Why Dune Should be Added to the English Curriculum Dune is a unique book of the science-fiction genre. As most science fiction novels are explorations of the relationship between humans and technology Dune distinctly explores humanity as a structure and contains many universal themes which are relevant today. Frank Herbert wrote Dune during the Cold War and is regarded as a classic of science-fiction. Dune is a story about a future world where, ironically, the political system is based off of a feudal system from the Middle Ages after a robot crusade. To begin with, Dune contains many universal themes present in everyday society that can be relatable to students. Secondly, through  Dune, students can learn from the references and allusions of human culture. Lastly, Dune contains many philosophical and ethical components within the story that would promote interesting discussion within classes. Dune should be added to the ENG 3U course since it is a book rich with universal themes, references to human society and big philosophical ideas that can encourage deeper thinking and understanding of humanity itself. Firstly, Dune should be read by the ENG 3U course because it has an abundance of major universal themes. The first major theme of Dune is power. Power was the element that maintained all of the noble aristocracy’s status and influence over others. In Dune, power comes in a variety of forms, depending on the system in question. In economics money is the power that gets things done. On Arrakis, water equals power, because without water no one could live in such a harsh climate. Bewt the water-shipper confirms to Duke Leto,” Water was, indeed, power here. Destruction of water facilities might well destroy Arrakis”(Herbert 210). Interestingly, Frank Herbert illustrates power like a two-ended sword. The aristocracy has this ability for people to grovel before them, but they also must care and look after that source of power or else they must face the fatal consequences. Subsequently, when individuals maintain any certain position of power or influence they participate in the world of politics. In the real world and in Dune there is almost nothing politics does not shape in some way. The element of politics in Dune is what gives this novel a distinctive air of intrigue and depth. When the Baron prepares his son to become a ruler he says,”Listen carefully Feyd. Observe the plans, within plans, within plans”(73). The story of Dune often adds many layers over main character’s motives and the concept is fully open for interpretation because so many factors come into play after each decision they make. In addition, the relationship between humanity and nature affects the entire culture therefore structure of that group of people. Frank Herbert’s message about ecology is never clear since the characters from Dune each have their own individual mentality and relationship with it. Eric Otto believes that the message about humanity’s relationship with nature is homeostasis. Otto describes it as,”The tendency of an organism to maintain a uniform and beneficial physiological stability within and between parts. If we extend this definition to include not only biological organisms but also psychological, social, economic, political, religious, and ecological units, and if we subject that expanded homoeostasis to a universal evolutionary imperative, we have a nutshell version of Herbert’s themes”(Otto 10). Dune establishes its view of homoeostasis as a neutral report of activities and guides the reader in an omniscient style in order for the reader to develop their own view of a problem by witnessing the behaviour of each character described. Therefore, the study of Dune’s themes can provide students with a fresh and creative angle with which to approach their studies and their lives in general. Secondly, Dune contains many allusions and historical references that could promote interesting discussions of opinion. The most common historical reference in Dune melange. The spice in the novel is a reference to oil in our own world situation. The control of a rare and valuable substance automatically gives power to those in control. Like many corporations today oil is what leads to major funds and economic growth. Oil is the energy that fuels most of the world to make things progress. On Arrakis its melange that keeps the planet’s economy running. Duke Leto explains to his son the amount of power spice can bring,”He who controls the spice controls the universe”(80). On the scale of planet Earth oil control has the same mentality. Entire wars have been fought over control of oil in order to gain superiority in ressources. Dune like the real world reveals that wars will be fought in order to gain dominance. In addition, Frank Herbert wrote this novel during the Cold War. During this time the World was worried of a nuclear war and the two super powers America and the Soviet Union. These countries were in a high tension against eachother similar to that between the Harkonnens and the Atreides. Talk about religion”When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way. Their movements become headlong – faster and faster and faster. They put aside all thoughts of obstacles and forget the precipice does not show itself to the man in a blind rush until it’s too late.” Thirdly, Dune’s literature contains philosophy that would highly encourage deeper thinking and applications of its themes. The first form of philosophy mentioned in the novel is of politics. In addition, Herbert’s philosophy of inequality is the main source of energy that fuels the character’s motives in political change. Dune mainly represents this through revealing the merits of an aristocratic versus a democratic government. Herbert believes that people are inherintly inequal.  Under the hierarchical system of Imperial society, some lives have a diminished value, others a greater value, and those of robotic like superiority have exceptional worth. Paul Atreides, the Duke’s son, witnesses the greater public inequality on the planet Arrakkis. He begins to reflect, “My father once told me that respect for the truth comes close to being the basis for all morality. ‘Something cannot emerge from nothing,’ he said. This is profound thinking if you understand how unstable ‘the truth’ can be”(208). This should provide a guide to the more elaborate discussions, even though general topics such as “humanness” and “concept of inequality” cannot be as stricly defined as they appear to be. It is important that the overall effects of the history of the Imperium be understood in the framework it provides for the plots and themes in Dune and in the way it creates and supports the two major themes of power and politics. Finally, Dune ultimately explores the meaning of what it signifies to be human. In conclusion,