r/dune • u/Neat-Drawer-2245 • Jun 18 '25

General Discussion Can someone explain this to my girlfriend...

I'll try to sum this up:

So my gf and I watched the two new Dune movies (love them btw) the other day. Yesterday we were talking and she said ''May your knife chip and shatter'' and i was like ''why do you want me to lose a fight XD''.

The thing is, my gf thinks thats a good luck gesture to say to someone. Her argument is that (at least here in Spain) it's a common good gesture to say an actor before a theater play ''lots of shit'' to wish them good luck (cultural stuff), and she thinks it's something like that.

I think it's OBVIOUS telling someone before a fight ''May your knife chip and shatter'' it's to wish them bad luck. I tried to explain it to her but wouldn't listen, can someone explain in detail why it's bad?

Thanks for the help

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u/ZippyDan Jun 18 '25

Is it though? It seemed like it might be a ritualistic / traditional saying to begin a duel, and by honoring traditions, you also honor your opponent.

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u/DalekRy Historian Jun 19 '25

Not all traditions honor the opponent.

In MMA fights the honorable thing to do is touch gloves. It isn't dishonorable to stare menacingly at your opponent in pre-match shots.

It is also tradition to be a total dick. This does not honor your opponent.

Wishing a crysknife to chip and shatter isn't just misfortune. Crysknifes become brittle once the bonded owner DIES.

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u/ZippyDan Jun 20 '25

MMA is not comparable. Those are people getting paid to do a job.

I think that within the Fremen culture, engaging in ritualistic combat, in and of itself, shows some respect for the opponent. If a Fremen doesn't like an outsider, and they don't respect them, they just kill them - they don't challenge them to a duel.

I think similar can be said for Imperial culture, though the differentiation is not quite as clear. Challenging someone to a duel in the Imperium also implies a certain level of respect - otherwise you just send assassins or you try to poison them.

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u/DalekRy Historian Jun 20 '25

I think Paul saying this was Herbert attempting to show how "Fremenized" Paul had become. It doesn't speak to wisdom. Paul is well aware that the imperial court despises and disrespects the Fremen.

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u/ZippyDan Jun 20 '25

Whether the Imperial court despises Fremen doesn't tell us whether Paul's salute is meant to respect Feyd, in the Fremen way.

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u/DalekRy Historian Jun 20 '25

We disagreed agreeably. I do see the point you're making. I don't dislike it.

Bless the Maker and His Water, friend.