Bene Gesserit
The Bene Gesserit are an organization that features in the Dune universe.
Contents |
History
The Bene Gesserit were a sisterhood of female adherents who served in the Old Empire which ruled the known universe. Their origins were traced to the Sorceresses of Rossak who possessed destructive telekinetic powers with these women possessing condudcting a breeding plan to create more powerful telepaths.
For millennia, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood chose to exercise its power by acting in the background of imperial politics. Through their breeding program, their placement of agents in the imperial court and Great Houses, and their provision of services. Examples being, the training of noble females, mediation in disputes, and overseers of negotiations, the Bene Gesserit carved out a significant niche in the structure of the Imperium. They were also silent partners in CHOAM along with the Bene Tleilax. This all changed when House Atreides wrested the imperial throne from House Corrino. After the reign of Paul Atreides and his son Leto Atreides II, there came into existence a power vacuum. This vacuum was filled by both the Bene Gesserit and Bene Tleilax, who sought to maintain control over the remnants of the empire after humanity exploded across the universe in The Scattering. The Bene Gesserit came to believe that if they were to avoid coming under another tyrant, they would have to take a more active role in politics and universal events.
Overview
In appearance, the Bene Gesserit were an all-female order and sisterhood of humans.
Unlike the Spacing Guild, the sisterhood were said to perform an entirely different function.
The Bene Gesserit were focused on acquiring more power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path. Sometimes called 'witches' due to their secretive nature and misunderstood powers, the Bene Gesserit are loyal only to themselves and their collective goals. However, to attain their goals and avoid outside interference, they often screen themselves with the illusion of being loyal to other groups or individuals. Their every move is calculated toward a result. As the skills of a Bene Gesserit are as desirable as an alliance with the Sisterhood itself, they are able to charge a fee to school the women from Great Houses, and install some of their initiates as wives and concubines to their advantage.
Their training included the superior combat skills and precise physiological control allowing them to direct the control over conception and embryotic sex determination. In addition, they could control their own aging process and even had the ability to render poisons harmless within their own bodies.
A notable ability performed by the sisters was a talent called the Voice. This power allowed them to influence people directly by giving them orders with a certain sound frequency. When a person is ordered to do something by the use of Voice it is almost impossible not to comply. A Bene Gesserit was trained to resist the Voice. The downside of it was the phenomenon of the entire population becoming immune to it if The Voice is being overly used upon a population. Mentats can especially become immune to the Voice if he understands how it works.
Ranks within the Bene Gesserit included:
- Mother Superior :
- Kwisatz Mother :
- Reverend Mother :
- Proctor Superiors :
- Truthsayer :
- Sister :
Graduates from their sisterhood were seen as fit mates for Emperors.
Their base of power was the Mother School which was situated on the planet Wallach IX.
Members
- Gaius Helen Mohiam :
- Lucilla :
- Anirul :
- Bellonda :
- Lady Jessica :
Notes
- The Bene Gesserit was created by Frank Herbert where they featured in the Dune universe.
In other media
Television
Films
Video games
Appearances
- Dune: (1965)
External Links
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