AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON SAUDI ARABIAN WOMEN’S RULES IN JEAN SASSON’S PRINCESS

Abstract

The research discusses about first, the rules of being Saudi Arabian women and second, Sasson’s perspective on the rules of being Saudi Arabian women. The data are analyzed by using Laurenson and Swingewood’s Sociology of Literature Theory. I use sociological approach in analyzing the text. This thesis is qualitative research because it uses textual form. The thesis uses inductive method. Inductive tries to establish a general truth from the observation of fact. The technique of collecting data in this research is library research where the primary data are collected from Princess. The secondary data are collected from the data related to the reality of women in Saudi Arabia and American thought. The sources of evidence are taken through the females characters’ experiences. There are education, women domesticity, fashion and marriage pattern. The result of the research shows that Sultana firstly tries to see Saudi Arabia in American perspective. Sultana’s reconciliation appears in the end of the novel when she looks herself as a truly Arabian woman. Sultana’s reconciliation indicates that: when Jean Sasson tries to civilize the restricted culture of Saudi Arabia, she finally finds that America is different from Saudi Arabia. She shows that Sultana is Saudi Arabian woman, she cannot be American woman. Therefore, the condition of women in a particular era and place cannot globally be standardized, even by American perspective.