Editing Vladimir Harkonnen (section)

==Description==
Herbert's "Appendix IV: The Almanak en-Ashraf (Selected Excerpts of the Noble Houses)" in ''Dune'' says of Harkonnen (in part):
{{blockquote|VLADIMIR HARKONNEN (10,110–10,193) Commonly referred to as Baron Harkonnen, his title is officially Siridar (planetary governor) Baron. Vladimir Harkonnen is the direct-line male descendant of the Bashar [[Abulurd Harkonnen]] who was banished for cowardice after the [[Battle of Corrin]]. The return of [[House Harkonnen]] to power generally is ascribed to adroit manipulation of the [[whale fur]] market and later consolidation with [[Melange (fictional drug)|melange]] wealth from [[Arrakis]].<ref name="Appendix">{{cite book|first=Frank |last=Herbert |author-link=Frank Herbert |title=Dune |chapter=Appendix IV: The Almanak en-Ashraf (Selected Excerpts of the Noble Houses): Vladimir Harkonnen |year=1965 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London, England|isbn=978-0441172719|title-link=Dune (novel)}}</ref>}}

The character is usually described as the main antagonist of the novel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/denis-villeneuves-dune-has-found-its-baron-harkonnen-1831616603|title=Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune'' Has Found Its Baron Harkonnen|first=James|last=Whitbrook|website=[[io9]]|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507072843/https://io9.gizmodo.com/denis-villeneuves-dune-has-found-its-baron-harkonnen-1831616603|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/dune-denis-villeneuve-timothee-chalamet-full-details-plot-cast-release-1202041809/|title=''Dune'': Everything to Know About Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet's Sci-Fi Epic|first=Zack|last=Sharf|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021045643/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/dune-denis-villeneuve-timothee-chalamet-full-details-plot-cast-release-1202041809/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/stellan-skarsgard-is-dunes-villain.html|last=Martin|first=Clare|date=January 9, 2019|title=Stellan Skarsgård Is the Villain of Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune''|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426155848/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/stellan-skarsgard-is-dunes-villain.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Comicon">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicon.com/2019/01/09/stellan-skarsgard-accepts-his-destiny-as-dunes-baron-vladimir-harkonnen/|title=Stellan Skarsgard Accepts His Destiny As ''Dune''{{'s}} Baron Vladimir Harkonnen|first=Erik|last=Amaya|website=Comicon.com|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023073954/https://www.comicon.com/2019/01/09/stellan-skarsgard-accepts-his-destiny-as-dunes-baron-vladimir-harkonnen/|url-status=live}}</ref> Herbert writes in ''Dune'' that the Baron possesses a "[[Basso profondo|basso]] voice" and is so "grossly and immensely fat" that he requires [[anti-gravity]] devices known as [[suspensor (Dune)|suspensors]] to support his weight.<ref name="sf.com">{{cite web|url=https://sciencefiction.com/2019/01/12/stellan-skarsgard-will-play-baron-vladimir-harkonnen-dune/|title=Stellan Skarsgård Will Play Baron Vladimir Harkonnen In ''Dune''|website=ScienceFiction.com|first=Stuart|last=Conover|date=January 12, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916215947/https://sciencefiction.com/2019/01/12/stellan-skarsgard-will-play-baron-vladimir-harkonnen-dune/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Screen Rant">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dune-movie-reboot-stellan-skarsgard-cast/|title=''Dune'' Movie Reboot Casts Stellan Skarsgård As Its Villain|date=January 9, 2019|website=[[Screen Rant]]|first=Sandy|last=Schaefer|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021045643/https://screenrant.com/dune-movie-reboot-stellan-skarsgard-cast/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Frank |last=Herbert |author-link=Frank Herbert |title=Dune |year=1965 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London, England|isbn=978-0441172719|quote=As [Baron Vladimir Harkonnen] emerged from the shadows, his figure took on dimension — grossly and immensely fat. And with subtle bulges beneath folds of his dark robes to reveal that all this fat was sustained partly by portable suspensors harnessed to his flesh. He might weigh two hundred Standard kilos in actuality, but his feet would carry no more than fifty of them.|title-link=Dune (novel)}}</ref> He is one of the wealthiest members of the Landsraad and a bitter rival of [[Leto I Atreides|Leto Atreides]],<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/18/new-dune-movie-explained-what-to-know-about-the-classic-sci-fi-novel|title=''Dune'' Remake Movie Explained: What to Know About the Classic Sci-Fi Novel|website=[[IGN]]|first=Jesse|last=Schedeen|date=March 18, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=March 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319212316/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/18/new-dune-movie-explained-what-to-know-about-the-classic-sci-fi-novel|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Baron's "legendary evil and intellect" are unmatched by anyone else from House Harkonnen.<ref name="sf.com"/> In the novel, the Baron feigns outrage over losing control of Arrakis to Leto, but is actually conspiring to use the situation as an opportunity to destroy House Atreides once and for all.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="IGN 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/15/dune-movie-reboot-cast-zendaya-oscar-isaac-javier-bardem|title=''Dune'' Movie: Every Actor in the Sci-Fi Reboot|first=Jesse|last=Schedeen|website=IGN|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021045644/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/15/dune-movie-reboot-cast-zendaya-oscar-isaac-javier-bardem|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/01/09/dune-movie-reboot-stellan-skarsgard-baron-harkonnen/|title=Stellan Skarsgard to Play Baron Harkonnen in ''Dune'' Reboot|website=Comicbook.com|first=Jamie|last=Lovett|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426155611/https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/01/09/dune-movie-reboot-stellan-skarsgard-baron-harkonnen/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

