Mapes

This article or section refers to elements from Original Dune

Shadout Mapes with a crysknife (art by John Schoenherr)

The Shadout Mapes was the head housekeeper in the Imperial Residence in the city of Arrakeen on the planet Arrakis when the Atreides took control of that planet in 10,191AG.

Mapes was one of the first Fremen that many of the Atreides encountered on a personal basis when they arrived on Arrakis. Mapes had approached the Lady Jessica in the hopes of determining if she was the one the Fremen prophecies spoke of. In turn, Jessica managed to learn a great deal from Mapes regarding Fremen superstitions and legends implanted on Arrakis by the Missionaria Protectiva.

In true Fremen fashion, Mapes kept a crysknife concealed on her person, intending to slay Jessica for any sign of falsehood. However, when Mapes determined that she was indeed the Bene Gesserit the Fremen legends spoke of, the knife was promptly gifted to Jessica, who kept it on her thereafter after drawing some of Mapes' blood in proper ritualistic fashion and being warned not to let any living outsider see it unsheathed.

Shortly thereafter, Mapes was almost killed by a Hunter Seeker meant for the Ducal Heir, Paul. In return for saving her life, Mapes informed Paul that the Fremen were aware that a traitor was among them. However, she did not know their identity.

When Wellington Yueh, the House Atreides Suk Doctor disabled the house shields, he stabbed Mapes, who died trying to warn Duke Leto.

Quotes

Jessica: "You speak of the legend and seek answers. Beware the answers you may find. I know you came prepared for violence with a weapon in your bodice."

Mapes: "My Lady, I..."

Jessica: "There's a remote possibility you could draw my life's blood, but in so doing you'd bring down more ruin than your wildest fears could imagine. There are worse things than dying, you know - even for an entire people."

Mapes: "My Lady! The weapon was sent as a gift to you should you prove to be the One."

Jessica: "And as the means of my death should I prove otherwise."

— The Lady Jessica & Shadout Mapes

“When you have lived with prophecy for so long, the moment of revelation is a shock. Lisan al-Gaib. The mother and the son.” - 2021 film

Trivia

• Mapes was portrayed by actress Linda Hunt in the 1984 movie, by Jaroslava Šiktancová in the 2000 miniseries and by Golda Rosheuvel in the 2021 movie.
• Canadian musician Grimes' album Giedi Primes contains songs with Dune references, such as "Caladan", "Sardaukar Levenbrech", "Feyd Rautha Dark Heart" and "Shadout Mapes".

Gallery

Lady Jessica and the shadout Mapes (art by John Schoenherr)

Shadout Mapes (cover art for a Hungarian edition of Dune)

Mapes (by Raúl Allén and Patricia Martin, Dune graphic novel)

Linda Hunt as the shadout Mapes (Dune, 1984)

Jaroslava Šiktancová as the shadout Mapes (Frank Herbert's Dune TV miniseries, Sci-Fi Channel, 2000)

Golda Rosheuvel as the shadout Mapes (Dune, 2021)

Shadout Mapes in the Dune CCG

Mapes' personal crysknife prop (second from the bottom) at the 2021 LA Dune Exhibition