Subjugation and Survival: Examining Patriarchy and Marriage in Jean Sasson’s Princess Series.

Abstract

While the glittering facade of a Saudi palace evokes visions of unimaginable luxury and royal splendour, the lived reality for women within this deeply conservative, male-dominated society tells a far darker story. Behind gilded doors, female autonomy is systematically constrained by rigid patriarchal structures and religion-centric governance. Over the past two decades, courageous writers such as Taslima Nasrin, Latifa, and Jean Sasson have brought national and international visibility to these suppressed lives behind the veil, exposing the systemic human rights issues hidden beneath cultural traditions.

Sasson’s literary output occupies a pivotal space in this discourse, specifically highlighting the quiet suffering and quiet resilience of Saudi women navigating extreme subjugation. The foundation of her most influential work was laid in 1983 through a rare, intimate friendship with a Saudi royal, Princess Sultana. This unique bond granted Sasson unprecedented access to the heavily guarded private sphere of the Saudi elite, eventually culminating in her groundbreaking Princess trilogy.

By critically examining the narrative arc across Princess, Daughters of Arabia, and Desert Royal, this paper explores how institutionalized patriarchy and religious fundamentalism function not as separate entities, but as interconnected forces acting as two sides of the same coin. Through this lens, the paper demonstrates how moral, legal, and social codes are weaponized to enforce female submission, while simultaneously celebrating the covert acts of resistance through which these women reclaim their humanity and voice.