Margot Fenring

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Margot Fenring
The Heir of Caladan (2022)
Created byFrank Herbert
Portrayed byLéa Seydoux (Dune: Part Two)
In-universe information
AffiliationBene Gesserit
SpouseCount Hasimir Fenring
ChildrenMarie Fenring

Margot, Lady Fenring is a fictional character from the

Shaddam IV
, but is loyal to the Sisterhood.

Léa Seydoux portrays Margot in Denis Villeneuve's 2024 film Dune: Part Two.

Description

Margot is one of the Bene Gesserit, a secretive matriarchal order who have achieved superhuman abilities through mental and physical conditioning, and the use of the drug melange.[1] Under the guise of humbly "serving" the Empire, the Sisterhood is in fact a major power in the universe, using its many areas of influence to subtly guide humanity along the path of its own plan for humanity's future.[2] To this end, the Bene Gesserit install some of their initiates in noble families as wives and concubines to their advantage.[3][4]

Margot's Bene Gesserit abilities include acute observation and awareness, seduction and

sexual imprinting, and precise control of her body chemistry, which allows her to ensure conception and choose the sex of the child.[1] Despite general prohibitions against sharing Bene Gesserit skills with males, Margot has trained her husband Count Fenring, who is sympathetic to the goals of the Bene Gesserit, in the acute observation practiced by the Sisterhood.[3]

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen describes Margot in Dune:

He stared at the Lady Fenring. She was golden-haired and willowy, her perfection of figure clothed in a flowing gown of ecru—simple fitness of form without ornament. Gray-green eyes stared back at him. She had that Bene Gesserit serene repose about her that the young man found subtly disturbing.[3]

Appearances

Margot appears in Herbert's novel Dune (1965), in which she warns fellow Bene Gesserit

Caladan Trilogy (2020–2022) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
.

Dune (1965)

In Dune,

Duke Leto Atreides accepts stewardship of the lucrative but dangerous desert planet Arrakis, previously controlled by his enemy, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. Leto's Bene Gesserit concubine, Lady Jessica, discovers a coded message from Margot, the wife of the former governor of Arrakis, Count Fenring. Also a Bene Gesserit, Margot has left Jessica a warning that the Atreides, especially Leto and Jessica's son Paul
, are in danger from the Harkonnens, and alerts her to the existence of a traitor in the Atreides household. Paul evades a trap set for him, but a devastating attack by the Harkonnens leaves Leto dead, and forces Paul and Jessica to flee into the desert. Due to the harsh conditions and an oncoming sandstorm, they are soon presumed dead as well.

Margot is sent by the Bene Gesserit to seduce Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and to "preserve the bloodline" by retrieving his genetic material, through conception, for their

breeding program. She also conditions Feyd via "hypno-ligation
", which will allow the Bene Gesserit to control him in the future if necessary. After Paul is presumed dead, Margot and her husband Count Fenring discuss what a shame it is, and Margot prophetically recounts a Bene Gesserit saying: "Do not count a human dead until you've seen his body. And even then you can make a mistake."

Paul is later revealed to be alive, and attempts to depose Shaddam. Count Fenring observes Paul, "seeing with eyes his Lady Margot had trained in the Bene Gesserit way, aware of the mystery and hidden grandeur about this Atreides youth", and subsequently refuses Shaddam's command that he kill Paul. Soon after, as

Salusa Secundus. Count Fenring and Margot willingly join the former emperor in exile.[7]

Margot as seen in the collectible card game Dune (1997), designed after the 1984 film.

Dune: House Atreides (1999)

During the events of

Elrood IX, and are stockpiling it for their own purposes. Margot and her future husband Count Fenring later convince Emperor Shaddam IV to marry Reverend Mother Anirul by explaining the benefits of an alliance with the Bene Gesserit. Through this arrangement the Sisterhood seek influence over the Imperial throne by ensuring that Shaddam will never have a son.[8]

Dune: House Harkonnen (2000)

In

Azhar Book but "adapted to Fremen ways", indicates to Margot that the Bene Gesserit have integrated themselves into Fremen society and implanted the myths of the Missionaria Protectiva into Fremen culture.[9]

Paul of Dune (2008)

In "

Water of Life to help save him, and he lives. Rather than kill the Fenrings, Paul banishes them to Salusa Secundus into permanent exile with Shaddam, whom they now loathe.[15]

In adaptations

The character of Margot was to have an increased role in the film adaptation of Dune planned by director

John Harrison's expansion of Irulan's role in that adaptation.[19][20][21] Though Margot was not included in the 2021 Denis Villeneuve film Dune, Léa Seydoux portrays the character in the 2024 sequel, Dune: Part Two.[6][22][23] Margot has been described as a critical character in the film.[6][22]

References

  1. ^ a b David, Ari (January 5, 2020). "Dune: Why the Bene Gesserit Is Crucial to the Series". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Campbell, Maude (February 15, 2019). "Everything We Know So Far About Denis Villeneuve's Dune". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Herbert, Frank (1965). Dune.
  4. ^ Herbert, Frank (1981). God Emperor of Dune.
  5. Tor.com
    . Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Vary, Adam B. (June 21, 2022). "Léa Seydoux Joins Dune Part Two as Lady Margot". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Herbert, Frank (1965). "Appendix IV: The Almanak en-Ashraf (Selected Excerpts of the Noble Houses): Count Hasimir Fenring". Dune.
  8. ISBN 0-553-11061-6
    .
  9. ISBN 0-553-11072-1
    .
  10. ISBN 978-0-7653-1294-5
    .
  11. ^ a b Herbert/Anderson. Paul of Dune. pp. 172–174.
  12. ^ Herbert/Anderson. Paul of Dune. p. 92.
  13. ^ Herbert/Anderson. Paul of Dune. p. 377.
  14. ^ Herbert/Anderson. Paul of Dune. pp. 447–448, 453–457, 464–465.
  15. ^ a b c Herbert/Anderson. Paul of Dune. pp. 488–510.
  16. Métal Hurlant. Archived from the original
    on April 29, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2014 – via DuneInfo.com.
  17. ^ Bove, Kate (August 28, 2023). "Who Is Tim Blake Nelson Playing in Dune 2?". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  18. ^ Elderkin, Beth (April 23, 2020). "A Guide to Dune's Gargantuan Cast of Characters". Gizmodo. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Paterson, Robert (November 30, 2000). "Dune's Princess Irulan Speaks". Space.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2001. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  20. ^ Fritz, Steve (December 4, 2000). "Dune: Remaking the Classic Novel". Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008 – via Cinescape.com.
  21. ^ Dagan, Carmel (November 29, 2000). "Frank Herbert's Dune". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Sanchez, Gabrielle (June 21, 2022). "Léa Seydoux joins Dune: Part Two as Lady Margot". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  23. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 21, 2022). "Dune Part 2: Léa Seydoux to Play Lady Margot in Upcoming Sequel for Legendary". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
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