Why Duke Leto Wont Marry Lady Jessica

Why Duke Leto Won’t Marry Lady Jessica

While Paul Atreides’ has two powerful parents in Dune, why did the House of Atreides’ Duke Leto never marry Lady Jessica of the Bene Gesserit?

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Why Duke Leto Wont Marry Lady Jessica

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Dune.

While Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has two powerful parents in Dune, why won’t Duke Leto (Oscar Issac) of House Atreides marry Lady Jessica (Rebecca Fergusson)? As the film from director Denis Villeneuve progresses, it’s revealed that while Lady Jessica is Paul’s mother, she is only the concubine of Duke Leto rather than his wife. While Leto at one point says that he should have married Jessica, why weren’t they wed in the first place?

In Frank Herbert’s novel and in the 2021 film adaption, Duke Leto is the ruler of the House of Atreides, one of the strongest and most influential of the Great Houses of the Imperium. Ruling over the ocean world of Caladan, Duke Leto ruled justly over a prosperous and brave people. Like many of the Major Houses, Leto eventually took a concubine (Lady Jessica) from the ranks of the Bene Gesserit, the sisterhood of powerfully trained women with supernatural abilities who hold a large influence spanning the entire Imperium. However, despite being raised and trained from birth to become Leto’s concubine, Leto and Jessica eventually developed a genuine love for one another.

As revealed in Dune after Paul Atreides is tested by the Bene Gesserit’s Reverend Mother Mohiam with the box and the Gom Jabbur needle, it’s confirmed that Jessica giving birth to a son instead of a daughter (an act a sister of the Bene Gesserit could control) was in direct violation of the Bene Gesserit’s plans. This was because of Lady Jessica’s love for Leto, motivating her to provide him with an heir. However, Leto and Jessica were never married as other rulers of the Major House might have done with their concubines from the Bene Gesserit. While only briefly touched upon in the 2021 film, Frank Herbert’s novel confirms that Duke Leto’s decision to never marry Lady Jessica was one of political strategy. By keeping himself open as a potential suitor, there remained an opportunity to form an alliance with one of the other Major Houses through a potential marriage.

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Why Duke Leto Wont Marry Lady Jessica

That being said, Duke Leto still has his regrets, wishing that he would have married Lady Jessica all the same just before his death when House Harkonnen attacks. Leto trusted Jessica more than most, especially as he moved House Atreides from Caladan to Arrakis at the Emperor’s request, knowing full well that it was a trap where he and his people would soon be surrounded by enemies from all sides. Likewise, while the Bene Gesserit pretend to form allegiances and pledge their concubine’s loyalties to the Houses of the Imperium, their goals are ultimately their own as they attempt to breed and control the coming of the Kwisatz Haderach, the prophesized supreme being. As such, many are prone to distrust the members of the Bene Gesserit such as Lady Jessica (though Leto did not).

While the nature of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica’s relationship is only briefly touched upon in 2021’s Dune, it’s possible that Dune 2 could go deeper, helping to explain the significance of their love and how it impacted the entire future of the Imperium through their son Paul who was never meant to be born. Despite never being officially married due to political motivations, Dune makes it clear that they might as well have been.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dune-movie-duke-leto-jessica-no-marriage-reasons/

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