Margot Fenring
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Margot, Lady Fenring is a fictional character from the ''Dune'' universe created by
Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune (novel), ''Dune'' and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, ...
. She is featured in Herbert's ''
Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
'' (1965), and is a major character in the ''
Prelude to Dune The ''Dune'' prequel series is a sequence of novel trilogy, trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Set in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert, the novels take place in various time periods before and ...
''
prequel A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term ...
trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...
(1999–2001) and the 2008 novel ''
Paul of Dune ''Paul of Dune'' is a 2008 science fiction novel written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. Released on September 16, 2008, it is the first book in the '' Heroes of Dune'' series and ...
'' by
Brian Herbert Brian Patrick Herbert (born June 29, 1947) is an American author, known for his work on the ''Dune'' franchise, which was created by his father, Frank Herbert. Brian Herbert's novels include ''Sidney's Comet'', ''Prisoners of Arionn'', ''Man of ...
and
Kevin J. Anderson Kevin James Anderson (born March 27, 1962) is an American science fiction author. He has written spin-off novels for ''Star Wars'', '' StarCraft'', ''Titan A.E.'' and ''The X-Files'', and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the ''Dune'' pr ...
. She later appears in the ''
Caladan Trilogy The ''Dune'' prequel series is a sequence of novel trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Set in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert, the novels take place in various time periods before and in between Herbert's ori ...
'' (2020–2022). Margot is the
Bene Gesserit The Bene Gesserit () 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 an ...
wife of
Count Hasimir Fenring Count Hasimir Fenring is a fictional character in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. He is featured in the 1965 science fiction novel ''Dune'' by Frank Herbert, and is also a key character in the ''Prelude to Dune'' trilogy by Brian ...
, a close friend of the
Padishah Emperor Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of year ...
Shaddam IV ''Dune (franchise), Dune'' is a science fiction media franchise that originated with the 1965 Dune (novel), novel of the same name by American author Frank Herbert. ''Dune'' is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in histor ...
, but is loyal to the Sisterhood.
Léa Seydoux Léa Hélène Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne (; born 1 July 1985) is a French actress. Prolific in both French cinema and Cinema of the United States, Hollywood, she has received five César Award nominations, two Lumière Awards, a Palme d'Or a ...
portrays Margot in
Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, OAL (; ; born October 3, 1967) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. He has received seven Canadian Screen Awards as well as nominations for four Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and two ...
's 2024 film '' Dune: Part Two.''


Description

Margot is one of the Bene Gesserit, a secretive
matriarchal Matriarchy is a social system in which positions of power and privilege are held by women. In a broader sense it can also extend to moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. While those definitions apply in general English, ...
order who have achieved
superhuman The term superhuman refers to humans, humanoids or other beings with abilities and other qualities that exceed those naturally found in humans. These qualities may be acquired through natural ability, self-actualization or technological aids. ...
abilities through mental and physical conditioning, and the use of the drug melange. 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. To this end, the Bene Gesserit install some of their initiates in noble families as wives and concubines to their advantage. Margot's Bene Gesserit abilities include acute observation and awareness, seduction and
sexual imprinting In psychology and ethology, imprinting is a relativly rapid learning process that occurs during a particular Developmental psychology, developmental phase or stage of life and leads to corresponding behavioural adaptations. Originally, the term w ...
, and precise control of her body chemistry, which allows her to ensure conception and choose the sex of the child. 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. Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen describes Margot in ''Dune'':


