Baron Vladimir Harkonnen’s plan for the ultimate subjugation and expoitation of Arrakis was as subtle as it was malicious.
First, the Baron’s nephew, Rabban (nicknamed “The Beast”), was to be installed as planetary governor. His task was to quickly increase spice production at all cost, to be as vicious and brutal as possible. No effort was to be spared to force the population to work harder and be denied all relief. Fear, terror, torture and death were all on the table, not only to work the people to death, but to initiate a culture of despair and suffering.
Then, when spice production had peaked, and when resistance to Rabban was starting to get organized, he would be abruptly pulled away and replaced by the na-Baron, Harkonnen’s favorite nephew (and The Beast’s brother), Feyd Rautha.
Unlike Rabban, Feyd was attractive and refined, and his methods, although still unforgiving and ruthless, were by comparison moderate and benign compared to The Beast. The idea was that after the assumption of the governorship by Feyd, the Resistance to Rabban would lose focus, and the people would be pacified and settle down to a more peaceful and profitable occupation by House Harkonnen.