Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen Character Analysis in Dune

Favored nephew and heir of Baron Harkonnen. The Baron installs Feyd-Rautha as ruler on Arrakis and aspires for him to one day sit on the Imperial throne. Feyd-Rautha is the same age as Paul Atreides and an excellent fighter, as proved in his duel to the death with Paul. It takes all of Paul’s significant skills to defeat the Harkonnen man.

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen Character Timeline in Dune

The timeline below shows where the character Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen appears in Dune. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Elsewhere, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen boasts to the “effeminate” Piter de Vries and “sullen-faced” Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen of the trap he has set for the Atreides on Arrakis. The Baron is... (full context)

...for his help in planning the Atreides demise. The Baron begins insulting both Piter and Feyd-Rautha, undermining them and pointing out their dependencies on consuming spice. Piter voices his concern that... (full context)

...genetic breeding program, as the sisterhood wanted to wed Duke Leto and Jessica’s daughter with Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. It was hoped their union would produce a child who would be the prophesized... (full context)

...charge of Arrakis for a short time, before replacing him with the Baron’s favored nephew, Feyd-Rautha. (full context)

...of his relatives to sit on the Imperial throne. He thinks that his favored nephew, Feyd-Rautha, has the potential. (full context)

Environment and Human Culture Theme Icon

...Rabban, who remains unaware that Baron plans to shortly replace him with his younger brother, Feyd-Rautha, to rule Arrakis. (full context)

On the planet Giedi Prime, it is Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s seventeenth birthday. In celebration he kills his one hundredth slave-gladiator in the public arena.... (full context)

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen accompanies Baron Harkonnen in a sullen mood. Lady Fenring is conscious of the young... (full context)

The Baron Harkonnen introduces his nephew Feyd-Rautha to Count Fenring and Lady Fenring. Feyd-Rautha is disconcerted by the Bene Gesserit Lady’s calm... (full context)

Feyd-Rautha sees that despite Count Fenring’s slight stature, he is a man who commands respect. The... (full context)

Feyd-Rautha speaks out of turn in the group by suggesting that he will make a kill... (full context)

...to take on Imperial forces. This civil war would enable the Baron’s plot to put Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen on the Imperial throne. (full context)

The nobles begin walking to the arena where Feyd-Rautha’s combat will take place. Count Fenring remarks that the science of humankind is one of... (full context)

Feyd-Rautha enters the arena’s fighting pit. He is dressed for combat and wears a traditional black... (full context)

Baron Harkonnen and the crowd are unaware that Feyd-Rautha has colluded with Mentat Thufir Hawat to ensure a unique gladiatorial fight takes place today.... (full context)

Feyd-Rautha has a brief moment of concern that Thufir Hawat may be trying to secretly have... (full context)

The fighting begins and only Feyd-Rautha’s combat training and youthful agility see him clear the slave’s blows while managing to bury... (full context)

...the slave is crippled. He kills himself on his own knife point rather than letting Feyd-Rautha take the glory. The Harkonnen fighter is frustrated at this move, but is pleased that... (full context)

In a calculated move to win over the crowd, Feyd-Rautha also refuses the tradition of cutting off a dead slave-gladiator’s head and instead affords him... (full context)

...himself. The Count Fenring and Lady Fenring discuss what they have witnessed. They know that Feyd-Rautha intentionally planned to fight an undrugged slave and conclude that Thufir Hawat must have helped... (full context)

As per Bene Gesserit order, Lady Fenring is planning to become pregnant with Feyd-Rautha’s child in the near future, securing the future of the Harkonnen bloodline. Count Fenring accepts... (full context)

...Nefud, is in a deeply drugged ecstasy. The Baron demands to know where his nephew Feyd-Rautha is, as he has worked out that the younger Harkonnen is the likely mastermind behind... (full context)

Nefud believes that Feyd-Rautha will be taking his pleasure in the slave quarters. Baron Harkonnen finds his nephew and... (full context)

Baron Harkonnen tells Feyd-Rautha how foolish he has been. He also asks his nephew why Feyd-Rautha used a slave... (full context)

To prevent an early death orchestrated by his nephew, Baron Harkonnen offers Feyd-Rautha a compromise: the Baron will step down as head of House Harkonnen in the not... (full context)

Baron Harkonnen has even bigger plans for achieving power. He tells Feyd-Rautha that he wants to place a Harkonnen on the Imperial throne, making use of Thufir... (full context)

...Arrakis to Rabban’s oppressive leadership for some time without offering aid. Then the Baron, or Feyd-Rautha, can take over rule of Arrakis and its strong soldiers. Secretly, Hawat is hoping that... (full context)

...truth about Thufir Hawat, who has gone missing; the whereabouts of Harkonnen brothers Rabban and Feyd-Rautha; and, most importantly, any information about the powerful Fremen figure Muad’Dib. (full context)

...to counteract the residual poison they have infected him with. The Baron’s nephews, Rabban and Feyd-Rautha, are currently running a perimeter check. And Baron Harkonnen downplays the Muad’Dib’s authority as well... (full context)

...more. Gurney Halleck notes that the Emperor’s group have no throwing weapons. He also notes Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s presence and asks Paul if he wants the Harkonnen removed. Paul says he is... (full context)

...their approach to Paul’s throne. He sees Reverend Mother Mohiam peering out at him, and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s face beside her. Paul also spies a slight man in the party who he... (full context)

Paul and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen exchange words, and Feyd-Rautha invokes the right of single combat against Paul due to... (full context)

Paul asks his “cousin” if he is ready to fight; indeed, Feyd-Rautha is excited by what he sees as a sure win over the “yokel Duke.” The... (full context)

As the two men circle each other, Feyd-Rautha is exceedingly confident in his taunts and knife thrusts. Paul wonders if a possible opening... (full context)

Seeing Paul’s impressive triumph in besting Feyd-Rautha, Emperor Shaddam IV turns to his most trusted friend and member of household, telling Count... (full context)

...Corrin. The Baron died during the Arrakis Revolt, with his title passing briefly to nephew Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. (full context)

...the Baron Harkonnen’s eldest nephew—a son of the Baron’s younger half-brother. Count Rabban’s brother was Feyd-Rautha Rabban, who reclaimed the Harkonnen name when selected for the Baron’s household. (full context)