Kwisatz Haderach
The Kwisatz Haderach is a title that features in Dune.
Contents |
History
Kwisatz Haderach was a term given to a prophecised individual that would emerge as a result of the Bene Gesserit breeding program. The Bene Gesserit were a matriarchal secret society that operated within the Old Empire of the Padishah Emperor. Through the Spice Melange allowed them to unlock their genetic memory but only on their maternal side. Thus, they looked to breed a male counterpart that would be able to access both sets of genetic memories that were normally inaccessible to them. This in turn would allow the person to see all possible futures and bring about select threads of time through manipulation of events. It was believed that such an individual would ensure that the Bene Gesserit would become the most powerful faction within the Imperium. To bring about this goal, they engaged in a long term breeding program across centuries where they preserved important bloodlines whilst secretly trying to engineer the Kwisatz Haderach.
One of the products of their breeding program was the Lady Jessica who was chosen to be the concubine of Duke Leto Atreides of House Atreides. She was tasked with bearing him a daughter who was intended to wed Feyd-Rautha of House Harkonnen in order to heal the generations old rift between the two noble houses. It was also believed that this union of the two family lines would help in bringing about the birth of the Kwisatz Haderach. However, Jessica had fallen in love with Leto and knew of his desire for a son leading to her disobeying the Reverend Mother by producing a male heir who was named Paul Atreides. At first, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood were furious with Jessica at her act of disobedience and the audacity when they thought that she could birth the Kwisatz Haderach. However, they came to be intrigued at the potential within Paul Atreides and instead came to observe him for a time.
It was eventually revealed that Paul Atreides had manifested as the Kwisatz Haderach with this occurring a generation earlier than expected. Unprepared for his early arrival, the Bene Gesserit fail to control the young man as planned; by seizing control of the planet Arrakis and the all-important spice melange, Paul manages to seize control of the Known Universe. The very superbeing for whom the Bene Gesserit had schemed and waited becomes the instrument by which their order is diminished.
Overview
In appearance, the Kwisatz Haderach was a title given to a human who had access to the genetic memory of both of sides of their ancestors and thus could see the future. The term was an old Chakobsa word that translated literally to meaning "Shortening of the Way".
The label was applied by the Bene Gesserit to the unknown for which they sought a genetic solution: a male Bene Gesserit whose organic mental powers would bridge space and time.
Members
- Paul Atreides : son of Duke Leto Atreides and his concubine the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica where he unwittingly emerged as the Kwisatz Haderach on Arrakis following exposure to the Spice Melange.
- Leto II Atreides :
- Duncan Idaho :
Notes
- The Kwisatz Haderach was created by Frank Herbert where they featured in the Dune universe.
- The phrase "Kwisatz Haderach" bears close resemblance to the Hebrew phrase "Kefitzat Haderech" (literally: "Contraction of the Way"), a Kabbalic term related to teleportation.
In other media
Television
Films
- In Dune, the Kwisatz Haderach was referenced in the setting of the 2021 live-action reboot film.
Video games
Appearances
- Dune:
External Link
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