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Illegitimacy in fiction

This is a list of fictional stories in which illegitimacy features as an important plot element. Passing mentions are omitted from this article. Many of these stories explore the social pain and exclusion felt by illegitimate "natural children".

Illegitimacy was a common theme in Victorian literature. "Illegitimacy was a popular subject for Victorian writers, not only because of its value as a plot device, but also because of the changing laws affecting illegitimate children and their parents which kept the topic in the public eye."[1]

The History of the Kings of Britain (c. 1136 prose history): Much attention is focused on the disputable bastardy of King Arthur, as well as the illegitimate origins of the wizard Merlin.

Geoffrey of Monmouth

Le Morte d'Arthur (1485 prose romance): King Arthur is conceived illegitimately when his father Uther Pendragon utilizes Merlin's magic to seduce Igraine, a noblewoman married to Duke Gorlois. Later, Arthur unwittingly begets a bastard son, Mordred, on his own half-sister Morgause. At Arthur's court, Mordred and his half-brother Agravain incite growing discontent about the Queen's adulterous relations with Sir Lancelot, and a civil war ensues. While Arthur is preoccupied fighting Lancelot, Mordred spreads word that Arthur has been killed, seizes the crown for himself, and attempts to seduce the queen. She resists, and Arthur quickly returns, attacking and defeating his son's armies. Mordred dies in combat, and Arthur is fatally wounded and dies shortly thereafter with his kingdom in ruins.

Sir Thomas Malory

William Shakespeare

Richard III

The Revenger's Tragedy (1607 play): In addition to cuckolding his father and plotting against his legitimate brother, the Duke's bastard son, Spurio, also becomes heavily embroiled in the Revenger's plot to undo the Duke and the rest of his family.

Thomas Middleton

The Maid of Honour (1632 play): a king removes his troublesome illegitimate brother from court by sending him off on a secret military campaign.

Philip Massinger

"The Speech of Polly Baker" (1747 story): a woman is put on trial for having an illegitimate child. She had been convicted four times in the past for this same crime. Each time, she said, the full blame was placed on her shoulders but not the father's.

Benjamin Franklin

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749 novel): Tom, the bastard infant of a country girl, is left in an anonymous bundle to the care of the rich and kind-hearted Mr. Allworthy. Mr. Allworthy raises Tom, who grows up and has a number of adventures over the book's thousand-plus pages.

Henry Fielding

Candide (1759 satirical novella): The hero Candide, in the opening of chapter 1, is "suspected [to be] the son of the Baron's sister by a respectable, honest gentleman of the neighborhood, whom she had refused to marry because he could prove only seventy-one quarterings, the rest of his family tree having been lost in the passage of time."[2]

Voltaire

Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility

(who fathered several illegitimate children, including Alexandre Dumas, fils), Antony (1831 play): a defense of adultery and illegitimacy.[3]

Alexandre Dumas, père

(1954–57?, based on Marcel Pagnol's trilogy of plays, Marius, Fanny and César)

Fanny

"Love Child" (1968 number-one hit single)

Diana Ross and the Supremes

"Billie Jean" from Thriller (1982).

Michael Jackson

Marius—'s 1931 French-language film adapted from his 1929 play Marius

Marcel Pagnol

Fanny—'s 1932 French-language film adapted from his 1932 play Fanny

Marcel Pagnol

(1935), based on C. S. Forester's book of the same name

Brown on Resolution

César—'s 1936 French-language comedy-drama conclusion to his trilogy about a Marseille couple, played by Pierre Fresnay and Orane Demazis.

Marcel Pagnol

Port of Seven Seas—1938 dramatic film written by , based on the plays of Marcel Pagnol and the films based on them. The film was directed by James Whale, starred Wallace Beery, and featured Frank Morgan and Maureen O'Sullivan.

Preston Sturges

(The Well-Digger's Daughter) — a 1940 French romantic comedy drama directed by Marcel Pagnol.

La Fille du Puisatier

(1941), which tells the story of the non-fictional Edna Gladney who takes it upon herself to help orphaned children to find homes, despite the opposition of the "good" citizens who think that illegitimate children are beneath their interest.

Blossoms in the Dust

(1953), also based on Brown on Resolution. The film has two endings; in one, the sailor dies and his origin is revealed; in the other, he survives and his origin is not revealed. In both endings the sailor is shown to be Canadian, as the actor chosen for the part (Jeffrey Hunter) was American.

Sailor of the King

(1957), based on the best-selling novel by Grace Metalious

Peyton Place

(1961, adapted from the musical play, which in turn had been adapted from Marcel Pagnol's trilogy of plays, Fanny, Marius and César)

Fanny

(1990), Vincent Corleone (Andy Garcia), the son of Sonny Corleone and his mistress, Lucy Mancini, succeeds Michael Corleone as the new Don of the Corleone Family.

