Individuals who are trained in supreme logic and rationality to become the best of humankind in terms of cognitive and analytical abilities. They are known as “human computers” and take the place of computers and thinking machines that were overthrown during the Butlerian Jihad. Mentats often use sapho (a high-energy juice extracted from roots) to amplify their cognitive powers.
Get the entire Dune LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mentat Term Timeline in Dune
The timeline below shows where the term Mentat appears in Dune. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Part 1
...state of change his family is experiencing. Thufir Hawat, Duke Leto’s Master of Assassins and Mentat (a human with extraordinary computing capabilities), has discussed the upcoming planetary move with Paul. The...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 2
...extra weight is held up by anti-gravity suspensors. Piter is the Baron’s cunning and sadistic Mentat, and Feyd-Rautha is the Baron’s cruel 16-year-old nephew and heir.
(full context)
...consuming spice. Piter voices his concern that the Baron may kill him and find another Mentat. The Baron rejects this theory, wondering aloud where he could find a Mentat as skillful...
(full context)
...beings in the Imperium. The Baron and Piter plan to cause Duke Leto and his Mentat Thufir Hawat to suspect Lady Jessica as the traitor in the Duke’s household. The Baron...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 4
...own age. Instead, he was entertained and trained by “the troubadour-warrior” Gurney Halleck, the respected Mentat and Master of Assasins Thufir Hawat, swordmaster Duncan Idaho, and the knowledgeable (and later traitorous)...
(full context)
...is a week after the Reverend Mother Mohiam’s visit to Paul Atreides. Thufir Hawat, a Mentat who has been in the Atreides family’s service for three generations, meets Paul in Castle...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 6
...the Fremen as allies. He also reveals that Paul has been secretly trained as a Mentat since childhood. Paul wants to continue this training.
(full context)
Book 1, Part 12
...and son discuss the hunter-seeker attempt on Paul’s life. The Duke is displeased that his Mentat Thufir Hawat failed to discover the plot when assessing the palace before the Atreides family...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 13
Hawat has intercepted a message that suggests Lady Jessica is colluding with Baron Harkonnen. The Mentat is unaware that this is a Harkonnen ploy to make House Atreides suspect Duke Leto’s...
(full context)
...to look into why Fremen have started addressing Paul in the streets as “Mahdi.” His Mentat tells Leto that the Fremen believe that Paul could be the messiah that has been...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 17
...is shocked and knows this suspicion must be shared by Thufir Hawat. She calls the Mentat to meet her.
(full context)
...never trusted her to use her full Bene Gesserit abilities in Duke Leto’s service. The Mentat angrily replies that he does not have faith in Bene Gesserit motives and insults the...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 18
...Leto feels very weary. He reflects on his recent meeting with Thufir Hawat, where the Mentat related his conversation with Lady Jessica to the Duke. After blaming the drunken Duncan Idaho...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 19
Lady Jessica is confronted by Baron Harkonnen and his Mentat Piter de Vries, with two guards posted outside the room. The Baron tells the Mentat...
(full context)
Book 1, Part 21
...Explosives set off by his soldiers destroy the rest of Duke Leto’s army. The Baron’s Mentat, Piter, approaches him to relay that Sardaukar soldiers have arrived with the captured Duke. The...
(full context)
...and in front of his men. He’s also frustrated by the death of his valuable Mentat, Piter, as his plans for House Harkonnen leadership on Arrakis must change now.
(full context)
Book 1, Part 22
...of their situation. Paul is “unable to stop the inflow of information. […] It was Mentat power and more.” This newfound power feels like a “cold precision” in his mind, reflected...
(full context)
Book 2, Part 2
...shocked and furious by the Harkonnen attack that his emotions have almost overpowered his rational Mentat abilities. Hawat is amazed that the Padishah Emperor and House Harkonnen have committed ten legions...
(full context)
...Gurney Halleck and some of the Atreides soldiers are safely hidden with Arrakis smugglers. The Mentat tries to negotiate with the Fremen for his people to offer the Atreides men their...
(full context)
Book 2, Part 4
Finally, Nefud reports that Duke Leto’s Mentat Thufir Hawat has been captured, and that the Atreides Mentat still believes that Jessica was...
(full context)
Book 2, Part 6
...that Lady Jessica is the House Atreides traitor, because the weapons master trusts Thufir Hawat’s Mentat logic. However, Tuek thinks that they are holding the wrong person accountable for the betrayal....
(full context)
Book 2, Part 13
...wants to know why the Baron lied about Thufir Hawat’s death, when Duke Leto’s former Mentat is actually now in the Baron’s employ. Count Fenring advises the Baron to kill the...
(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. The slave has not...
(full context)
Book 3, Part 1
...for Feyd-Rautha to stop trying to kill the Baron. The Baron will also have his Mentat Thufir Hawat watch over his nephew to prevent an act of treachery. Feyd-Rautha realizes that...
(full context)
Book 3, Part 2
Baron Harkonnen meets with Mentat Thufir Hawat. Hawat wants a message sent to Count Rabban on Arrakis but has not...
(full context)
Book 3, Part 10
...going on a mission to infiltrate an Arrakeen smuggling ring. The Baron believes that the Mentat will perish shortly, as he has not been receiving the daily antidote administered by House...
(full context)
Book 3, Part 11
...Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is with the Emperor, as is Thufir Hawat, Duke Leto’s old Mentat. Paul is surprised that Halleck has left their old friend Hawat in their enemy’s group,...
(full context)
...Hawat’s many generations of service to the Atreides family, Paul is willing to give the Mentat anything he asks for—even Paul’s life. Hawat is shocked, realizing that Paul knows about his...
(full context)
...support Hawat, who is almost dead on his feet due to the Harkonnen-administered poison. The Mentat manages to turn proudly to face the Emperor, revealing the poison needle that the Emperor...
(full context)
