Dune is a novel by Frank Herbert about the rise of a messiah. The planets Dune, also called Arrakis, and Caladan serve as the setting for the story. The novel is set in the distant future, a dystopian future in which humans are trained to function like computers of old, which were banned from being built after a popular uprising against the machines known as the Butlerian Jihad. Paul Maud'Dib is shown to be the Messiah the Fremen are looking for as he begins the terraforming of Dune, the fact that he parallels Christ, his change of Fremen culture, and the fact that his genes mark him for greatness. , and the irony of the Baron's actions. Ecology is a strong literary element in the novel Dune. plays a pretty big role in Dune. Dune is a desert world, a sterile planet, devoid of life. No, until you descend beneath the surface of Dune, you see an entirely new ecosystem, one based on water or the avoidance of it. The Fremen use technology called "immobile suits" to conserve their body water. Still suits recycle moisture excreted from the body. This water is then drunk again and used again. The Fremen, accustomed to a life that requires the accumulation of water, are amazed that there are other planets with open water on them. Sandworms are a pretty important part of the Dune ecosystem. When newborn, sandworms produce the spice melange, the spice so valuable to human life on Arrakis. These little sandworms, after being hit with a spice shot and surviving, eventually become the monstrosities that are the adult sandworms, the "Old Men of the Desert". (quote) The Water of Life is a powerful poison and prescient drug, obtainable only by drowning a sandworm. Its opposite is the Water of Death (quote), ... center of paper ... on's actions at the beginning of the novel lead to his fall and death later in the novel. His hatred for Duke Leto Atreides leads to the rise of Paul Maud'Dib, Leto's son and heir. Another irony is the fact that Baron Harkonnen takes the late Leto's Mentat, Thufir Hwat, and makes Hwat his Mentat. “Another matter,” said the Count. "We learn that Duke Leto's Mentat, Thufir Hawat, is not dead but is in your service." (Herbert 212). Keynes, the imperial planetary scientist, is killed by his own planet, which is an ironic moment in itself. “Then, when his planet killed him, it occurred to Kynes…” (Herbert 180). Paul's mission is ultimately to make Dune a planet full of life. He is there to change Arrakis, to make it more ecologically diverse. The first part of his mission is completed in Dune. It makes Dune a safe place for Fremen to live, free from persecution.