Questions tagged [bene-gesserit]
The Bene Gesserit are a powerful and ancient order of women in Frank Herbert's "Dune" universe. Their actions formed a critical element in the evolution of humanity and many of the major plot developments. Always use in conjunction with the [dune] tag.
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Is the supposedly fake prophecy of Mahdi that the Bene Gesserit implanted on Arrakis actually a real prophecy?
I've been re-reading through Dune recently, and I've been considering the prophecy of the coming of Mahdi that the Bene Gesserit supposedly implanted on Arrakis as part of the Missionaria Protectiva.
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How did the Bene Gesserit know there could exist a Kwisatz Haderach?
The Bene Gesserit spent thousands of years breeding selected humans from important bloodlines with the specific goal of reaching a Kwisatz Haderach, a prophesied male messiah and superbeing, a super-...
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What is the endgame of the Bene Gesserit?
As in: what did they want to achieve with their breeding programs and "learning how to learn"? Assuming that the Kwisatz Haderach was as they intended, what was next?
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Why did Jessica Atreides have a son?
I'm listening to the Dune audiobook years after reading the book. The only reason I noticed mentioned for why Jessica has a son is because Leto wanted one.
I find this very unconvincing. I mean she ...
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Was the Bene Gesserit's plan doomed from the start?
In Dune Paul needs to use the power of spice in order to become Kwisatz Haderach. Was this because he came a generation early, or could the potential Kwisatz Haderach only reach his true potential by ...
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Why did the Bene Gesserit want to breed the Kwisatz Haderach?
It's been a while since I've read the Dune series. Something I was never quite clear on was why did the Bene Gesserit (BG) want to breed the Kwisatz Haderach (KH) at all?
I understand that the BG ...
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What does it mean to be human to the Bene Gesserit?
The secretive and mysterious cult of the Bene Gesserit from Frank Herbert's Dune have a human breeding program as one of their prime goals (perhaps the prime goal). As a result, they've developed a ...
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Did the Atreides family and staff know of Lady Jessica's role in the Bene Gesserit breeding program?
In Dune, the Bene Gesserit breeding scheme is, in theory, to have come to full fruition from the union of an Atreides daughter (planned to be born of the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica and the Duke Leto ...
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Why do the Bene Gesserit need Noblemen's genes for their breeding program? Are there no better genes in the general populace?
Why is it important to the Bene Gesserit to use the blood of Noblemen in their Kwisatz Haderach breeding program? Are there no other (possibly better) candidates that they could obtain genetic ...
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Did Bene Gesserit have any contingency plan in case of Lady Jessica's death?
Bene Gesserit are very angry at Jessica, because she gave birth to a son instead of a daughter. Yup, thats a tough one - 10 000 years of planning for the coming of Kwizats Haderach is at risk. Things ...
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Did Bene Gesserit believe in god?
Bene Gesserit used religious beliefs to further their goals (Missionaria Protectiva).
But did Bene Gesserit themselves hold genuine religious belief (e.g. in a supernatural power, preferably in a ...
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Dune: Appendix III Who/What controlled the higher dimensional plan?
Appendix III: Report on the Bene Gesserit Motives and Purposes
On the surface it would seem that the Golden Path of Leto II was that plan and he was in charge, but he was not alive during the Arrakis ...
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Dune saga: Bene Gesserit philosophy origins?
The Bene Gesserit sisterhood show similarities to orders of Catholic or Buddhist nuns, with their discipline, austerity, and high levels of education and organization ("gesserit" possibly alluding to ...
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What is the origin of the Bene Gesserit's powers?
Where did the Bene Gesserit's powers come from?
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The Atreides/Harkonnen wedding
The Bene Gesserit were planning to have Leto's daughter marry Feyd Rautha
Harkonnen, resulting in the birth of the Kwisatz Haderach, and the end
of the feud.
How were they going to convince Duke Leto,...
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Dune: Are Bene Gesserit abilities "magical/supernatural", or natural in-universe?
Specifically, I’m wondering if Bene Gesserit have actual “magic” (supernatural) abilities with their words, or if it’s simply psychological tricks using inflection, tone, and specific words.
Gesserit ...
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The place where the Bene Gesserit dare not look
What is this place that the Bene Gesserit are not able to look and why? Also why is it so terrifying?
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Why was it such a big deal when Jessica decided to have a male child? Surely she could get pregnant again?
I read Dune several years ago, and this has always bothered me. Jessica's decision to bear a male child was such a big deal amongst the Bene Gesserit that they call it 'The Jessica Crime'.
However I ...
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Did the Bene Gesserit support the destruction of House Atreides, and how?
I've read comments here and there that the BG were not only complicit, but may have had a hand in the Harkonnen/Sardaukar attack that (nearly) wiped out House Atreides on Dune. However I don't ...
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Did the Bene Gesserit have hard power in Dune?
BG were the epitome of soft power - influence in every court via servants such as truthsayers, concubines, and even female family members. But did they have any hard power, such as standing armies, or ...
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Was Jessica the only Bene Gesserit who majorly violated her orders?
The main plot of Dune revolves around the fact that Jessica, as Duke Leto Atreides' concubine, chose to bear him a son out of love for him, when the Kwisatz Haderach breeding program was dependent ...
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Why is the gom jabbar seldom administered to males?
At the beginning of Dune, Gaius Helen Mohiam uses the gom jabbar to test Paul Atreides and confirm that he is human. During the preceding conversation, she states plainly that it is seldom ...
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Muad'Dib vs. Mahdi
When the Atreides arrive on Arrakis, there are a number of instance where the Fremen call Paul Mahdi. While I realise that Mahdi is Arabic for guided one, I can't help but wonder at its close ...
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