Princess Sultana : a reflection of Saudi society.

Abstract

The story of Sultana in Princess: a true story of life behind the veil in Saudi Arabia, written by Jean Sasson, proposes an autobiography of a woman in the royal family in Saudi Arabia. Assuming the voice of a woman who cannot tell her own story, Sasson, as an amanuensis, recounts Sultana's autobiography. Sultana's life experiences come from journals she has kept since she was eleven years old. A study of the book, according to the genre and theories of autobiography, will reveal whether or not the opinions told can be viewed as valid. Through this thesis and its research, another argument rises from another autobiographical dimension, that of this thesis writer and researcher, a Saudi female. The conclusion of the study will show if the text matches the reality of the claims in the book about Saudi society. Through the narrative, 'Sultana' says that her situation is similar to the rest of the Saudi female population. 'Sultana' claims that her comments are true for all Saudi women. For verification of that claim, this study will examine gender roles, social conditions, and women's rights in response to Sultana's comments upon them. It will also provide the history of the state of feminism in the Arabian Peninsula, which influences the status of women in Saudi Arabia. A deliberative reliance on feminist criticism will constitute part of the thesis. As a conclusion, analysis of the text provides understanding of this exotic society, for someone who is outside of this society, and the role played by its women. Further, it reveals the gender complexity which exists between men and women in Saudi Arabia.