Dune introduces Fremen leader Stilgar with the character spitting at Duke Leto Atreides’ table – here's why that's actually a sign of respect. The latest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi novel, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is an epic space opera that combines socioecology, politics, martial arts, and philosophy. Central to this plot are the enigmatic Fremen, the people who have made their home in the arid landscape of Dune, also known as Arrakis.
Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) - whom the Padishah Emperor has put in charge of Arrakis - wants to cultivate “desert power” by allying House Atreides with the Fremen. The Duke’s emissary to the Fremen is warrior Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), whose prowess in battle has allowed House Atreides to be deemed worthy of an audience with the Fremen. When the Fremen arrive at the city, their leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) refuses to surrender his weapon, ignores Gurney Halleck’s (Josh Brolin) orders to stop and aggressively walks towards the Duke.
After the Duke welcomes him, Stilgar spits at the table. Stilgar’s actions are a reminder of how, on the planet of Arrakis, water is even more precious than the spice melange. As Duncan explains, “Thank you, Stilgar, for the gift of your body’s moisture.” To the Fremen, spitting is a sign of respect as it shows a person is willing to offer their own body’s moisture – spit, sweat, blood and tears – at the negotiating table. Despite Stilgar’s aggressive demands, the Fremen leader spitting on the Duke’s table actually communicates goodwill and respect. This moment, both in the movie and book, is one of the first introductions to Fremen water discipline, a complex system of technologies and behaviors aimed at preserving water while living on Arrakis.
Other examples of water discipline are the moisture-preserving stillsuits and the other items in the Fremkit Paul and Jessica later use to survive the deep desert near the ending of Dune. Although Stilgar’s spit is a sign the Fremen are willing to cooperate with House Atreides, it’s also a stark reminder that the Atreides are the aliens on this planet. More than an offering of goodwill, Stilgar’s spit is a bizarre foreshadowing of what the Atreides will face in the deserts of Arrakis. Although Villeneuve’s Dune movie reboot eschews several crucial parts of the first half of the book, this is one of the moments in which the adaptation stays loyal to the source material. Moreover, as Idaho’s immediate dialogue after Stilgar spits also explains the gesture, the context of the moment is accessible to new fans of the franchise, even to those who are not at all familiar with Dune’s extensive terminology and lore.
Stilgar spitting at Duke Leto’s table is one of the most memorable moments in the new Dune. It’s also a reminder of the difficult choices Dune director Denis Villeneuve had to make when deciding which parts of the book to change and adapt in his reboot. The filmmaker definitely made the right choice in keeping this particular moment in the new Dune. It’s also a sign the planned Dune sequel, which is based on the second half of the book, could live up to the expectations set by the reboot.