The Bene Gesserit Order is an integral part of the Dune novels by Frank Hebert. Often mistaken for a religious order, the Bene Gesserit (also known as the Sisterhood) is an ancient organization of female spies, theologians, and scientists whose mystic origins and enhanced physical and mental prowess make their existence integral to societal order. Even though Villeneuve's Dune introduced the group and shed light on their objectives, this was just the beginning and their full extent is yet to be explored.

Herbert's original Dune novels paint a more detailed picture of the Bene Gesserit's enhanced abilities, many of which are assigned specific names in the canon. These include the weirding way, truthsense, and the methods of prana-bindu. Apart from their unique powers, an overview of their political and social history is of equal significance to understanding their true motives. Paul Atreides seems to be searching for answers, but the Bene Gesserit possesses the knowledge to save the human race.

The Origins Of The Bene Gesserit Explained

The Secretive Sisterhood Are One Of The Oldest Organizations In The Dune Universe

The history of Bene Gesserit is not that well-recorded in the Dune franchise, but the appendix of several revised editions of the first novel shed light on the exact chronology. The organization was likely a product of the chaos that resulted from the Butlerian Jihad. The Bene Gesserit was shaped further two decades later as its hierarchical structure was put into place around the Battle of Corin. It was mandated that the Reverend Mother Superior exercise ultimate control over the other Reverend Mothers.

The Bene Gesserit resorted to influencing politics from the background before Paul Atreides assumed leadership of House Atreides. They preferred to stay in this role for over a millennium. The group placed agents in all the important imperial courts and Houses to oversee negotiations. After the reign of Paul's son Leto Atreides II ended, the Sisterhood filled the resulting power vacuum. This role in politics resulted from the believing it was a way to protect humanity from a tyrant like Leto.

The Hierarchy Of Bene Gesserit

All Answer To The Reverend Mother Superior

The Bene Gesserit runs on a strict hierarchical basis with Reverend Mother Superior at the apex position. She inherits memories of her female predecessors as a part of the Other Memory. It is this knowledge that is ed on to her successor, whom the Reverend Mother Superior chooses before her death. The Kwitsatz Mother is of equal importance, although her role is limited to the breeding program leading to the birth of Kwisatz Haderarch, a male figure regarded as the "chosen one" to save humanity.

The Reverend Mothers, who are charged with different roles, such as gathering intelligence, building diplomatic relations, and breeding heirs.

The Bene Gesserit includes the Reverend Mothers, who are charged with different roles, such as gathering intelligence, building diplomatic relations, and breeding heirs. Truthsayers are Bene Gesserit who detect if a person is speaking the truth. Proctor Superiors run chapter houses. The vast majority of are Sisters who double as secret agents, royal concubines, and potential wives in Imperial Houses. At the lowest rung of the ladder are the new simply known as the Initiates.

What Are The Objectives Of The Bene Gesserit?

The Order Exists To Elevate Humanity

While the Bene Gesserit have ritualistic practices, they are extremely tactical and strategic when it comes to their political objectives. A primary goal has always been to advance humankind to levels of high intellectualism and stability. This was achieved by ensuring the birth of Dune's messiah figure, Kwisatz Haderach, a title assumed by Paul Atreides. Even though the Bene Gesserit's moves are often calculated with precision, Paul's birth and rise served as an unexpected hindrance to their plans.

Jessica Atreides intentionally gave birth to Paul instead of a daughter as the Reverend Mothers had predicted. As Paul has a child with Chani, a member of the Fremen tribe, their child bears an unpredictable genetic makeup that foils Bene Gesserit's plans. The Sisterhood realized it would have to prepare for unprecedented events such as the emergence of the all-female Honored Matres. To combat this rival group, their new objective was to restore the power they once had.

The Bene Gesserit Have Diverse Powers

Their Abilities Are Mysterical Bordering On Magic

Regardless of their rank in the organization's hierarchy, each member controls every muscle and fiber of their body as they are masters in the disciplines of prana (breath) and bindu (muscles). This allows the to simultaneously remain motionless, bend the last t of their little toe, and deliver blows with extreme physical force. Their powers are such that the Bene Gesserit martial arts are not even centered on armed strikes.

Instead, they can resort to unarmed attacks resulting in destructive physical blows and movement that's extremely fast and precise. This fighting style is usually referred to as "the weirding way" in the world of Dune. The Voice is another major power that allows the Bene Gesserit to manipulate people by giving them orders in particular sound frequencies that only they are resistant to.

They can alter their metabolism to even render poisonous substances harmless.

The Bene Gesserit trained as Truthsayers are particularly adept at analyzing people's speech and physical mannerisms to determine whether they're lying or speaking the truth. All the Sisters have significant and impressive control over their own bodies and fertility levels. They can alter their metabolism to even render poisonous substances harmless. These physical abilities make them integral to the Houses as poison tasters and concubines.

How Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two Explores The Bene Gesserit Further

The Modern Dune Franchise Heavily Focuses On The Bene Gesserit

With the Bene Gesserit introduced in crucial scenes of Dune: Part One, the sequel increases the focus on the ultimate goal of their breeding program, with Paul Atreides assuming his chosen role of the Kwisatz Haderach. However, as both of Villeneuve's films adapt the first Dune novel, there is no scope to explore the Bene Gesserit's future, which drastically changed with Leto's rise in Children of Dune.

The planned prequel series will likely take direct inspiration from the 2012 prequel novel Sisterhood of Dune by Bruce Hebert, Frank Hebert's eldest son. The book deals with their challenges in the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad, and should make for a riveting screen adaptation.

Dune: Prophecy Expands On The Bene Gesserit Lore

The HBO Spinoff Series Focuses On The Origins Of The Bene Gesserit

Following the success of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune: Part Two, HBO have moved ahead with the Dune: Prophecy, set for release in November 2024. Set thousands of years before the events of Dune, Dune: Prophecy will delve into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, bringing the first days of the mysterious sisterhood that have shaped the universe for millennia to screens for the first time.

The story of Dune: Prophecy is primarily based on one of the Dune novels not written by Frank Herbert (although, of course, the original Dune book is still a key piece of inspiration). Instead, Dune: Prophecy will adapt various events from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune. The Sisterhood of Dune novel takes place a few years after the Butlerian Jihad, many thousands of years before the events of Dune, and chronicles how the Bene Gesserit became the mysterious and impossibly influential organization Paul Atreides' mother, Lady Jessica, was a member of.

Dune: Prophecy takes place a full 10,000 years before Dune, and focuses on sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen (played by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, respectively). It's unknown exactly how closely Dune: Prophecy will follow Sisterhood of Dune, though it's already clear there will be significant changes, since Valya and Tula are far from central characters in the original novel. The Bene Gesserit are also somewhat established in Sisterhood of Dune, whereas Dune: Prophecy will show the origins of the order, so presumably takes place even earlier in the Dune timeline.

The Dune: Prophecy trailer has already established much of what viewers can expect from the prequel spin-off. It showcases a world that's clearly difference from the universe of Villeneuve's Dune movies, but that has many similarities too. The Bene Gesserit are one of the most mysterious aspects of the Dune franchise, and with the surge in popularity created by Villeneuve's movie trilogy, Dune: Prophecy is all-but-guaranteed to be a highly appreciated addition to the on-screen world adapted from Frank Herbert's original novel.