Is the Bene Gesserit in 'Dune' Feminist?

Spoilers

In the male-dominated universe of Dune, which sprawls across novels and films, I’m not really into the intricate world-building, the grand spectacle of Fremen riding sandworms, or the political maneuverings of a civilization ten thousand years into the future. No, what truly captivates me are the compelling female characters woven into this narrative, and more importantly, the underlying ideas and beliefs that led the author to bring them to life. In Dune, Frank Herbert masterfully crafts a plethora of female characters—Lady Jessica, the multifaceted consort; Chani, the indomitable warrior and Alia Atreides, a figure of immense power. Yet, these women, as pivotal as they are, largely function within the sphere of Paul's life—as his mother, lover, and sister. Among them, Lady Jessica invites the most scrutiny, not for her roles as the Duke's concubine and the mother of the prophesied one, but as a member of the enigmatic Bene Gesserit—an organization wielding substantial influence in the Dune universe.

The mysterious and powerful Bene Gesserit have ignited various interpretations. Some posit that their existence carries a feminist undertone, lauding Dune for its progressive gender politics. They argue that the autonomy and control that the Bene Gesserit exert in this male-dominated universe serve as a tribute to female strength and wisdom, challenging patriarchal structures and illustrating feminism in Dune.

However, I stand resolutely against this interpretation. Despite the clear autonomy and power of the Bene Gesserit, their aims and strategies, in my eyes, they do not resonate with the tenets of feminism. The Bene Gesserit's objective isn't the advancement of women's liberation and equality, but the accumulation and consolidation of power, typically by deceit, manipulation, and exploitation—tactics far removed from the ideals of unity and equality that form the bedrock of my understanding of feminism. Furthermore, the Bene Gesserit's intense focus and exploitation of female reproductive capabilities mirror the control exerted on women's bodies and reproductive rights in our real-world patriarchal society—underscoring a deep-seated fear of female reproductive power. Therefore, I am going to deeply examine the nature of the Bene Gesserit and whether their existence denotes any signs of feminism in Dune throughout this article.

Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two

The Bene Gesserit Acting in Secret

The Bene Gesserit Order, succinctly termed as the Bene Gesserit or the Sisterhood, stands as a formidable and proficient force in the Dune universe. They unequivocally rank among the principal cosmic entities, with all female members known as the "Sisters". They are impressively acute, skilled in mind manipulation and adept in politics, science, psychology, martial arts, and more. One of their goals is to guide political narratives by controlling human reproduction and manipulating specific genetic traits to produce the so-called "Kwisatz Haderach", a being who "transcend humanity", in pursuit of their envisioned future.

Here I want to mention Frank Herbert's inspiration for the Bene Gesserit—his aunts. According to his biography, these Irish Catholics attempted to instill their religious convictions in him and he perceived them as female Jesuits. Obviously, it’s more than a mere coincidence that Gesserit and Jesuit are similar, both phonetically and religiously. The costume design of the Sisterhood is also evidence of this, with the veils and flowing robes reminiscent of Burqa—the traditional Islamic women's wear. The deep-seated tone of religiousness associated with the Bene Gesserit distinguishes it from usual feminist organizations.

Dune (2021)

Though the Bene Gesserit assume a critical role in the universe, they always hide behind the scenes, their targets and strategies veiled in secrecy. This enigmatic aura renders the Bene Gesserit a captivating entity. Their members adhere to rigorous disciplinary norms and standards, necessitating unyielding obedience to leadership, preservation of secrecy, and readiness to relinquish personal aspirations for the collective good. While these norms foster solidarity and efficiency within the order, they also confer immense power and control upon the Bene Gesserit leadership. Any signs of disobedience can result in death, as evidenced by the fate of the Atreides family following Lady Jessica's decision to bear a son rather than a daughter.

