Dune presents a fascinating science fiction universe. While some of his diction can be a bit messy, Frank Herbert set up many of the most engaging narrative details in the history of the genre. From the shields that necessitate close-quarters combat to the spice that controls the universe, Dune is a franchise with endless ideas to explore. The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood isn’t the most central element, but they will take the spotlight in Dune: Prophecy. Beyond their performances in the films, what are the sisters capable of?
Dune: Prophecy is a prequel series set before Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune. The series joined Legendary’s upcoming slate in 2019. Its original title was Dune: Sisterhood, drawing attention to the series’ focus on the Bene Gesserit. The show will follow Valya and Tula Harkonnen, early members of House Harkonnen and founders of the Sisterhood. It’s an in-depth look into the development of the organization that sets forth the path that ends with Paul Atreides. Very few prequels leap 10,000 years into the past, but the Sisterhood plans in centuries.
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How do the Dune movies depict Bene Gesserit powers?
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films depict the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood in a few different key ways. Lady Jessica Atreides is the central figure representing the group. Her position in the story shifts dramatically between the first two films. The primary superhuman gift fans see the sisters exhibit is the Voice. One of the first film’s earliest scenes sees Jessica push Paul to demonstrate his mastery over the technique. The Voice is a set of unique tonal manipulations that allow a user to compel obedience in a subject. The film has several auditory effects that express its effectiveness. Paul’s gradual grasp of the Voice mirrors his acquiescence to Jessica’s prophecy. The Sisterhood’s other powers are a bit more subtle.
The Dune films briefly depict the idea of the Other Memory. Bene Gesserit Reverend Mothers can draw from the experiences of every woman along their genetic line. Jessica gains this power when she consumes the Water of Life and becomes the Reverend Mother of Sietch Tabr. This experience fundamentally changes Jessica, but the voice in her head tends to come from her unborn daughter, Alia. The same scene unpacks another important Bene Gesserit ability. Jessica and her fellow sisters can alter the chemistry of anything inside their body. With their mastery of organic control, sisters can render poisonous substances harmless. This power extends beyond its primary use, surviving the Water of Life, but the film leaves most of those abilities alone. Their mastery of seduction techniques and control over their own pregnancies arguably also fit the bill. They have a lot more to offer in the books.
Other Bene Gesserit Powers
The Sisterhood has a selection of other gifts that come up in the books and other adaptations.
What is prana-bindu?
Denis Villeneuve cut down on a lot of non-English words in his version of Dune. Prana-bindu is a set of physiological techniques that allow sisters to independently command every cell of their body. They can control every muscle, organ, and blood vessel in their body with surgical precision. This extends to their hearts and brains. Prana-bindu has a ton of uses. A sister can slip out of practically any form of containment, easily bending and reshaping their joints to escape without biting anything off. If Jessica had to survive for a decade in the deserts of Arrakis, she could practically deactivate her hunger and thirst to push far beyond most humans’ ability to survive. A trained sister can make their heartbeat so faint and infrequent that they appear dead, or switch off their heart altogether for a painless suicide.
Prana-bindu also enables Bene Gesserit sisters to wield a unique martial art called the weirding way. Fremen came up with the title, commenting on the rare ability that can match their desert power. The weirding way features a selection of techniques that seem impossible to most. Elements of the weirding way rely on a form of altered perception. Sisters simply know that their intentions have already occurred, allowing them to essentially place themselves in another location in space through little more than foresight. They seem to teleport and strike from impossible angles, making them almost unbeatable.
What is truthsense?
One of the more on-the-nose power names, trained Bene Gesserit sisters can study microexpressions and detect lies with unerring accuracy. A subgroup of sisters called Truthsayers are the primary users of truthsense. It’s a job that many sisters take on. This specific talent encouraged many nobles throughout the Imperium and Great Houses to take Bene Gesserit sisters as concubines. This power boils down to enhanced observation, which is a learned skill and an inherited gift. Some unrelated humans could develop truthsense through some combination of luck and talent. Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam suggests that Paul could naturally develop truthsense.
What is simulflow?
The last notable Bene Gesserit power from the books is essentially an advanced form of multitasking. Sisters can simultaneously maintain multiple trains of thought without losing focus on any particular topic. Bene Gesserit Reverend Mothers are some of the most intelligent beings in the galaxy through a combination of Other Memory and simulflow. The Other Memory grants sisters instant access to an endless library of knowledge from several previous generations. Simulflow allows them to acknowledge the input of every previous Reverend Mother while holding their own identity.
Dune plays with a few fascinating superhuman powers. Psychic elements keep things interesting in a world that features a drug that can help people see into the future. The average Bene Gesserit adept can control every aspect of their body, determine truth from lies, fight better than almost anyone, and issue a command that overwrites freewill. Perhaps Dune: Prophecy will grant the Sisterhood another chance to shine.
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