Ghola: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[List of technology in the Dune universe#Ghola]] |
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A '''Ghola''' is a creature in the fictional [[Dune universe|''Dune'' universe]] created by [[Frank Herbert]]. Gholas are created using a technological process created and [[monopoly|monopolized]] by the [[Bene Tleilax|Tleilaxu]]. Later in Herbert's series the process is also used by the [[Bene Gesserit]]. |
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A ghola is essentially a [[cloning|clone]] grown in an [[axlotl tank]] from genetic material retrieved from the cells of a deceased subject. The first ghola featured in the series — [[Hayt]] in ''[[Dune Messiah]]'' — is apparently a [[resurrection]] of the [[corpse]] of [[Duncan Idaho]];<ref>[[Frank Herbert|Herbert, Frank]]. ''[[Dune Messiah]]''. [[Guild Navigator]] [[Edric (Dune)|Edric]] says, "... our wise [[Sardaukar]] commander had [[Duncan Idaho|Idaho]]'s corpse preserved for the [[axolotl tank]]s. Why not? This corpse held the flesh and nerves of one of the finest swordsmen in history, an adviser to the [[House Atreides|Atreides]], a military genius. What a waste to lose all that training and ability when it might be revived as an instructor for the Sardaukar," and later notes "He was killed here on [[Arrakis]] . . a grievous head-wound which required many months of regrowth."</ref> later gholas are grown from a few cells, as in the case of subsequent Idaho gholas provided to [[Leto Atreides II|Leto II]] in ''[[God Emperor of Dune]]''. |
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The Tleilaxu [[Mind control|control]] their creations by forcing them into a [[hypnosis|hypnotic]] state with some predefined sound (often a specific humming or whistling noise).<ref>In ''Dune Messiah'', the Tleilaxu dwarf [[Bijaz]] hums to activate dormant programming in the Duncan Idaho [[ghola]] [[Hayt]] to induce him to kill [[Paul Atreides]]: "He began to hum, a keening, whining monotonous theme, repeated over and over ... Hayt stiffened, experiencing odd pains that played up and down his spine ... The sound made Hayt think of ancient rituals, folk memories, old words and customs, half-forgotten meanings in lost mutterings."</ref><ref>In ''[[Heretics of Dune]]'', [[Waff (Dune)|Master Waff]] tries to control his [[Face Dancer]] duplicate of [[Tuek]]: "Humming sounds like the noises of angry insects came from his mouth, a modulated thing that clearly was some kind of language."</ref><ref>In ''[[Chapterhouse Dune]]'', [[Scytale (Dune)|Scytale]] sees an opportunity to control/influence the Duncan Idaho ghola and thus effect his escape from the Bene Gesserit when he thinks: ''Somehow, I must contrive it that Idaho and I meet intimately. There's always the whistling language we impress on every ghola.''</ref> |
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==History== |
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Before the events of ''Dune Messiah'', gholas are merely physical copies without the memories of their original incarnations. The ghola Hayt is programmed by the Tleilaxu to kill [[Paul Atreides]] under [[post-hypnotic suggestion]]. The attempt fails and, as hoped by the Tleilaxu, the stress of attempting to kill someone who was deeply loved in the ghola's previous life breaks the mental barrier between the ghola's consciousness and the life memories of the original. Hayt recovers the memories of the original, becoming a full reincarnation of Idaho. |
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This discovery has tremendous consequences for the The Tleilaxu Masters, who subsequently use the technology of axlotl tanks and memory recovery to grant themselves effective immortality. Every Master is "recreated" upon his death with recovered memories, accumulating many generations of knowledge and experience and permitting planning on a timespan of [[millennium|millennia]]. |
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In ''God Emperor of Dune'', Leto II has, as constant companions, a series of Duncan Idaho gholas with restored memories of the original Idaho (but not the memories of the previous ghola incarnations). In this novel, the Idaho gholas are perfectly reconstructed incarnations made from 'a few cells', and these can be created in the time span of one to two years. |
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In ''[[Heretics of Dune]]'', the Bene Gesserit become the consumers of Duncan Idaho gholas; significantly, when Idaho recovers his memories, he recovers the memories of all his ghola incarnations, apparently even including previous gholas from whom no cells could be recovered. This suggests a metaphysical commitment that is never explored in the novels. |
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The original killed in ''Heretics of Dune'', a ghola of military genius [[Miles Teg]] is born in ''[[Chapterhouse Dune]]'' on orders from Teg's own daughter, Bene Gesserit leader [[Darwi Odrade]]. His former memories are unlocked using [[imprinter|sexual imprinting]]. |
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==''Dune'' games== |
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There are also mentions of gholas in the [[List of Dune games|''Dune'' games]]. In ''[[Dune 2000]]'', the [[House Harkonnen|Harkonnen]] [[Mentat]] is allegedly a ghola cloned from Tleilaxu flesh vats, and in ''[[Emperor: Battle for Dune]]'', [[House Ordos]] constantly deploy their own gholas in assassination and infiltration missions. This is particularly effective in tricking the [[Sardaukar]] and [[Fremen]] into allying with House Ordos. On a much larger scale, they plan to use a ghola of the now-deceased [[House Corrino|Corrino]] [[Padishah Emperor|Emperor]] to claim the Golden Lion Throne, with the Executrix as the true leaders behind the so-called "puppet Emperor". |
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==Possible origins of the term== |
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The term ''ghola'' calls to mind both ''[[ghoul]]'', ''[[golem]]'' and ''[[ghost]]''. ''Ghoul'' originates in Arabic, as do other terms in the ''Dune'' series — such as the [[Butlerian Jihad|Butlerian ''Jihad'']] and the Fremen designation of Paul as the [[mahdi]] — and in modern fiction a ''ghoul'' is a [[undead|creature]] which arises from a dead person. A ''golem'' refers to an artificial person out of [[Jewish folklore]]. In ''Dune Messiah'', Hayt is even referred to by the [[Guild Navigator]] [[Edric (Dune)|Edric]] as "A very unusual ghost ..." |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Fictional clones|Ghola]] |
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[[es:Gholas]] |
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[[fr:Ghola]] |
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[[pt:Ghola]] |
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{{Dune universe}} |
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Latest revision as of 00:51, 10 August 2022
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