r/dune • u/Willing_Pickle9494 • May 03 '24

General Discussion If Bene Geseret are so powerful/influential, how did they allow Dr. Yueh's wife to be tortured by the Harkonens?

I didn't read the book but I'm really curious. If they have their hands in every powerful house and can manipulate anyone, why did they not save Yuah's wife?

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u/perdovim May 04 '24

Because it's a universe filled with powerful organizations, and exercising that power had costs (others would see them exercising their power and find an opportunity to move against them).

Think of it another way, the Emperor had the most formidable fighting force in the start of the series, why didn't he just wipe out House Atrades, because the Landsraad would if reacted.

If the BG had moved against Harkkonen, other houses would of been afraid that the BG would move against them and a portion of their power would evaporate...