TheDuneuniverse has a lot of fascinating concepts that demand further thought. It’s one of the finest examples of narrative invention. When Frank Herbert needed an excuse, he put in the hours to come up with that technological magic. The Bene Gesserit sisterhood is one of the most compelling examples. They have a suite of superpowers, a centuries-long plan, and an absolutely wild final goal. While their success remains questionable at this point in Paul’s tale, who was the first Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Supreme who started the scheme?
Denis Villenueve’sDunefilms are more successful than any adaptation of the novel has any right to be. Long considered unfilmable, it’s hugely edifying to see a filmmaker understand the material so perfectly. Villeneuve didn’t just deliver anexcellent film adaptation ofDune; he did it in a way that made millions of total newcomers discover what is so immediately enjoyable about the novel. With the massive success ofDune: Part Two, Villeneuve is hard at work on his take onDune: Messiah. In the meantime, Warner Bros. will try out a spinoff or two.
Who is Raquella Berto-Anirul?
Raquella Berto-Anirul was born in 135 BG to a nameless father and Helmina Berto-Anirul. Her mother was the illegitimate daughter of Karida Julan and Vorian Atreides.Vorian was the founder of House Atreidesand the hero of the Butlerian Jihad, the nigh-apocalyptic war between humanity and the thinking machines. Vorian fathered many children with various women during his travels but rarely had anything to do with them. Helmina tragically died in a car accident before ever meeting her father. Raquella was around 20 when she lost her mother. She married a soldier who fought in the Jihad when she was a teenager, but her beloved husband tragically died shortly after their nuptials. This loss pushed Raquella to pursue a career in medicine, helping the sick and injured on a recently liberated planet called Parmentier.
Raquella became a dedicated doctor during a brutal pandemic called the Omnius Scourge. She found a new love with her fellow doctor, Mohandas Suk. Together, they worked at a hospital for plague victims, where Raquella met her grandfather for the first time. Their relationship seemed more professional than familial. Raquella became the first person to realizethat the spice mélangehelped many sick patients and potentially offered immunity. Raquella repeatedly became the victim of rampant paranoia, forcing her and her husband to stay on the move. Eventually, Vorian found her and offered her everything she could ever need. She took her resources to a remote planet called Rossak, where she first encountered the local Sorceresses.
Many women on Rossakhad incredible psychic powers, but the Omnius Scourge still wreaked havoc on the planet. Raquella was unable to cure the disease at first, but she soon became infected as well. A boy treated her with water infused with local flora, altering her body with a mix of unpredictable chemicals. She was cured, but she also awoke latent powers in her genetic code. When a Rossak leader tried to poison Raquella to eliminate her as a threat to her power, Raquella used her newfound control over her body to synthesize an antidote. She cured the Omnius Scourge and reformed the Rossak Sorceresses. She builtthem into the Rossak Sisterhood. She brought her followers to Wallach IX, where she delivered some of the most impactful speeches of all time.
What was Raquella Berto-Anirul’s legacy?
Raquella passed quietly at the age of 132. She intended to hand her position of Reverend Mother Superior to her granddaughter, Dorotea,and her protégé, Valya Harkonnen. Unfortunately, Valya discovered the power of the Voice, used it to kill Dorotea, and took the position for herself. Valya renamed the Rossak Sisterhood, dubbing it the Bene Gesserit order. She forged the first Mother School, which would teach the ways of the sisterhood for generations. Raquella’s commitment to helping others and curing disease mostly only lived on in pretty words. Anirul Corrino, a Bene Gesserit adept and wife of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, got her name from Raquella.
Who will play Raquella Berto-Anirul inDune: Prophecy?
Raquella Berto-Anirul may not appear inDune: Prophecy, but she was slated to. Rakie Ayola entered the cast list late last year. She was set to appear in at least one episode, but that episode’sdirector is no longer attached. She’s not listed on the show’s IMDb or Wikipedia pages at the moment. Ayola earned celebration for her performances in shows likeThe Pact,Kaos,andDoctor Who. She also appears in films, includingDreddandBeen So Long. The plot ofDune: Prophecyprimarily follows Valya Harkonnen and would subsequently probably feature the character in flashbacks or during an early episode.
Raquella Berto-Anirul is a fascinating character who reveals a lot aboutthe Bene Gesserit sisterhood. Unlike most members of the order, Raquella was a compassionate and empathetic soul who gave endlessly to help others. TheDuneuniverse would probably be a better place if more sisters were like Raquella Berto-Anirul.
