Dune 10 Things Only Book Readers Know About Lady Jessica

Dune: 10 Things Only Book Readers Know About Lady Jessica

Lady Jessica is a vital part of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, but there are many aspects of her character in the Frank Herbert novels that aren’t included.

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Arguably one of the most secretive characters in Dune, Lady Jessica always holds her cards close to the vest. As a sister of the Bene Gesserit order, she has many skills. Her use of the Voice allows her to control the actions of others. She is extremely observant and capable. And while these traits were demonstrated with great ability by Rebecca Furguson in the film, there are aspects of her character that are left out in the transition from page to screen.

Some points of Jessica’s character are changed for cinematic value. But many interesting backstory plots unfortunately did not fit into Denis Villeneuve’s narrative, at least in Part 1 of his adaptation.

Jessica’s Union With Duke Leto Was Planned

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune gives off certain implications with the relationship between Lady Jessica and Duke Leto. Though they are not married, it is obvious they care very deeply for each other. Leto laments that he should have married her and Jessica is visibly shaken by the news that Leto was killed. However romantic this may seem, the books describe their relationship to be more complicated.

Jessica was part of the breeding program to bring about the Kwisatz Haderach, though that’s ultimately not how it ended up. Her union with Leto was planned to bring about a daughter that they would breed with a Harkonnen heir. This went so far as that Leto even brought ‘buyers’ to the Bene Gesserit school, eventually choosing Jessica to be his concubine.

Paul’s Conception Was Not A Plot

Bene Gesserit are known to control the sex of their children. This is how they plan to bring about the Messiah. Jessica goes against their orders and has a son instead of a daughter. Even though the film implies Jessica did this hoping she would conceive the Kwisatz Haderach, this is not strictly the case in the books.

What the film does not go into is the fact that Paul was not Leto’s firstborn, something only book readers would know about Leto. Leto had a son, Victor, who did not survive. Jessica loves Leto and wanted to give him a son after the death of his first. While Jessica thought that Paul becoming the Kwisatz Haderach was a possibility, it was not the main reason that she conceived him.

Jessica And Leto’s Decision Not To Marry Was Mutual

After years of developing a bond and raising a child, there is no doubt that Leto and Jessica care for each other. Leto may even want to marry her in the Dune film, but there were reasons why they decided not to up until that point. Leto wanted a son and Jessica gave that to him, but she was content to be his concubine.

More than anything, Jessica understands political motives. Should Leto marry her, it would take away the opportunity for him to create alliances with other Great Houses in the Galactic Padishah Empire. This door needed to be kept open in case Leto needed to marry a highborn.

Baron Harkonnen Is Jessica’s Father

Some aspects of the Dune movie make no sense, including the Bene Gesserit. For thousands of years, the Bene Gesserit have employed a breeding program meant to bring about the arrival of the Kwisatz Haderach. Jessica was part of that plan, though even she didn’t know to what extent.

Baron Harkonnen is the leader of a Great House and the Bene Gesserit understood that he was required in the breeding program to bring about their Messiah. The order demanded that Harkonnen contribute his genetic material. Though he was resentful of this command, Jessica was ultimately conceived as the biological daughter of Baron Harkonnen.

Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam Is Jessica’s Biological Mother

Jessica’s father is revealed to be Baron Harkonnen, but it is only in Prelude to Dune novels written by Brian Herbert that it is revealed who her mother is. Originally, Jessica’s mother was claimed to be an unknown woman. But the prequel series that was taken from Frank Herbert’s notes detail the gruesome way that Jessica was conceived, something only book readers of Dune would know.

Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam demanded that Harkonnen give her his genetic material through blackmail. She conceives a child with Harkonnen but the child is genetically unfeasible. Mohiam returns to Harkonnen who viciously assaults her. This results in Jessica being born.

Bene Gesserit Lineage Is Supposed To Be A Secret

There are many machinations that the Bene Gesserit conducts secretly. As part of their order, only women are taught The Way as they wait for the arrival of the Messiah. Some of these secrets are the lineage of the Bene Gesserit themselves.

Looking at Jessica’s ancestry, there is a reason for this. The Bene Gesserit would not be able to put Houses together if those in their order knew who their parentage was. Lady Jessica is mysterious in the Dune film, but there is no indication that she knows who her parents are.

Jessica’s Daughter Would Have Wed Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen

There are many reasons why the Bene Gesserit were upset with Jessica for ruining their plans. When Jessica had a son instead of a daughter, this complicated their attempt to unite Houses Atreides and Harkonnen. Jessica was instructed to have a daughter so the Bene Gesserit could wed her to Baron Harkonnen’s nephew, Feyd-Rautha.

Feyd appears in David Lynch’s Dune but has yet to appear in Villeneuve’s Dune. Feyd is just as corrupt and brutal as his uncle, but the union would have been sure to bring the most powerful Houses together.

Jessica Becomes A Reverend Mother

Villeneuve’s Dune only covers the first half of the original book. There has been no time for Jessica to reach her potential in the Bene Gesserit. Even though she flouted her teachings by having a son and teaching him The Way, Jessica is still one of the most powerful women of the order.

While taking refuge on Arrakis with Paul, Jessica goes to lengths she never would have before. She takes the trials to become a Reverend Mother. Jessica consumes the Water of Life to take the next step in her journey. This is an extremely painful process and she undergoes what is known as the Spice Agony. When she survives, she becomes more powerful and knowing.

Jessica Gives Birth To Abomination

Ultimately Jessica does give birth to a daughter, something that Dune Part 2 has to include. Because Jessica was undergoing the Spice Agony while pregnant, her daughter Alia becomes susceptible to Abomination.

This meant that Alia had access to vast amounts of knowledge including genetic memory. Abominations frightened the Bene Gesserit to a point where they typically ordered them to be executed. Alia is so powerful that at two years old, she is the one to kill Baron Harkonnen.

Jessica Has Emotional Control

The 2021 Dune film depicts Jessica as having control over many people. What the film does not make clear is how Jessica can do this. In the books, she is much more reserved, but the reason for this is that she has to be. Jessica’s control over her emotions allows her to influence others.

This is a very subtle quality about her and would be difficult to portray in the films. However, Jessica is a master of many arts in the books, including her mind.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dune-things-only-herbert-book-readers-know-about-lady-jessica/

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