Adaptations of "Dune" have frequently incorporated
unconventional and sometimes disturbing new elements aimed at capturing the otherworldly
atmosphere of Frank Herbert’s universe. While Denis Villeneuve's interpretation has
greatly streamlined many of the bizarre elements of Herbert’s books, he has introduced a
few new creative additions that grant the film a touch of the otherworldly, such as
the the Harkonnen spider pet in part one and Feyd's Harpies in the sequel. In this video, I’d like to explore the significance
of these cannibal darlings within the context of Villeneuve's adaptation, their alignment
with the source material and the ways in which they compliment a few fascinating elements
present in Herbert's original work. In "Dune" Part 2, the introduction of Feyd
Rautha's cannibal harpies occurs during his preparation for a special slave gladiator
fight to commemorate his birthday. As he tests out a new knife, a chilling scene
unfolds where he suddenly kills two of his female attendants and offers them as food
to his pets. Later in the film, shortly after his arrival
on Arrakis, he dispatches one of the Harkonnen advisors and orders the body to be given to
his harpies. These brutal actions underscore Feyd’s disrespect
for life, and lack of basic moral and human decency. Like the hybrid human-spider pet in part 1,
these harpies paint a chilling picture of the barbarity and depravity of House Harkonnen.. An intriguing facet of Feyd's character emerges
when examining his relationship with these harpies. There's a subtle nuance suggesting a peculiar
bond between him and his pets. This affection and sense of duty towards them
are made evident in his comments about the lack of food for his "darlings" during their
journey from Giedi Prime to Arrakis. Hence, unlike a typical one-dimensional villain,
driven solely by self-interest, Feyd exhibits a distorted form of responsibility towards
his harpies. While he could easily delegate the task of
feeding them to any of the numerous Harkonnen attendants at his disposal, he personally
undertakes this duty himself, perhaps driven by a twisted sense of romantic affection or
responsibility. To that point, its unclear whether or not
his relationship with these creatures is sexual. However, given his apparent enjoyment of pain
as portrayed in the film, it's not far-fetched to speculate that he might indulge in such
activities with these vile and violent beings, who themselves likely enjoy dishing out pain
during any such intimate interactions. Feyd's behavior with his darlings aligns with
his personality traits showcased throughout Dune Part Two. Despite his penchant for violence, he manifests
an underlying sense of honor and duty. Lady Margot Fenring's report to Reverend Mother
Mohiam sheds light on this aspect of his character, as she highlights Feyd's fear of humiliation
and sexual vulnerability as potential leverage points for manipulation. His twisted sense of honor also becomes apparent
during his arena fights and the climactic confrontation with Paul. Thus, Feyd’s acknowledgment of the needs
and wants of his harpies, while disturbing, illustrates a fascinating sense of responsibility
within him. In regards to the minds of the Harpies themselves,
it's evident that they've been shaped and manipulated to crave human flesh. Engaging in such behavior no doubt has warped
their mind. They act animalistic, driven solely by instinct
and primal urges. Their minds have obviously regressed to a
primitive state, devoid of rational thought or moral restraint. Interestingly this behavior aligns with a
few of the real world neurological consequences of cannibalism, wherein the consumption of
human flesh has been known to disrupt normal brain function, leading to a loss of cognitive
faculties and a descent into instinctual behavior. Additionally, the film establishes that the
bodies of the Harkonnens are laden with chemicals, which is the reason why the Fremen are only
able to use their water for cooling purposes. The potential repercussions of consuming such
chemically saturated flesh leaves open the possibility that these harpies may have descended
even further into their madness due to ingesting such toxins. However, it's also worth considering the possibility
that these harpies were deliberately engineered to exhibit such animalistic behavior. Similar to fan speculation surrounding the
origins of the Harkonnen spider pet, there's a chance that these creatures are yet another
creation of the Bene Tleilax. For those who are unfamiliar, the Bene Tleilax
are a secretive and highly skilled xenophobic, chauvinistic society which operates on the