Appearances

Margot appears in Herbert's novel ''Dune'' (1965), in which she warns fellow Bene Gesserit
Lady Jessica Lady Jessica is a fictional character in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. A main character in the 1963–65 novel ''Dune'', Jessica also plays an important role in the later installment '' Children of Dune'' (1976). The events sur ...
of impending danger to the Atreides, and is later sent by the Sisterhood to visit Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Margot is also a major character in the ''
Prelude to Dune The ''Dune'' prequel series is a sequence of novel trilogy, trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Set in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert, the novels take place in various time periods before and ...
''
prequel A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term ...
trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...
(1999–2001), the 2008 novel ''
Paul of Dune ''Paul of Dune'' is a 2008 science fiction novel written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. Released on September 16, 2008, it is the first book in the '' Heroes of Dune'' series and ...
'', and the ''
Caladan Trilogy The ''Dune'' prequel series is a sequence of novel trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Set in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert, the novels take place in various time periods before and in between Herbert's ori ...
'' (2020–2022) by
Brian Herbert Brian Patrick Herbert (born June 29, 1947) is an American author, known for his work on the ''Dune'' franchise, which was created by his father, Frank Herbert. Brian Herbert's novels include ''Sidney's Comet'', ''Prisoners of Arionn'', ''Man of ...
and
Kevin J. Anderson Kevin James Anderson (born March 27, 1962) is an American science fiction author. He has written spin-off novels for ''Star Wars'', '' StarCraft'', ''Titan A.E.'' and ''The X-Files'', and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the ''Dune'' pr ...
.


''Dune'' (1965)

In ''Dune'', Duke Leto Atreides accepts stewardship of the lucrative but dangerous
desert planet A desert planet, also known as a dry planet, an arid planet, or a dune planet, is a type of terrestrial planet that is arid at the surface level. Deserts can be cold or hot, and even retain water, like Antarctica or the Sahara on Earth; however, ...
Arrakis Arrakis ()—informally known as Dune and later called Rakis—is a fictional desert planet featured in the ''Dune'' series of novels by Frank Herbert. Herbert's first novel in the series, 1965's ''Dune'', is considered one of the greatest sc ...
, previously controlled by his enemy,
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen Baron Vladimir Harkonnen () is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' franchise created by Frank Herbert. He is primarily featured in the 1965 novel ''Dune (novel), Dune'' and is also a prominent character in the ''Prelude to Dune ...
. Leto's Bene Gesserit
concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...
, 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 Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...
, 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 A breeding program is the planned breeding of a group of animals or plants, usually involving at least several individuals and extending over several generations. There are a couple of breeding methods, such as artificial (which is man made) a ...
. 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 Reverend Mother Mohiam watches Paul and Feyd duel to the death, she comments on the existence of Margot's child by Feyd: "If both died here that would leave only Feyd-Rautha's bastard daughter, still a baby, an unknown, an unmeasured factor, and aul's sister
Alia Alia or ALIA may refer to: People *Alia (name), a list of people with the surname or given name Places *Alia, Sicily, Italy, a comune * Alia (Phrygia), a town of ancient Phrygia which remains a Roman Catholic titular bishopric * Alía, Spain, a ...
." Margot has planted a command in Feyd's mind through which Paul can paralyze him and thus win the duel easily, but Paul is able to defeat Feyd without using it. Seizing control of Arrakis, Paul deposes Shaddam, who is exiled to
Salusa Secundus Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of years in the future, ...
. Count Fenring and Margot willingly join the former emperor in exile.


''Dune: House Atreides'' (1999)

During the events of '' Dune: House Atreides'', unmarried Margot Rashino-Zea is hand-selected by Bene Gesserit Kwisatz Mother Anirul to infiltrate the household of Abulurd Harkonnen on Lankiveil. One of the Bene Gesserit's best commandos, she knows sixty-three ways to kill a human using nothing but her fingers, and has also been trained in the ways of spying and ferreting out information, flash-memorization techniques and connecting mismatched tidbits of data to construct a broader picture. The Sisterhood hopes to find incriminating evidence, perhaps hidden there by the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, that they can use to coerce him into participating in their breeding program. Margot soon discovers that the Harkonnens have been grossly underreporting melange production to
CHOAM Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of years in the future, ...
and the
Padishah Emperor Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of year ...
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.


