Dune Book I, Chapter 14 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • Leto tells his son about the plans to spy on his mother.
  • Leto will play along with Hawat's idea and act as if he openly distrusts Jessica. This way the act will seem authentic.
  • Leto only tells his son because he wants Paul to be able to tell his mother the truth should anything happen to him. And once you've uttered a sentiment like that, you just know something is going to happen to you.
  • Paul believes his father is just tired, but Leto continues, explaining to Paul why he never married his mother. Paul says he understands and affirms that Leto is a good ruler.
  • Leto sees one advantage to Arrakis. He says it "makes us moral and ethical" (14.36). Even if it means they must lose their self-respect to hold the planet.