What Happens To Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica In The Dune Books

This post contains spoilers for the "Dune" book series.

In Denis Villneuve's "Dune: Part Two," Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) undergoes a startling transformation. As soon as she ingests the mysterious Water of Life, Jessica uses her status as the new Reverend Mother to legitimize the Bene Gesserit propaganda of the destiny-altering Kwisatz Haderach. She casts her son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) as a messiah figure, which the Fremen interpret as the Lisan al Gaib of their messianic prophecies (which, unbeknownst to them, is also a part of Bene Gesserit religious propaganda). Jessica's transformation is the turning point in Villeneuve's sequel, as her once-sincere intentions twist into deceit and extremism, which she uses as fuel to help Paul reshape Arrakis.

While Villeneuve's "Dune" series is yet to complete Jessica's arc in this sweeping saga, even this nuanced on-screen portrayal only paints half a picture. Frank Herbert's "Dune" opens with Lady Jessica waking 15-year-old Paul for the fateful Gom Jabbar trial that will determine whether he is worthy, and this opening passage establishes Jessica's character vividly. During her conversation with Gaius Helen Mohiam, the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, we learn that she went against Bene Gesserit's orders to birth a daughter with Duke Leto Atreides, and conceived Paul out of her own will. Even when Mohiam rebukes her, Jessica firmly defends her choice to birth Paul, even though the organization she is part of doesn't carve space for individual desires and autonomy. She loves Duke Leto — a blasphemy in the context of Bene Gesserit's genetic breeding program — and it is only a matter of time before she chooses to forge her own path.

Villeneuve's version of this scene plays out a bit differently, as we are not privy to Jessica's thoughts, except for her maternal anxiety and fear during the trial. These slight variations are understandable — necessary even — as on-screen Jessica needs to convey a lot within a short time. With that in mind, let's take a look at how Herbert paints Jessica throughout the "Dune" saga.

A major distinction between book and film Jessica is that Villeneuve frames a chunk of her actions through doubt and suspicion. In the first "Dune" film, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) asks Jessica whether she will protect her son, hinting that her loyalties diverge as per her dual roles as Paul's mother and a Bene Gesserit priestess. Later on, after Leto's death, Paul accuses Jessica of conceiving him as a "freak" in his rage and grief, and she seems guilty, as she can see how heavily the burden weighs on her son. The scene also omits the reveal that Jessica is Baron Harkonnen's daughter, as this twist is reserved for a more dramatic climax in "Part Two," allowing us to focus solely on Paul and Jessica's complicated dynamic. He detests that she has burdened him with such terrible purpose, but is also aware that her choices have been guided by love and an instinct to protect.

Herbert's Jessica makes her presence felt in quieter, less dramatic ways, such as when she questions the logic behind watering the date palms on Arakkis even when the local populace often dies due to dehydration. This discussion takes place between Jessica and Dr. Yueh, where the former expresses that such practices (rooted in religious belief) are wasteful in a place where water is a precious resource. In Villeneuve's film, this role is given to Paul, as more time is devoted to fleshing out his outlook towards the Fremen and their customs. Another distinction in Herbert's books is that Jessica does not share a contentious relationship with Chani at any point, as she actively encourages her to stay by Paul's side after he marries Irulan for political reasons. "I do love your Chani. I accept her," she tells Paul at one point, as she understands how powerful a force love can be.

Moreover, when Jessica's daughter, Alia, is changed by the Water of Life in her womb, she accepts the fact that she must birth an Abomination (unstable individuals with unlocked genetic memory) as Alia is her last link to Leto. This isn't explicitly spelled out by Herbert, but it is clear that Jessica hopes against hope that Alia will somehow escape her fate of being an Abomination, just like how she believes Paul is the fated Kwisatz Haderach. Unfortunately, these hopes end in tragedy.

After Paul's ascension to the throne, Jessica fulfills several administrative roles after the Atreides travel to visit their home planet, Caladan, which she presides over as Duchess. Ruling along with Gurney Halleck, Jessica strengthens the ethos of fairness in Caladan by evoking a contrast to Giedi Prime, where the Harkonnens rule to oppress and subjugate. We are privy to Jessica's emotions as a person who isn't fulfilling some kind of royal or religious role during this time, as she is presented as someone who adores the local street traditions of the planet. A crucial link between Jessica and one of the local Caladan traditions — dubbed The Empty Man — is drawn to drive the "Dune" saga to its most significant climax.

In Villeneuve's "Part Two," Jessica plays a more direct, nefarious role during Paul's ascension to Messiah, whereas the book paints her as a less involved figure who is helplessly in opposition to his unchecked power, but is hopeful that he will do the right thing. When Alia follows in similar footsteps and declares herself Mahdinate (the modified version of the Fremen term, Mahdi), Jessica completely retreats to Caladan, as she knows she thinks she can do little to stop such madness. This refusal to intervene comes at a great cost: Paul is stabbed to death by Alia's priests and Alia leaps off a window to her death as a last-ditch attempt to retain autonomy (as she was being possessed by her deceased grandfather). Jessica is horrified beyond measure, as both of her children succumb to different shades of fanaticism and subsequent tragedy. The cycle continues with her grandchildren, with disastrous effects.

Jessica returns to the ways of the Bene Gesserit and trains Farad'n Corrino (who would later become the exclusive concubine to Padishah Empress Ghanima Atreides) in its ways, once again influencing events that inadvertently affect future generations. Although Jessica lives long and dies a natural death, her legacy is that of shame and caution. The Bene Gesserit brands her actions as "the Jessica Crime," which becomes a cautionary lesson taught to prevent the downfall of humanity.