''Dune: House Harkonnen'' (2000)

In '' Dune: House Harkonnen'', Margot seeks out the
Fremen The Fremen are a group of people in the fictional Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. First appearing in the 1965 novel ''Dune (novel), Dune'', the Fremen inhabit the desert planet Arrakis (also known as Dune), which ...
on Arrakis in search of a group of Bene Gesserit sisters working on the
Missionaria Protectiva The Bene Gesserit () are a group in Frank Herbert's fictional ''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 y ...
, including the Reverend Mother Ramallo, who had previously disappeared. The manual from a Fremen desert survival pack called a fremkit, similar to the Bene Gesserit
Azhar Book ''Dune'' is an American science fiction media franchise that originated with the 1965 novel ''Dune (novel), Dune'' by Frank Herbert and has continued to add new publications. ''Dune'' is frequently described as the best-selling science fiction n ...
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.


''Paul of Dune'' (2008)

In ''
Paul of Dune ''Paul of Dune'' is a 2008 science fiction novel written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. Released on September 16, 2008, it is the first book in the '' Heroes of Dune'' series and ...
'', Margot and Count Fenring are raising Feyd and Margot's daughter—whom they have named Marie—as their own. Between the events of ''Dune'' and ''
Dune Messiah ''Dune Messiah'' is a 1969 science fiction novel by American writer Frank Herbert, the second in his ''Dune'' series of six novels. A sequel to ''Dune'' (1965), it was originally serialized in ''Galaxy'' magazine in 1969, and then published by ...
'' (1969), the Fenrings train their child as both an assassin and a Bene Gesserit, but reject the interference of the Sisterhood itself in favor of their own plans for Marie to seize the Imperial throne from Paul Atreides. Marie has Margot's blond hair and features, as well as Feyd's pale blue eyes. At age six, the Fenrings declare her ready. Marie is accepted into Paul's court as a playmate for his young sister Alia. At a banquet with her visiting parents, Marie and the Fenrings execute their well-planned assassination attempt on Paul. Alia manages to kill Marie, but Margot's revelation of her daughter's paternity surprises Paul enough to allow Count Fenring to stab him mortally. Paul's concubine Chani uses the poisonous 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.


In adaptations

The character of Margot was to have an increased role in the film adaptation of ''Dune'' planned by director
Alejandro Jodorowsky Alejandro Jodorowsky Prullansky (; born 17 February 1929) is a Chilean and French Experimental film, avant-garde filmmaker. Known for his films ''El Topo'' (1970), ''The Holy Mountain (1973 film), The Holy Mountain'' (1973) and ''Santa Sangre'' ...
in the 1970s, which was never made. Both Margot and Count Fenring are omitted from
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
's 1984 film ''
Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
''. However, Count Fenring plays a minor part in the 2000
miniseries In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...
''
Frank Herbert's Dune ''Frank Herbert's Dune'' is a 2000 science fiction television miniseries, based on the 1965 novel of the same title by Frank Herbert. It is written for the screen and directed by John Harrison, and stars Alec Newman as Paul Atreides, William ...
'', and some of Margot's actions are attributed to
Princess Irulan Princess Irulan is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. She first appears in ''Dune (novel), Dune'' (1965), and is later featured in ''Dune Messiah'' (1969) and ''Children of Dune'' (1976). T ...
as part of director
John Harrison John Harrison ( – 24 March 1776) was an English carpenter and clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the History of longitude, problem of how to calculate longitude while at sea. Harrison's sol ...
's expansion of Irulan's role in that adaptation. Though Margot was not included in the 2021
Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, OAL (; ; born October 3, 1967) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. He has received seven Canadian Screen Awards as well as nominations for four Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and two ...
film ''
Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
'',
Léa Seydoux Léa Hélène Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne (; born 1 July 1985) is a French actress. Prolific in both French cinema and Cinema of the United States, Hollywood, she has received five César Award nominations, two Lumière Awards, a Palme d'Or a ...
portrays the character in the 2024 sequel, '' Dune: Part Two.'' Margot has been described as a critical character in the film.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenring, Margot Dune (franchise) characters Female characters in literature Fictional psychics Fictional drug addicts Fictional exiles Fictional female assassins Fictional lords and ladies Fictional spies Literary characters introduced in 1963 Literary characters introduced in 1965