Dune: Who Is The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam?

At the beginning of Dune, a mysterious character described as “an old crone” visits the Lady Jessica, the mother of the ducal heir Paul Atreides, at Castle Caladan. It’s the week before the Atreides’ departure to Arrakis, and this woman is let into Paul’s room and allowed to examine him while he pretends to be asleep. Jessica shows the woman intense respect by referring to her as “Your Reverence” and willingly submits to her authority. She exhibits humility, and her body language and speech convey that this authoritative person knows better. As for the fifteen-year-old, Paul, ‘the old woman’ appears to be the strangest thing he has ever seen.