Dune: Part II spends a lot of screen time building up Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen as Paul Atreides’ greatest rival. The Reverend Mother called Feyd-Rautha a candidate, securing his bloodline and testing him with a Gom Jabber. The future of House Harkonnen was regarded as an equal opponent to Paul. However, the character himself lacks explanation, especially after he perishes during his duel with Paul, leaving viewers confused about Feyd-Rautha’s motivations and his relationship with Paul.

Feyd-Rautha is a new character in Dune: Part II. Though portrayed as a big bad, the character is truly the most tragic of all. Just as his quick entrance and exit from the film suggests, Feyd-Rautha is merely a chess piece in the political game of Dune. Unlike Paul, Feyd-Rautha driven more by an abstract purpose than his own personal motivations. Though similarly produced by the Bene Gesserit breeding system, Feyd-Rautha eventually became a tool in the Bene Gesserit’s power game — the Bene Gesserit used him to breed the possible future Kwisatz Haderach and suppress Paul Atreides’ rise in power, but not before plotting to have him marry Lady Jessica and Leto Atreides, which failed through when Paul was born.

What Happens to Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part II?

Just as Paul is the future of House Atreides, Siridar-Baron Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler) is the future of House Harkonnen. Both have been trained in close combat and groomed as future leaders. Despite being the second son of Abulurd Rabban and not in the direct line of succession, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen chose Feyd-Rautha as his heir, grooming him to be the future leader of their House, a key player in the political games among the Great Houses.

In terms of the Bene Gesserit’s genes, Feyd-Rautha was at the same stage in the breeding system as Paul, since they were supposed to be married (if Paul was a girl). Feyd-Rautha is just as dangerous as Paul. They are a close match for each other in many ways. However, Paul’s fate is significantly altered when Lady Jessica chooses to give birth to a male instead of a female. Paul embarks on a much different journey than Feyd-Rautha. Unlike Paul, who has received training in the Way and is hailed as the Lisan al Gaib by the Fremen due to the political conflicts between Houses, Reyd-Rautha has a relatively stable life. He’s arrogant and cunning. He is cheered on when he wins a fight, while Paul goes through an internal struggle to embrace his position as the new Duke.

The duel between the two is the only time viewers get to see Feyd-Rautha and Paul Atreides being pitted against each other. Strictly speaking about combat, Reyd-Rautha is a powerful opponent. Paul nearly lost the fight. He had to take a hit to win it, barely able to walk away with his life, but that’s only on a fighting level. There are so many more viewers don’t get to see about Reyd-Rautha — his leadership ability, military talent, instinct etc.

With Feyd-Rautha and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen dead, Lady Jessica was technically the next in line as the heir of House Harkonnen. She declined the position, so the House Harkonnen throne then passed to Paul. As the last living heir, he took over House Harkonnen’s resources in his ascendence to power. Interestingly, after the events in Dune, there’s no real difference between House Atreides and House Harkonnen, since House Atreides consisted mainly of Baron Vladimir’s offspring, and vise versa.

What Does Bene Gesserit Want With Feyd-Rautha?

As a product of the Bene Gesserit breeding program like Paul, Feyd-Rautha is supposed to marry Duke Leto Atreides’ daughter, so that they can give birth to a possible Kwisatz Haderach. With Lady Jessica giving birth to a male heir, she brought forth a potential Kwisatz Haderach a generation earlier or setting the breeding progress centuries back, leaving Feyd-Rautha at a loose end. The Sisterhood’s primary purpose with Feyd-Rautha fell through when Lady Jessica gave birth to Paul, so before they could figure out what to do with Paul, they had no immediate plan for Feyd-Rautha. Baron, on the other hand, planned to form a marriage alliance between his nephew and one of the Emperor’s daughters, so that his House would be in a more prominent position among the noble houses.

The Bene Gesserit’s plan for Feyd-Rautha changed when Paul rose to power on Arrakis. The Reverend Mother has been trying to determine if Paul was Kwisatz Haderach, first with the Gom Jabber, then by using Feyd-Rautha. Sadly, the future of House Harkonnen served as a test for Paul. The Bene Gesserit couldn’t determine if Paul was Kwisatz Haderach. He has displayed superior powers and resiliences. However, he also wasn’t supposed to be Kwisatz Haderach. If Paul survived the duel with Feyd-Rautha, the Bene Gesserit would be more inclined to believe that he could be the Chosen One, though they’d still be doubtful. As a secret organization that tried to plan to guarantee a prophecy (which is more magical in nature than scientific), they’re just having a hard time admitting Paul could be the One, and Feyd-Rautha, unfortunately, became the test subject that was sacrificed in the process.

Does Feyd-Rautha Have Dreams Like Paul?

In Dune: Part II, Feyd-Rautha had a dream about Lady Margot. Fans have been speculating whether Austin Butler’s character might have precognitive dreams like Paul. If so, it could explain why the Reverend Mother called him a candidate just like Paul, though he’s cruel and impulsive in nature. In Frank Herbert’s novel, Feyd-Rautha doesn’t display any Bene Gesserit traits. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part II seemingly hinted Feyd-Rautha having certain Bene Gesserit abilities, which if true, could be a huge departure from the source material. However, the character is killed off at the end of the film. Even if he had those abilities, he didn’t end up becoming Kwisatz Haderach.

Unlike Paul, whose mother has taught him the Way, Feyd-Rautha didn’t receive any Bene Gesserit training. It’s simply because the Bene Gesserit isn’t planning on grooming him as the Kwisatz Haderach. Their plan for him is strictly for breeding purposes only. As Paul Atreides rises in power, being the One in the prophecy, the Reverend Mother sends Feyd-Rautha to test him out, which results in the duel scene near the end of the film. In fear that Feyd-Rautha might lose the fight, the Bene Gesserit sent Lady Margot to secure his bloodline, making sure that he’d be of use as a stepping stone in the breeding system to control the future possible Kwisatz Haderach.

Is Feyd-Rautha a Possible Kwisatz Haderach?

Feyd-Rautha isn’t supposed to be Kwisatz Haderach, but a close call or a failed version. According to Herbert’s novel, he doesn’t possess the type of advanced powers required to be Kwisatz Haderach. However, Villenueve’s Dune slightly altered Feyd-Rautha’s setting. Not only has the film made significant changes to his appearance by making him bold (in the books, the character had red hair), but it also seemed to hint that Feyd-Rautha could be a possible Kwisatz Haderach, aka, a candidate — the Reverend Mother sent Lady Margot to test him with the Gom Jabber, which is a movie exclusive scene. Feyd-Rautha went through the Bene Gesserit screening process as a way for the Bene Gesserit to take a glimpse at his potential and see if he could be controlled before using his bloodline.

Another interpretation of the “candidate” sees Feyd-Rautha being a possible new replacement for the Emperor. Knowing that Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV’s power was ceasing among the Great Houses, the Bene Gesserit wanted to secure their control over the next one. With Feyd-Rautha being a powerful opponent to Paul Atreides, they wanted to guarantee that he’d be on their side before supporting Feyd-Rautha’s ascendence to power. The final duel scene could also be interpreted as the two possible candidates fighting for the throne. Paul walked away with glory, while Feyd-Rautha died in defeat, just another failed experiment, soon to be forgotten. Instead of the arrogant, cunning villain Feyd-Rautha posed to be, his story is a tragic one in Dune: Part II.