, so this moment shouldn’t have caused a shock. If the Baron knows that Arrakis’ original name was Dune, then it stands to reason that it’s not a heavily guarded secret that the Fremen called the planet Dune before it was renamed Arrakis. But Paul’s knowledge of the old Fremen name for the planet is treated as proof of his prophesized clairvoyance. It doesn’t mean he has supernatural powers; it just means he’s boned up on intergalactic geography.

The Reaction To Paul’s “Dune” Speech Establishes The Fremen’s Blind Faith

It shows how desperate the Fremen are to believe Paul is Lisan al-Gaib

The Fremen’s reaction to Paul’s knowledge of Arrakis’ original name highlights their blind faith in the prophecy. They’re so desperate to believe that Paul really is Lisan al-Gaib that they’ll take anything they can get to validate that belief. The Fremen shouldn’t have been shocked by Paul’s Dune: Part Two speech, as proven by the Baron, but the fact that they are suggests they are no longer applying reason and are all in Paul’s thrall.