Children of Dune features several prominent female characters. What roles do women play in the novel? Consider archetypes such as the mother, the witch, and the adulteress. Does Herbert perpetuate gender stereotypes or challenge them?

How do families function in the novel? How are filial bonds strengthened or broken? What role does inheritance and legacy play in shaping each character’s relationship to their family’s lineage?

The novel draws a parallel between the educations of Leto and Farad’n. What must they learn or unlearn? What is the outcome of their education? Do they fulfill the expectations of their teachers?