Dune Question

[The Sleeper]

Hi everyone, my first post here 8)

My question is regarding what Reverend Mother Gaius Hellen Mohiam said to Paul at Caladan: "Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them."

I don't understand, why would men ever think that macines would set them free ? And who are the other men who enslaved them with machines ? The meaning isn't quite clear to me. And if it isn't supposed to be, and should be revealed only at Butlerian Jihad, I will be very glad to hear just your speculations ;)

[Usul]

To set them free from labour and possibly class distinction as well.

[The Sleeper]

Ok, I thought of that actually .. but what's the thing with the other men enslaving them ?

[Acriku]

The people who could control the machines that man has given its mind over to.

[Anathema]

Hmmmm people in Dune always blamed machines for enslaving them- did the machines get rid of their masters at a certain point?

[Acriku]

Possibly the machines took over, I read somewhere it was a higher statute of man, but it may be wrong.

[quoudam72]

Yes the machines that were once thought to free men were also the same machines that made it capable to enslave men either the machines themselves or other men using the machines. I think the Rev. Mother is refering to the minds of men. :-X