The Bene Gesserit's secrecy reminds me of something about the creators of the Dune series. Beverly Herbert, Frank Herbert's wife, played an instrumental role in Dune's creation, despite not receiving formal acknowledgment as a co-author. Her invaluable insights and feedback have significant influence on the book's development. Some argue that her role in the Dune series was actually far more substantial, yet her contribution may have been underestimated. This oversight paints an intriguing parallel to the Bene Gesserit's existence in the Dune universe, which function behind the scenes yet often remain overlooked.

Just like the Bene Gesserit, Beverly Herbert wielded power and influence, yet her name is often consigned to oblivion. This is also the reality of many women, whose contributions are often discounted or marginalized or even remain unacknowledged. In Dune, prohibited from openly participating in political games, the Bene Gesserit opt to advance their agendas from the shadows. However, the men in power (and even the creators of the work, I think), who have dirty hands themselves, perceive the Sisterhood's covert operations as a power grab, leading to further oppression and stigmatization of the women.

Dune (1984)
Dune (1984)

The Unscrupulous Bene Gesserit

Although I think the rulers in Dune and even the creators might harbor biases against the Bene Gesserit, this doesn't justify any possibility of Bene Gesserit as a bona fide feminist entity. They may advocate for the evolution of the human race, but their operations are all about maintaining their own power and influence. By all kinds of political and religious means, they try to control the birth of the future savior, Kwisatz Haderach, thereby advancing their clandestine political agenda. Despite the portrayal of its members as formidable, independent women, their actions and objectives often conflict with genuine feminist principles. At its core, the Bene Gesserit is an organization built for power and control instead of a true feminist group, with the breeding program as the most emblematic evidence.

In Dune, Bene Gesserit members are endowed with Fertility Control abilities, able to control their menstrual cycles, choose the time of conception, and predetermine the sex of their babies. Thus, they are able to give birth at the required time and place as prescribed by the breeding program. As in Dune: Part Two, Lady Margot Fenring strictly adheres to the Bene Gesserit's directives, engaging in sexual relations with Feyd-Rautha and deciding to birth a daughter. All Sisters members have to give up personal choice and autonomy, serving as instruments for the organization's objectives. Their bodies and fertility are regarded as organizational assets, not individual rights.

Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two

At first glance, the Bene Gesserit's breeding program may appear to be a power play by a female organization exerting control over reproduction. Yet, it is actually a mirror reflecting the constraints on female autonomy and choice imposed by a male-dominated culture, a subjugation of the female body, and an intense apprehension of female fertility. Throughout the annals of history and all over the world, humans have enforced female reproduction and limited it, trampling upon women's reproductive rights (as do the abortion bans nowadays). Margaret Atwood, in her striking novel The Handmaid’s Tale, illustrates a world where women are divested of freedom and rights and diminished to anonymous breeding machines. Yet, she emphatically contends that everything in her novels could transpire, and may even have already transpired, hence, they aren't mere fragments of science fiction. The premise of the Bene Gesserit's breeding program amplifies this harrowing reality that the female body has been perennially perceived as a resource ripe for exploitation and control.

When Dune places a female organization at the forefront of deprivation and control, supplanting the male-dominated society - let’s put aside the paradox of a female organization depriving and controlling itself - the Bene Gesserit's breeding program metamorphoses into an enormous conspiracy capable of shifting the universe's destiny. I can’t deny that it manifests male fright of female fertility, particularly when women themselves hold sway over it.

To conclude, though seemingly feminist in some way, at its very core, the Bene Gesserit remains a variant of the established order rather than genuine liberation for women. It is rather an amplification and reflection of the extant world order and patriarchal social norms, showcasing a divergent power dynamic through female characters. Therefore, we must scrutinize the Bene Gesserit with a more nuanced perspective, not merely labelling it as a feminist group in a simplistic sense. We must appreciate its intricacies and the multiple significances it harbors, as opposed to solely focusing on gender concepts. This will not only facilitate a better understanding of the characters and organizations in the Dune universe but also spur us to ponder over contemporary gender and power dynamics more profoundly.

Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two

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