Korba
Encyclopedia
Korba is a fictional character in the Dune universe
created by Frank Herbert
. He is one of Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides
' Fedaykin death commando
s in the original novel Dune
(1965), and later one of the chief priests (Court Qizara) of the religion of Muad'Dib in Dune Messiah
(1969).
Korba was portrayed by Karel Dobrý
in the 2003 TV miniseries, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, an adaptation of the novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune
(1976).
, Korba transformed his role from Fremen
military special forces agent to a fanatical religious zealot
within the Muad'Dib religion. He is first mentioned by name on p. 67, the conversation where Herbert writes:
A good way to get an impression of Korba's character is the following passage, also from that conversation where Paul asks Korba to go to the balcony to lead the crowd in morning prayer:
During this scene when Korba stands by the brightly lit window, Stilgar thinks that he resembles someone being crucified on a fiery wheel with the outside light hitting his outstretched arms. Coincidentally, when Korba is later brought to the throne room for trial (his last appearance in the Dune series) his entrance through the main doors is similarly illuminated, except instead of crucifixion he is to be executed for taking part in the Fremen
conspiracy against Muad'Dib. After Stilgar
reads out the charges and Korba demands to confront his accuser, Alia gives her impression of him:
Muad'Dib declares that they now possess incontrovertible evidence that Korba plotted the downfall of the Emperor and personally helped import a dangerous weapon of mass destruction to Dune: the stone burner which killed or blinded several hundred Fremen, including Muad'Dib himself. Korba is led away after having pleaded that he only acted out of love for Muad'Dib.
Korba's actions are a microcosm for Muad'Dib's religious empire, one that began in religious fanaticism and Fremen brotherhood and ended in violence, treachery, and the loss of Fremen identity (Korba even reaches for the claim that the survivors of the stone burner have Tleilaxu
eyes, forgetting for a moment the Fremen custom of ritual suicide
for the blind). His character also gives Herbert the chance to mock religious fundamentalism
to some extent, writing once that Muad'Dib regarded him as his "finest creation". The metaphor is not lost on the other characters like Alia in the above quote. Korba also exemplifies one of Herbert's main themes, namely that unpredictable results follow when religion and politics are united in purpose, and throughout the story the other characters see Korba as a literal embodiment of this idea in his dual role as political counselor and Qizarate priest. Stilgar gives one of Herbert's last thoughts on Korba on p. 262:
On orders from Alia, Stilgar executed Korba, along with the Bene Gesserit
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
and Spacing Guild
Navigator
Edric, after the conspiracy to topple Paul's empire failed.
Dune universe
Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...
created by Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
. He is one of Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides
Paul Atreides
Paul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
' Fedaykin death commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
s in the original novel Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
(1965), and later one of the chief priests (Court Qizara) of the religion of Muad'Dib in Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah
Dune Messiah is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the second in a series of six novels. It was originally serialized in Galaxy magazine in 1969. The American and British editions have different prologues summarizing events in the previous novel...
(1969).
Korba was portrayed by Karel Dobrý
Karel Dobrý
Karel Dobrý is a Czech film, television and stage actor. He is known for playing Liet-Kynes in the Dune 2000 miniseries, and Korba in the 2003 sequel Children of Dune, or as Matthias in Mission: Impossible. He also appeared in the award-winning film The Girl of Your Dreams by Fernando Trueba.-...
in the 2003 TV miniseries, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, an adaptation of the novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune
Children of Dune
Children of Dune is a 1976 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, third in a series of six novels set in his Dune universe. Initially selling over 75,000 copies, it became the first hardcover best-seller ever in the science fiction field...
(1976).
Plotlines
Known popularly as Korba the PanegyristPanegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
, Korba transformed his role from Fremen
Fremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
military special forces agent to a fanatical religious zealot
Zealotry
Zealotry was originally a political movement in 1st century Second Temple Judaism which sought to incite the people of Iudaea Province to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Holy land by force of arms, most notably during the Great Jewish Revolt...
within the Muad'Dib religion. He is first mentioned by name on p. 67, the conversation where Herbert writes:
Sensing his thoughts on her, AliaAlia AtreidesAlia Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Introduced in the first novel of the series, 1965's Dune, the character was originally killed in Herbert's first version of the manuscript. At the suggestion of Analog magazine editor John Campbell, Herbert kept...
