Editing Bene Gesserit (section)

{{short description|Fictional organization in the Dune franchise created by Frank Herbert}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{long plot|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox fictional element
|name            = Bene Gesserit
|image           = Mohiam+BeneGesserit-1984.jpg
|imagesize       = 250
|caption         = [[Gaius Helen Mohiam|Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam]] ([[Siân Phillips]]) and other Bene Gesserit from [[David Lynch]]'s ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'' (1984)
|source          = [[Dune (franchise)|Dune]]
|source_type     = franchise
|first           = [[Dune (novel)|Dune]]
|date            = 1965
|creator         = [[Frank Herbert]]
|genre           = Science fiction
|uses            =
|traits          = Superior physical and mental conditioning
|affiliation     =
}}
The '''Bene Gesserit''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɛ|n|iː|_|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|s|ər|ɪ|t}})<ref>{{cite video|title=Dune: Creating the Audiobooks|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan Audio]]|date=December 23, 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL9kkQ6Hw2s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XL9kkQ6Hw2s| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|time=4:13|medium=Official promotional video, includes images of Frank Herbert's pronunciation notes for some terms|access-date=January 23, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> are a group in [[Frank Herbert]]'s fictional [[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' universe]]. A powerful social, religious, and political force, the Bene Gesserit are described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain [[superhuman]] powers and abilities that seem magical to outsiders.<ref name="HBO Max">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dune-series-bene-gesserit-warnermedia-streaming-service-1203238799/|title=''Dune'' Series Ordered at WarnerMedia Streaming Service, Denis Villeneuve to Direct|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=June 10, 2019|access-date=June 10, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The group seeks to acquire power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path, a concerted effort planned and executed over millennia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a25889196/dune-rumors-news/|title=Everything We Know So Far About Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune''|first=Maude|last=Campbell|date=February 15, 2019|website=[[Popular Mechanics]]|access-date=April 26, 2019}}</ref>

Members who have acquired the breadth of Bene Gesserit abilities are called '''Reverend Mothers'''; some outsiders call them "witches" for their secretive nature and misunderstood powers. 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 teach women from Great Houses, and install some of their initiates as wives and concubines to their advantage.<ref name="Dune">{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Herbert |title=[[Dune (novel)|Dune]] |year=1965 }}</ref><ref name="God Emperor fee">{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |title=[[God Emperor of Dune]] |year=1981 }}</ref> Loyal only to themselves and their collective goals, Bene Gesserit sometimes feign other loyalties to attain their goals and avoid outside interference.

The Bene Gesserit are primary characters in all of Frank Herbert's  ''Dune'' novels, as well as the prequels and sequels written by [[Brian Herbert]] and [[Kevin J. Anderson]]. They also feature prominently in the multiple adaptations of the ''Dune'' series: the 1984 film ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]''; the 2000 TV miniseries ''[[Frank Herbert's Dune]]''; and its 2003 sequel, ''[[Frank Herbert's Children of Dune]]''; as well as the 2021 feature film ''[[Dune (2021 film)|Dune]]'', and its 2024 sequel, ''[[Dune: Part Two]]''. A television series based on the Bene Gesserit, called ''[[Dune: Prophecy]]'', debuted on November 17, 2024, on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]].

Some of their fictional powers are analyzed and deconstructed from a real-world scientific perspective in the book ''[[The Science of Dune]]'' (2008).<ref name="Science of Dune">{{cite book |title=[[The Science of Dune]]: An Unauthorized Exploration into the Real Science Behind Frank Herbert's Fictional Universe |publisher=[[BenBella Books]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-933771-28-1 |editor-last=Grazier |editor-first=Kevin R. |editor-link=Kevin Grazier |series=Psychology of Popular Culture |location=Dallas, TX}}</ref><ref name="SmartPopBooks">{{cite web |date=January 2008 |title=''The Science of Dune'' |url=http://www.smartpopbooks.com/book/the-science-of-dune |access-date=September 13, 2010 |publisher=Smart Pop Books}}</ref><ref name="DailyCamera">{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Clay |date=March 14, 2008 |title=Review: Exploring Frank Herbert's 'Duniverse' |url=http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/mar/14/exploring-duniverse-of-frank-herbert/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319013644/http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/mar/14/exploring-duniverse-of-frank-herbert/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2008 |website=Daily Camera}}</ref>