fringes of the Imperium. They are renowned for their expertise in genetic
manipulation and bioengineering. Their work is controversial as they persistently
display a willingness to push the boundaries of science, engaging in a variety of morally
ambiguous practices. While their creations are often sought after
for their utility, there's a prevailing sense of unease across the Imperium due to the ethical
boundaries they cross. Their products, though coveted, frequently
challenge the moral norms upheld by humanity, causing repulsion among those outside their
faction. As a result, the Bene Tleilax are viewed by
the more respectable houses with suspicion and caution. However, the Harkonnens are not a respectable
House, and as such, they are known to enjoy many of the morally repugnant creations of
the Tleilaxu. In the book, this fact is made evident by
their employment of the twisted mentat Piter de Vries, who was trained by the Bene Tleilax
to operate outside of standard moral parameters. When considering the potential role of the
Bene Tleilax in the creation of Feyd's Harpies, it seems consistent with their dehumanizing
treatment of women, whom they view solely as vessels for reproduction. Due to the fact that no one had ever seen
a Tleilaxu female, speculation arose that their axlotl tanks, which are used as birthing
chambers for their genetic experiments, might be the remnants of their women. Consequently, given their capabilities and
chauvinistic reputation, it's entirely plausible that the Bene Tleilax could have played a
role in producing Feyd's cannibal pets. If it's true that the Bene Tleilax created
the Harkonnen spider pet in part 1, this suggests that the Harkonnens are open to acquiring
other Tleilaxu creations besides Twisted Mentats. Additionally, given the a Harkonnen's staggering
wealth they would certainly have the resources to pay the Tleilaxu for various new twisted
human creations to satisfy their depraved desires. Feyd’s possession of such female companions
also has some basis in the book. After a failed assassination attempt on his
uncle, as a form of punishment, the Baron made his nephew accompany him to his slave
quarters where Feyd was forced to kill all the women in the pleasure wing. This part of the book reinforces several aspects
that support the existence of the Harkonnen Harpies. Firstly, it shows that the Harkonnens have
entire sections of their domain dedicated to pleasure. For that reason, it makes sense that they
would acquire bizarre and twisted pleasure creatures. Frank Herbert established the Harkonnens as
decadent, immoral, indulgent, sadistic monsters so their enjoyment of such twisted creatures
as the human-spider pet and the cannibal harpies is consistent with their reputation. Moreover, before the Baron orders Feyd to
kill the female slaves, he assures his nephew that there will be other women for him to
enjoy in the future. This emphasizes the Harkonnen mentality that
their servants are entirely disposable and replaceable. Despite Feyd feeling a sense of responsibility
and attachment to his Harpies, he ultimately sees them as pets that can be easily replaced. Feyd's words to Paul during their final battle
both in the book and in the film draws a striking parallel between the two characters. Observing Paul's affection for Chani and the
connection they share, Feyd acknowledges their bond. He asks the Atreides if Chani is his pet and
whether she will deserve his special attention after presumably defeating Paul. In the book, Paul and Chani’s relationship
is depicted as a profound and unbreakable bond of genuine love and reverence, reinforced
by each other's unwavering commitment. For Paul, the thought of losing Chani is devastating,
it would set him adrift and disconnect him from reality. This stark contrast highlights the profound
disparity in how women are perceived by the heirs of these opposing Houses.. Paul's deep love for Chani stands in opposition
to Feyd's dehumanizing attitude toward his harpies, who are viewed merely as possessions. Ultimately, Feyd's cannibalistic harpies and
the other grotesque pets within House Harkonnen serve as a representation of the family's
inherent selfishness, greed, and moral decay, all of which played significant roles in their
eventual downfall. But I’m curious to know what you think of
Feyd’s cannibal harpies in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Do you feel this creative addition faithfully
compliments the depraved nature of the Harkonnens as they were written? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section
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as always have a very nerdy day.