William Hughes of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' describes the Baron as "a decadent, monstrous gasbag of depravity and evil".<ref name="AV">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-stellan-skarsgard-is-your-new-bar-1831622192|title=Ladies and gentlemen, Stellan Skarsgård is your new Baron Harkonnen|first=William|last=Hughes|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915024144/https://news.avclub.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-stellan-skarsgard-is-your-new-bar-1831622192|url-status=live}}</ref> As ruthless and cruel as he is intelligent and cunning, the Baron is "crafty and power-hungry" and has a talent for manipulating others and exploiting their weaknesses<ref name="Screen Rant"/> as well as a propensity for torture and blackmail.<ref name="Nerdist">{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/denis-villeneuve-new-dune-whos-playing-who/|title=Who's Playing Who in Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune''|website=[[Nerdist]]|first=Lindsey|last=Romain|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021045643/https://nerdist.com/article/denis-villeneuve-new-dune-whos-playing-who/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' describes the character as "cruel, sadistic, and hedonistic".<ref name="IGN"/> Travis Johnson of Flicks.com.au says that Harkonnen is written as "a predatory homosexual given to pederasty and incest, an unrepentant rapist and murderer."<ref name="Flicks">{{cite web|url=https://www.flicks.com.au/features/why-denis-villenueves-upcoming-version-of-dune-has-us-crazy-excited/|title=Why Denis Villenueve's upcoming version of ''Dune'' has us crazy excited|website=Flicks.com.au|first=Travis|last=Johnson|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021045645/https://www.flicks.com.au/features/why-denis-villenueves-upcoming-version-of-dune-has-us-crazy-excited/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Baron's sexual preference for young men is implied in ''Dune'' and ''Children of Dune''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dune|first=Frank|last=Herbert|date=1965|quote='I'll be in my sleeping chambers,' the Baron said. 'Bring me that young fellow we bought on Gamont, the one with the lovely eyes. Drug him well. I don't feel like wrestling.'}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Dune|first=Frank|last=Herbert|date=1965|quote='Why haven't you ever bought a Bene Gesserit, Uncle?' Feyd-Rautha asked. 'With a Truthsayer at your side—'<br>'You know my tastes!' the Baron snapped.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Dune|first=Frank|last=Herbert|date=1965|quote=Baron to Feyd: 'This old fool saw through the shielded needle you'd planted in that slave boy's thigh. Right where I'd put my hand on it, eh?'}}</ref> It is noted, however, that he "once permitted himself to be seduced" by a [[Bene Gesserit]] in the liaison which produced his secret daughter.<ref name="Jessica's father">{{cite book|title=Dune|first=Frank|last=Herbert|date=1965|quote=Paul to Jessica: 'There's a thing you don't know and should—we are Harkonnens...You're the Baron's own daughter...The Baron sampled many pleasures in his youth, and once permitted himself to be seduced. But it was for the genetic purposes of the Bene Gesserit'.}}</ref>