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One of the largest and most well-known science fiction universes originated with Frank Herbert’sDunenovel in 1965. The grand rise of Paul Atreides, the sprawling sands of the deserts of Arrakis, and a metaphysical spice used in the series are all standouts from the series of books.
However, the intricate political drama and supernatural-leaning science fiction create a lot of nuance in the world of Dune. Set tens of thousands of years in the future, the space-faring people in Dune have numerous types of weapons and technology at their disposal. One such tool is known as the gom jabbar.
What Is The Gom Jabbar?
Simply put,the gom jabbar is a needle coated at its tip with a meta-cyanide poison.
It’s a dangerous tool that canbe used to kill almost instantly, and is also known as ‘the high-handed enemy.’ Most, if not all, of the Houses would keep their own gom jabbar that they could use.
What Is The Gom Jabbar Test Of Humanity?
The secretive sect called theBene Gesseritwould make use of the gom jabbar in a certain test, calledthe Test of Humanity.
A participant is forced to place their hand into a box. Inside, a process of nerve induction causes intense physical pain.The test-giver holds a gom jabbar nearly against the neck of the participant, who is forced tokeep their hand in the box or face death by the gom jabbar.
The purpose of the test is todetermine whether someone can reflect and maintain self-awareness even when undergoing excruciating pain, which is something that would cause a lesser person to solely react against it, instinctively.
The Test of Humanity finds out whether someone is, or is not, better than an animal.If someone with the reactionary instincts of an animal were to possess the powers and prescience of the Bene Gesserit, it could lead to dangerous and chaotic situations.
As for why, in Dune,Paul Atreidesis taken and forced to take the Test of Humanity, it’sa precautionary measure for the exclusively-women Bene Gesserit.
“It kills only animals. Let us say I suggest you may be human.” - Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
Centuries of planning and a highly controlled breeding program were in effect by the groupto produce theKwisatz Haderach, a male Bene Gesserit with access to both male and female genetic memories.Paul Atreides is potentially the result of all that, and has been trained to use the Voice by his mother, Jessica.
Paul Atreides is not quite what the Bene Gesserit were planning for, so when the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam administers the test on him, it’s to try and see what he is capable of. And, if he isn’t capable of surviving the test,it ends a dangerous loose thread before it becomes a problem.
Inthe novel Dune, Paul ends up wondering whether the Kwisatz Haderach isa human version of the gom jabbar. Essentially, whether this figure may be used to test whether humankind iscapable of going through an intense struggle to reach a better future for humanity.
