DUNE: What Is ‘The Voice’ and How Does It Work?

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As a seasoned fan of the Dune universe and having delved into its intricate lore for years, I must say that Desmond Hart’s resistance to the Voice in Dune: Prophecy is nothing short of extraordinary. His ability to withstand the Sisterhood’s most powerful tools, including Truthsaying and the Voice, makes him an enigmatic figure that even Raquella and Valya would find hard to ignore.

In the narrative of Dune, the unique Voice employed by the Bene Gesserit has significantly shaped events since the story’s inception. Against the Sisterhood’s edicts, Lady Jessica imparted this skill to her son Paul Atreides. Rev. Mother Mohiam subsequently utilized it to coerce the stubborn young man into submission before subjecting him to the Gom Jabbar. This Voice also highlighted Paul’s growing strength when he employed it against Mohiam herself. However, in the second episode of Dune: Prophecy, Desmond Hart managed to disregard Valya – the source of this powerful vocal ability – when she attempted to use it on him.

What’s the method or trick he used for that? To grasp this, let’s first delve into the nature and functioning of the Bene Gesserit’s Voice ability.

What Is the “Voice” Used by the Bene Gesserit in Dune?

In the back of Frank Herbert’s book, “Dune”, this is how the term ‘Voice’ is officially defined in the glossary:

  • Voice – that combined training originated by the Bene Gesserit which permits an adept to control others merely by selected tone shadings of the voice

Skilled Bene Gesserit sisters, masters in both psychology and physiology who possess near-unmatched control over their bodies, are able to influence others through the artful alteration of their speech tones and demeanor. This technique, known as The Voice, taps into a person’s deeper, instinctual brain regions; it stirs their subconscious impulses, causing them to follow the speaker’s commands willingly. The Voice has the power to compel a reluctant subject to perform actions they ordinarily wouldn’t, such as revealing hidden truths or even harming themselves.

Due to the frequent need for intense modulation, which is rooted in real-world science and human psychology, live-action adaptations sometimes make it sound frightening and unnatural. Yet, The Voice encompasses a broad array of overtones across various frequency ranges. It’s also capable of being employed in much subtler, more natural ways.

Who Created the Voice on Dune: Prophecy?

In the debut episode of ‘Dune: Prophecy’, Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul made her screen appearance. She was the founder and head of the Sisterhood, which eventually evolved into the Bene Gesserit. On her deathbed, she held the opinion that Valya Harkonnen would be ideal for continuing the group’s objectives, among them a covert breeding program aimed at producing superior leaders for mankind.

In their own words, Raquella’s daughter, Dorotea, was against interfering with higher powers and intended to annihilate the secret blueprint for reproduction created by the group. However, when Dorotea disregarded Valya’s entreaties to halt her actions, Valya employed a unique ability she had recently acquired – the Voice – on her fellow sister. Valya expressed that she wished to instruct Dorotea in this newfound skill, but instead, she utilized it to compel Dorotea to take her own life. With Dorotea gone, Valya assumed the role of Mother Superior and the breeding program resumed its operations.

Can Anyone Ignore or Resist the Voice in Dune?

Many people are vulnerable to the influence of a certain Voice, but some individuals possess the strength and skills to resist it without needing special tools or gadgets that muffle or block its sound. These resilient individuals may develop enough innate talent, training, and experience to minimize the Voice’s power or completely disregard it.

In Herbert’s novel Lady Jessica perceives that attempting to use the Voice on Gurney Halleck would be futile, and her reasoning shows why certain individuals are resistant to the Bene Gesserit’s verbal control. During a tense instance when Gurney suspects Jessica has deceived House Atreides, she reflects, “Here was no man easily overpowered. Here was a warrior cautious of the Voice, vigilant against every combat tactic, cautious of every trick involving death and violence. Here was a weapon that Jessica herself had helped craft with subtle nudges and hints.” Since Gurney can suppress his more instinctual responses, Jessica decides not to employ the Voice. (Although he remains wary enough about it, he threatens to kill her if she doesn’t speak in a monotonous tone.)

Sisters may employ the Voice sparingly as they don’t always use it on someone, and Lady Jessica felt using it on Duke Leto would constitute a severe breach of trust. In general, Bene Gesserit were cautious not to rely too heavily on this potent tool for fear that its overuse could diminish its effectiveness.

How Was Desmond Hart Able to Resist the Voice on Dune: Prophecy?

Desmond managed to disregard the Voice even though it originated from Valya Harkonnen, the one who’d activated it against her own sister. He stood firm against the Voice she had employed.

Unlike Gurney, it doesn’t appear that Desmond Hart’s abilities are simply due to a strong will or prior experience. This extraordinary soldier of the Imperium claims he was reborn from the sands of Arrakis, but not in the typical way one might survive a sandstorm. Instead, a sandworm is said to have eaten him. The mystery remains as to how Desmond Hart managed to endure Shai-Hulud, yet it’s clear he emerged with an extraordinary, terrifying “great power.” He has the ability to incinerate someone from within using only his mind. Remarkably, Desmond can also do this across great distances of time and space. As he burned young Pruwet Richese standing before him, his telekinesis allowed him to simultaneously burn Mother Kasha on the other side of the galaxy.

In ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ episode two unveiled more of the extraordinary powers Desmond Hart gained from within the sandworm. He’s now immune to even the most formidable talents and abilities wielded by the Sisterhood, leaving them bewildered. When Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen employed her Truthsaying on the soldier, she was momentarily thrown off-guard. Yet, what truly alarmed her was when Hart completely withstood the Voice.

Desmond Hart harbors intense disdain towards the Sisterhood, viewing it as a clandestine organization aiming to manipulate mankind from behind the scenes. His goal is to eradicate completely any progress made by Raquella and Valya. This powerful soldier poses a significant danger to those who will eventually become part of the Bene Gesserit, and this could potentially be their key to defeating him.

They’ll need to discover different methods to thwart him. However, luckily for Valya and her siblings, the Voice remains effective against everyone else, except for him.

As a passionate fan, let me share that the captivating series “Dune: Prophecy” hails from the creative mind of Legendary Entertainment, with TopMob being an integral part of their digital network family.

Mikey Walsh serves as a staff writer at TopMob. He can be found on Bluesky under the handle @burgermike, and he’s also recognized for his rankings of the Targaryen kings.

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2024-11-25 06:33