smiled at Paul. His expression softened. How could anyone react to Korba with other than cynical humor? he asked himself. What is more ridiculous than a Death Commando transformed into a priest? (p. 70)
A good way to get an impression of Korba's character is the following passage, also from that conversation where Paul asks Korba to go to the balcony to lead the crowd in morning prayer:
Paul's gaze followed the Qizara. Korba took his seat at Paul's left, dark features composed, eyes glazed by fanaticism. He'd enjoyed that moment of religious power. "The spirit presence has been invoked," he said. "Thank the lord for that," Alia said. Korba's lips went white. (p. 69-70)
During this scene when Korba stands by the brightly lit window, Stilgar thinks that he resembles someone being crucified on a fiery wheel with the outside light hitting his outstretched arms. Coincidentally, when Korba is later brought to the throne room for trial (his last appearance in the Dune series) his entrance through the main doors is similarly illuminated, except instead of crucifixion he is to be executed for taking part in the Fremen
Fremen
The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel Dune, the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis and are based on the desert-dwelling Bedouin and Kalahari Bushmen. In Herbert's novels, Arrakis is the sole known source...
conspiracy against Muad'Dib. After Stilgar
Stilgar
Stilgar is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He appears in the first three novels in the series: Dune , Dune Messiah and Children of Dune . His early life is explored in Brian Herbert and Kevin J...
reads out the charges and Korba demands to confront his accuser, Alia gives her impression of him:
They [the NaibNaibNaib is an Arabic term for a local leader in some parts of the Ottoman Empire and eastern Caucasus.Naib or NAIB may also refer to:*National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics...
s] knew Korba. He was one of them. To become a Naib, he'd proved his Fremen courage and caution. Not brilliant, Korba, but reliable. Not one to lead a Jihad, perhaps, but a good choice as supply officer. Not a crusader, but one who cherished the old Fremen virtues: "The Tribe is paramount." (p. 255)
Muad'Dib declares that they now possess incontrovertible evidence that Korba plotted the downfall of the Emperor and personally helped import a dangerous weapon of mass destruction to Dune: the stone burner which killed or blinded several hundred Fremen, including Muad'Dib himself. Korba is led away after having pleaded that he only acted out of love for Muad'Dib.
Korba's actions are a microcosm for Muad'Dib's religious empire, one that began in religious fanaticism and Fremen brotherhood and ended in violence, treachery, and the loss of Fremen identity (Korba even reaches for the claim that the survivors of the stone burner have Tleilaxu
Bene Tleilax
The Bene Tleilax or Tleilaxu are an extremely xenophobic and isolationist society in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. Genetic manipulators who traffic in biological products such as artificial eyes, gholas, and "twisted" Mentats, the Tleilaxu are a major power in the Imperium...
eyes, forgetting for a moment the Fremen custom of ritual suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
for the blind). His character also gives Herbert the chance to mock religious fundamentalism
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
to some extent, writing once that Muad'Dib regarded him as his "finest creation". The metaphor is not lost on the other characters like Alia in the above quote. Korba also exemplifies one of Herbert's main themes, namely that unpredictable results follow when religion and politics are united in purpose, and throughout the story the other characters see Korba as a literal embodiment of this idea in his dual role as political counselor and Qizarate priest. Stilgar gives one of Herbert's last thoughts on Korba on p. 262:
Stilgar drew himself up, shocked. One changed, of course. But dramatically? This was a particular view of himself that he'd never encountered. Drama was a questionable thing. Imported entertainers of dubious loyalty and more dubious virtue were dramatic. Enemies of the Empire employed drama in their attempts to sway the fickle populace. Korba had slipped away from Fremen virtues to employ drama for the Qizarate. And he'd die for that.
On orders from Alia, Stilgar executed Korba, along with the Bene Gesserit
Bene Gesserit
The Bene Gesserit are a key social, religious, and political force in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. The group is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and...
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
Gaius Helen Mohiam
Gaius Helen Mohiam is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. She is a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, and initially appears in the 1965 novel Dune and its 1969 sequel, Dune Messiah. Mohiam also has a major role in the Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy by Brian Herbert...
and Spacing Guild
Spacing Guild
The Spacing Guild is an organization in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. With its monopoly on interstellar travel and banking, the Guild is a balance of power against the Padishah Emperor and the assembled noble Houses of the Landsraad...
Navigator
Guild Navigator
A Guild Navigator is a fictional humanoid in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Humans mutated through the consumption of and exposure to massive amounts of the spice melange, they are able to use a limited form of prescience to safely navigate interstellar space in a starship called a...
Edric, after the conspiracy to topple Paul's empire failed.