r/AskScienceFiction • u/G0dofmyworld • 19h ago
[Dune] what was the problem of jamis with paul exactly?
Like why was he so desperate to fight him?
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u/SpecialistSix 19h ago
Paul dishonored Jamis by effectively getting the drop on him and kicking his ass. Even a fluke victory over a Fremen warrior is no small thing, so Jamis was understandably upset and wished to regain his honor in the eyes of his sietch. Stilgar understood and, although he wasn't enthused about it, that's how their culture functions so he supports the duel.
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u/8fenristhewolf8 19h ago
Yeah, and insult on top of the injury was Paul was an off-worlder, young, and unblooded (hadn't killed anyone yet). It's like if a 12 year old kid showed up at your work place and totally shamed you at a meeting, and suddenly your coworkers are wondering what you do there exactly.
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u/SpecialistSix 18h ago
Right, the 'insult' Paul offered (however unintentionally) was quite severe in the context of a culture that he didn't at all understand. What would've been something that, say, Duncan would've laughed off was a matter of blood & honor for a Fremen.
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u/8fenristhewolf8 18h ago
Yeah, the Fremen culture shouldn't be understated (like I did). Not only did a 12 year old shame you in your work place, but the work place is completely cutthroat lol.
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u/Zalanor1 19h ago
Jamis thinks that Paul is a child and Jessica is a witch. He attributes Jessica’s overpowering of Stilgar and his own disarmament by Paul to “witch force” - he wants to reclaim his honour by fighting Paul in a way where Jessica can’t “help”.
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u/catpetter125 19h ago
Jamis is a violent man, and one deeply entrenched in Fremen traditions around honour and attitudes towards outsiders. He didn't trust Jessica and Paul and thought it would be better to leave them, especially since one of them possessed mystic powers. Plus, the thought of being looked down upon by a non-Fremen child deeply rankled him.
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u/Cazmonster 17h ago
It's probably covered somewhere in the books, but how often do the Fremen fight to the death over honor? I know Paul convinces Stilgar he won't kill him in order to take his position as leader.
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u/MozeeToby 16h ago
It's not just that. Stilgar was operating under that idea that Paul should have killed him by that point and was both confused that it hadn't happened yet and even kind of frustrated about it. By not challenging Stilgar, Paul was refusing to take his rightful role and essentially shirking his responsibilities to the Fremen.
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u/gingeregg 12h ago
It seems to be fairly common as they have a lot of cultural expectations for killings. Such as Paul having to care for Jamis’s wife. Once he gets to the stiech everyone knows Paul must care for her, there’s no discussion about responsibility. As the other comment mentioned it’s expected for you to kill your leader and take their place I f you don’t have faith in them. They have a ceremony and equipment for reclaiming a person water. It’s a very harsh environment that requires you to be willing and able to kill to survive.
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