Legitimacy Vs. Illegitimacy Book Report

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 674 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 2

Khaled Hosseini's novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, one of the protagonists, Mariam, is perceived as an "illegitimate" child because Jalil does not publically admit that he is her father. Similarly, the relationship between Mariam's mother and Jalil is considered "illegitimate" because she is of a low social class standing and unable to become one of Jalil's many wives. Mariam's "illegitimacy" as a human being haunts her for the rest of her life. She is of an already low socio-economic status, and her being labeled as illegitimate makes Mariam even more of a social outcast. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khalid Hosseini argues that legitimacy is completely arbitrary, and the only legitimate acts or statuses are moral ones.

For example, the society that shuns Mariam throughout her life is a society that can be considered morally illegitimate. Mariam's father has several wives and several children with those other wives. There is no morally legitimate reason why Jalil cannot or could not have married Mariam's mother, to ensure the future of his own child.

Stuck Writing Your "Legitimacy Vs. Illegitimacy" Book Report?

View All Our Example Legitimacy Vs. Illegitimacy Book Report

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Jalil seems to know deep down that he owes Mariam the opportunity at social legitimacy, which is why he brings her gifts. Therefore, on some level Jalil recognizes that his restrictive social order is illegitimate on a moral level. Mariam, who is innocent, should not be labeled as an "illegitimate" person, but she is. And because Mariam is labeled as an "illegitimate" person she has no political power at all. Other people end up controlling her life, and those other people are always men. Men in the Afghan society that Hosseini describes possess authority and political power. They also possess economic power and control over women. Their power is not legitimate from a moral standpoint, as it makes half of the entire society dependent and subservient to the other half. Nevertheless, the patriarchal order is considered to be legitimate and treated as such by nearly everyone in the society.

When Jalil marries off Mariam because he views her as a problem, his act….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Legitimacy Vs Illegitimacy" (2013, May 11) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/legitimacy-illegitimacy-99734

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Legitimacy Vs Illegitimacy" 11 May 2013. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/legitimacy-illegitimacy-99734>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Legitimacy Vs Illegitimacy", 11 May 2013, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/legitimacy-illegitimacy-99734
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example