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Chapter 19
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Dune Messiah, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power
Religion
Guilt and Longing
Fate and Choice
Summary
Analysis
Hayt enters Bijaz’s room and introduces himself. Bijaz says that Hayt’s name is not Hayt but Duncan Idaho, and that he had seen the Tleilaxu revive the ghola’s flesh. Hayt’s mouth goes dry. He says that Muad’Dib sent him to question Bijaz about the Tleilaxu’s intentions. Bijaz sings that he is Tleilaxu and so is Hayt, and Hayt threatens him. Bijaz says that he and Hayt are both thieves and are here to read each other’s “spots.” Bijaz says that Duncan Idaho’s flesh struggled against being revived and observes Hayt’s disturbed excitement.
Hayt and Bijaz seem to act as each other’s foils. As creations of the Tleilaxu, they are both potential pawns the Tleilaxu may use to carry out their scheme. On the other hand, Hayt is also the revived flesh of Duncan Idaho—and therefore potentially his own independent agent. The friction between Bijaz and Hayt calls Hayt’s true identity—and what his role in the story will ultimately be—into question.
Themes
Hayt demands to know if Bijaz is a weapon aimed at the Muad’Dib. When Bijaz evades his question, Hayt asks if he is a weapon aimed at Alia. Bijaz calls Alia a “virgin-harlot” and says that he came to witness her physical beauty. Hayt says that to attack Alia is to attack Paul. Agreeing, Bijaz says that Paul and Alia are “one person back to back.” Hayt says that Bijaz speaks Fremen nonsense. Bijaz calls Hayt a hypocrite. Bijaz says they are in the presence of the most “dangerous creation” the universe has ever seen—a planet Paul’s own mother refuses to live on.
Bijaz’s riddles bring out Hayt’s loyalty to Paul. After every quip, Hayt rises to Paul’s defense, suggesting that, if Hayt does ultimately betray Paul, it will be against his own will. Bijaz reminds Hayt that Alia and Paul are the same person—both capable of carrying on the Atreides lineage—and that Arrakis is a dangerous creation. In this way, Bijaz speaks exclusively of the present nature of things rather than of their future.
Themes
Hayt asks why Bijaz won’t answer his questions. In riddles, Bijaz says that he has answered. Hayt threatens that he can see through Bijaz’s riddles. Bijaz giggles. When Hayt realizes that he is Bijaz’s target, Bijaz starts singing. Hayt feels odd pains shoot down his spine. Ancient traditions and memories float toward him. Afraid, he asks Bijaz what he is doing. Bijaz says he is playing Hayt like an instrument. Bijaz lists the names of other Fremen traitors. He says that he and Hayt are like brothers, born in the same tank.
Bijaz has a mysterious effect on Hayt, as if he has bewitched him. This is reminiscent of the conversation between Edric and Scytale in which Scytale urged Edric to make Hayt “act” faster. In this scene, Bijaz gets under Hayt’s skin and stirs ancient memories, arousing Duncan Idaho’s nature. In this way, it seems that the Guild’s plan for Hayt is to make him become Duncan Idaho.
Themes
Hayt’s metal eyes burn, and a red haze envelops his awareness. In desperation, he forces his focus back on Bijaz. He can see to Bijaz’s core: a being manipulated by symbols. Hayt says that Bijaz cannot force him to kill the Muad’Dib. Bijaz says that the universe changes constantly. He says that the “silly Emperor” is not the prize the Tleilaxu seeks; instead, they produce tools, and war is a tool to be exercised.
Bijaz makes a distinction between war for the purpose of obtaining something one desires, and war for the sake of itself. While Paul fought the Jihad for the purpose of attaining control over the Imperium, the Tleilaxu (and the Scytale, by extension), desire merely to disrupt. In this way, Paul is battling against chaos, not a specific pursuit.
Themes
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Hayt accuses Bijaz of stirring violence in him. Bijaz says he is stirring awareness in Duncan Idaho. Hayt says his name is Hayt, but Bijaz says it’s not. Hayt says that the past cannot be awakened. Bijaz says anything is possible; eventually, Hayt will submit to Duncan Idaho’s mind. Hayt says he is not a Tleilaxu slave, but when Bijaz addresses him as a slave, Hayt goes silent. Bijaz says that one day, Paul will come to Hayt in grief and say “she is gone;” then Hayt will give the Emperor a message from Bijaz.
In asserting that he his Hayt, Hayt is attempting to assert his independence. Hayt fears becoming Duncan Idaho because he knows that this is what the Tleilaxu wants, even though he longs to become his past self. However, his conscientiousness about being a mere slave and about trapping the Muad’Dib suggest that he will always be more than a Tleilaxu pawn.
Themes
Bijaz says that Hayt will tell Paul that the Tleilaxu offer to revive Chani as a ghola and give them a planet of their own; in exchange, Paul must renounce his godhead, but Hayt will flatter him by saying that the Tleilaxu are grateful for all he has taught them about religion. When Paul is tempted, Hayt will kill him. Bijaz tells Hayt that Paul, through his mother, is a Harkonnen—a line of people who tortured Duncan Idaho’s family. Hayt will not find it difficult to kill a Harkonnen. Hayt says he will not do it, but Bijaz says that Duncan Idaho will.
Hayt’s purpose in the Guild’s plot is twofold: first, it seems that he was meant to show Paul that gholas really could become their past selves and thereby cause Paul to long for Chani to be revived as a ghola after she has died. Secondly, the Guild relies on Duncan Idaho’s ancestral vengeance against Paul to propel him to kill Paul. In both these ways, the Guild’s plot is contingent on Hayt’s truly becoming Duncan Idaho.
Themes
Bijaz tells Hayt to tell Paul to hurry, or else Chani’s flesh will be beyond reviving. Bijaz says that when Paul says, “she is gone,” Duncan Idaho will awaken. Hayt tries to find a loophole in the logic. Bijaz claps his hands, and Hayt loses his train of thought.
The fact that Bijaz controls Hayt’s ability to think suggests that the Tleilaxu programmed him to obey the dwarf. Just like Paul in his new state of blindness, Hayt experiences a lack of free will.
Themes
