Throughout Dune, there is a clear focus on the power of religion in society. Frank Herbert explores again and again in this book the importance of religion when it comes to control, with the idea of ​​prophecy and messianic suggestion. The main character, Paul, is often seen as some kind of supernatural human being and is in turn glorified and protected. After being crowned the messiah of multiple prophecies, Paul is called Muad'Dib, meaning "mouse." Herbert uses this name to illustrate Paul as resilient and admirable; however, the more it is taken apart, the more deceit and trickery are revealed. Paul is no more a messiah than an honest man. Herbert's "real" definition of Muad'Dib is that of an adapted kangaroo mouse; nevertheless, he slowly builds the name to become exactly what Paul had called for. Throughout the novel, Muad'Dib takes the form of power and control. However, it would be wrong to fall into the trap of agreeing with this. Muad'Dib remains a mouse throughout this story, a mouse who has adapted to the ways of the desert, as Paul did. Not once is it mentioned that this mouse had supernatural powers, only that it had adapted. Paul is not the product of a divine gift nor a prophesied messiah; he is Muad'Dib. Paul is simply a mouse who has been thrown into the wilderness and forced to adapt in order to survive. The Fremen see him as "Lisan al-Gaib" and the Bene Gesserit see him as their "Kwisatz Haderach", but he is neither. Paul is Muad'Dib. Paul is the desert mouse who used religion and perception to deceive people into giving other similar names. He used their hope and naivety to his advantage. His divine calling was not just in the middle of a paper... Muad'Dib is the prophet or messiah that everyone is looking for. What we don't realize is that the real prophecies are those of "Lisan al-Gaib" and "Kwisatz Haderach". Not once is it mentioned that there was once a mouse prophesied to be the next messiah. This simply cannot be the case, Muad'Dib is not the name of any prophet. Muad'Dib is the name of a leader. Muad'Dib is survival of the fittest. Works Cited Devlin, William J. and Shai Biderman. The philosophy of David Lynch. Lexington, KY: U of Kentucky P, 2011. Print. Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York: Ace, 1990. Print.List, Julia. “Call Me a Protestant”: Liberal Christianity, Individualism and the Messiah in “Stranger In A Strange Land”, “Dune” and “Lord Of Light”. Science Fiction Studies 36.1 (2009): 21-47. Literary reference center. Internet. October 25, 2013. O'Reilly, Tim. Frank Herbert. New York: Ungar, 1981. Print.