Dune: Part Twointroduces numerous changes from the source material, the most critical among these pertaining toLady Jessica of the Bene Gesserit (Rebecca Ferguson).Jessica has a far more active role than her character in the books,manipulating and pulling the strings behind the scenes to make her the real villain of the movie. Following on its successful counterpart from 2021, Director Denis Villeneuve made the executive decision to split Frank Herbert’s original 1965 story into multiple parts to better elevate the narrative for the big screen.
Villeneuve translatedDune’s source material well, including the book’s sinister villain, Vladimir Harkonnen, Baron of House Harkonnen (Stellen Skarsgård). Vladimir Harkonnen’s presence is eerie, and his relationship with hisnephew Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen(Austin Butler) is outwardly perverse, making them both the obvious choices for the main villain. However, there’s something more disturbing about Lady Jessica’s nefarious nature that earns her the title of true villain. Her exploitation of Paul and the sacred religions makes it abundantly clear by the end ofDune: Part TwothatLady Jessica is a more sinister presence in the world of Arrakis.
Dune 2 Makes Jessica The Main Villain
Lady Jessica’s Relationship With Paul Atreides Becomes Far More Antagonistic.
Duneestablishes the relationship between Jessica and Paul and wields their bond against the forces of the Emperor after Jessica’s husband, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Issac) is slaughtered.Undeterred by these events, Villeneuve usesPart Twoto set out a more imperative role for Lady Jessica and utilizes her antagonistic relationship with Paulfor these ends. Jessica’s character triggers the events that will lead to Paul accepting his destiny and rise to Emperor. Her actions towards her son become increasingly hostile asDune: Part Twoforges Lady Jessica as the villain.
Lady Jessica assumes the duty ofReverend Mother following the events of the bookinDune: Part Two, in a twist of fate that sees her seize religious leadership with the sole intent of having her son claim dominion over the universe. She becomes more deceitful in her manipulation of Paul throughout the second installment, which includesher desire for Paul to adopt methods of terror and extremism in his rule, as Jessica believes this is the doctrine that will shape the new world.
Jessica wields the power of the Reverend Mother unlawfullywhile threatening Paul as a weapon of mass destruction for her own vanity.
Similar to Baron Harkonnen, who exercises a tyrannical rule from Giedi Prime, the movies concentrate their efforts further on Jessica’s villain arc. On multiple occasions in the film, Jessica uses her inner mind-control voice to engineer her schemes and, at one particular moment, sheinfringes on the trial conditions for the Water of Life by concealing her pregnancy to attain a higher power.
In the books, Jessica drinks the Water of Life to become Reverend Mother, conscious of her pregnancy but unaware of the consequences it will have on the unborn child. In Villeneuve’s films, Lady Jessica drinks from the poison to deliberately change Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy), and soon discovers the consequential visions that reveal to her that Baron Harkonnen is her father.Jessicawields the power of the Reverend Mother unlawfullywhile threatening Paul as a weapon of mass destruction for her own vanity.
How Dune 2 Changes Jessica’s Book Role
Denis Villeneuve Delayed Alia’s Birth To IntensifyDune’sNarrative For Jessica and Paul.
One of the key differences in Herbert’s novel is Jessica’s more quiet role. In the books, once she can achieve the status of Reverend Mother,Jessica’s character takes a step back to allow Paul to gain the favor of the Fremenas he is accepted as their prophet. Jessica births Alia, who is fully conscious at the time of birth and has the abilities of an adult Bene Gesserit, after she is exposed to the Water of Life in the womb.
Villeneuve’s story modifies Jessica’s role successfully, prolonging her pregnancy and ultimately changes Alia’s role in the second part to retain her as a key element of the story.Dune: Part Twohas Jessica communicating with the embryo once she has drunk the Water of Life, which elevates Jessica’s role in the movie, and her quest for power. Unquestionably, this is an incredibly wise move from the director as it now sets up the significance of Alia’s arrival inPart Three, indicating thatDune’s prophecy timelinecan set up a better future than the books.
Jessica’s Changed Dune 2 Role Predicts The Characters' Future
Jessica’s major role inDune: Part Twoforeshadows future events inThe Children of Dune.
As the more influential figure inDune: Part Twothan in the novel, Jessica’s character holds an array of potential for the future of Arrakis.Jessica’s Reverend Mother’s role inPart Twolays the groundwork for the events that unfold throughout theDunesaga, particularly withinThe Children of Dune, which may predict the characters' future.
Jessica’s changed role inDune: Part Twois central in foreshadowing the complexities between power and destiny within the series.
InDune: Part Two, Jessica’s position as the Fremen’s Reverend Mother underscores the intense control she has over Paul and on the shaping of his destiny. Alongside the Bene Gesserit’s manipulation of the bloodlines, her dishonorable guidance foreshadows the emergence of Paul as the Kwisatz Haderach, the divine being the Bene Gesserit has been longing for. This foreshadows later complexities within the narrative ofThe Children of Duneinvolving Paul and Chani’s (Zendaya) children, such as their son, Leto II, who forces the Bene Gesserit’s plans beyond the intended methods, andultimately leads to his transformation into the God Emperor.
Of course, Jessica’s manipulation of Paul inPart Twomay also predict the events of their children’s future. In the novel, Lady Jessica claims the same authority over Paul’s children, Leto II and Ghanima, by venturing back to Arrakisto see if the pair can be returned to the control of the Sisterhood. One thing is certain: Jessica’s changed role inDune: Part Twois central in foreshadowing the complexities between power and destiny within the series, something to be anticipated inDenis Villeneuve’s franchise future.
