There is no world stranger than that of ‘Dune‘ for people with extreme talents, such as Paul Atreides’ prescient visions or the control of Voice employed by the Bene Gesserit. In the prequel series ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ which takes place 10,000 years before Paul even arrives, an additional mystery exists: Desmond Hart.
We learn very little of him at this time, but this mysterious ability could serve as a significant game changer to the world of ‘Dune‘.
Who Is Desmond Hart?
Desmond Hart is a character in the ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ where the history of the Bene Gesserit and their rise to power is examined. Very little is known of Hart’s background, other than the early indications of it being quite involved in the political and genetic drama of the period. There are layers of secrecy implicitly associated with the noble families or known factions such as the Spacing Guild, and unlike the noble families, Hart’s past is said to be curious, related to the early tests on human potential to which the Bene Gesserit breeding program is later related.
Related: ‘Dune 4’ Is Reportedly Happening, But With Major Changes To Original Franchise
The Nature of Desmond Hart’s Power
In the ‘Dune‘ universe, power exists in many forms. Political trickery, religious authority and genetic superiority are all forms of power. Desmond Hart’s powers are of a sort that would seem to rival the most powerful of characters in the franchise. He can fry people, quite literally with the power of his mind, he has survived after being swallowed by a sandworm, and to top it all off, he has the Voice. Hart’s powers could stem from a few possibilities:
- Proto-Prescience: Prior to creating a Kwisatz Haderach, humans were experimented on to see if they could have prescient abilities (visions of the future). Hart could be an earlier genetic experiment resulting in some form of limited prescience. Paul Atreides was able to see in time in a long-distance fashion; Hart’s visions are either not complete or need some sort of stimulus to occur. He is both useful and dangerous to those who wish to manipulate him.
- The Mind-Shaper: The Bene Gesserit’s Voice is capable of influencing others but Hart’s ability could take it to a new level. If he has the ability to influence both speech and patterns of thought subliminally, he would be an incredible asset to changing the face of politics and government. In any case, he would be of value to any faction, but also a target for those who fear being influenced or manipulated.
- Biological Adaptation: The Dune universe is riddled with genetic experimentation, beginning with the Bene Tleilax and continuing with the conditioning methods of the brutal Sardaukar. Hart may be an early attempt at creating a human capable of adapting to the environment (at a cellular level). He would become a significant asset to the struggle for control of inhospitable worlds, such as the desert world Arrakis.
- The Lost Genetic Key: Given that selective breeding is at the core of ‘Dune‘, it is possible that Hart held some unique genetic quality that was an embryonic version of the Kwisatz Haderach program. If Hart’s ancestry can be tied to the earliest stages of the Bene Gesserit schemes, then he could be the catalyst to a human potential, long before Paul Atreides ever crossed onto Arrakis.
How Will Desmond’s Power Influence ‘Dune: Prophecy’?
If rumors are to be believed that Desmond Hart’s powers are revolutionary, then in short order he will be the most important person in figuring out what the Bene Gesserit are doing, or if their power is even something to be concerned about. Hart will threaten the stability of whatever the Bene Gesserit represents, which will lead to attempts to manipulate him, recruit him, or even kill him. Whether he is willing to accept what he is able to do or is unwilling to be controlled (or both), is likely going to determine the trajectory of the proper wars in the ‘Dune‘ series.
Since ‘Dune: Prophecy‘ explores the origin of the Bene Gesserit and the early foundations of the power structures of the Dune world, Hart is likely to be the most interesting aspect of the program, among the interesting aspects. Whether he is teasing the idea of the Kwisatz Haderach, a radical thinker, or, simply, something else, his enigmatic powers will forever alter the sands of history.
The season one finale revealed that he has descended from the Harkonnen and Atreides lines. Yes, Sister Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides are his parents. We know Tula tricked Orry and slaughtered his clan in an act of vengeance. Desmond was born from that tragedy.