The Godfather Part III

(1991), American ex-lounge entertainer Ralph Jones (John Goodman) is chosen to be the next king of England by representatives of the British Royal family after the family's demise following a freak accident. Ralph discovers that his paternal grandfather was the fictional Duke of Warren (of the House of Wyndham), the current ruling dynasty, and he was therefore the surviving illegitimate heir.

King Ralph

In (1991), Robin learns he has a half-brother whom their father sired by his mistress; the Sheriff of Nottingham discovers that Mortianna is his mother, his father being implied to be Satan himself.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

In (1996), Aladdin discovers that his father is Cassim.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

In (1997), the mother of Kevin Lomax reveals that his father is John Milton.

The Devil's Advocate

In (1998), Philippe Bourbon is informed about D'Artagnan being his father.

The Man in the Iron Mask

(2001), a murder mystery set in 1932, driven by hidden illegitimacy

Gosford Park

In (2002), Ted Brooks discovers that his father is Jack Johnson.

Snow Dogs

In (2006), Lady Eleanor Carlyle bequeaths her Castle to Prince XII, her beloved cat who bears a strong resemblance to Garfield. The Prince inherits the grand estate after Lady Eleanor Carlyle's death, which enrages the Lady's greedy nephew, Lord Manfred Dargis, who will now only inherit the grand estate once Prince passes away.

Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties

The protagonist of (2007) discovers that he is Konreid's son.

In the Name of the King

The of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) discovers that Mutt Williams is his son from an affair with Marion Ravenwood.

titular protagonist

(The Well-Digger's Daughter) — Daniel Auteuil's 2011 remake of Marcel Pagnol's 1940 film.

La Fille du Puisatier

In (2011), Loki learns that Laufey was his father before being adopted by Odin.

Thor

In (2011), Nathan Harper discovers that he was adopted and his real name is Steven Price.

Abduction

In (2011), Zeus is revealed to be the father of Theseus.

Immortals

In (2012), Miranda Tate is revealed to be the daughter of Ra's al Ghul.

The Dark Knight Rises

In (2012), Will Shaw discovers that Lucia Caldera is his half-sister.

The Cold Light of Day

In (2016), Alice discovers that she is a clone.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

In (2019), the unknown father of Arthur Fleck is suspected to be Thomas Wayne.

Joker

In (2019), Junior is unaware that he was Henry Brogan's clone before being adopted by Clay Varris.

Gemini Man

(1964–69) – ABC TV series based on Grace Metalious' novel

Peyton Place

(1981-1989) - Dominique Deveraux (born Millie Cox [ Diahann Carroll ]) was revealed to be the illegitimate daughter of Blake Carrington (John Forsythe)'s father Tom Carrington and, therefore, Blake's half-sister.

Dynasty

(1988–98) – the title character bore a baby out of wedlock, prompting criticism from Vice President Dan Quayle

Murphy Brown

(1994–2004) – Ross Geller and Rachel Green, two of the main characters, have an illegitimate child.

Friends

(1996) – film made by Showtime Networks, directed by Anjelica Huston, based on a novel by Dorothy Allison, adapted by Anne Meredith; Jena Malone stars as a poor, physically abused and sexually molested girl.

Bastard out of Carolina

(1997–present) – Eric Cartman is the illegitimate son of Liane Cartman and a fictitious Denver Broncos player, Jack Tenorman

South Park

(1997–present) – the episode, "Bantling Boy", centered on the illegitimate son of a baronet.

Midsomer Murders

(2000–2007): the premise of the show is Lorelai Gilmore's raising her daughter out of wedlock, as a single mother, with the help of the fictitious town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.

Gilmore Girls

(2003–12) – Lucas Scott, illegitimate son of Dan Scott

One Tree Hill

(2003–present) – Ziva David's paternal half-brother, Ari Haswari, is an illegitimate half-Jewish, half-Arab Mossad traitor.

NCIS

(2010–15) – Charlie, the illegitimate son of Ethel Parks; Marigold, the illegitimate daughter of Lady Edith; Daniel Clark, the illegitimate son of Lord Sinderby.

Downton Abbey

(2010–present) – Sterling Archer is the illegitimate son of Mallory Archer and a currently unknown father.

Archer

(2011–17) – Sean Renard is the illegitimate son of a king and a hexenbiest; Adalind Schade has two love children, Diana and Kelly, respectively by Renard and Nick Burkhardt.

Grimm

(2011–2019) – The series' plot is sparked by Jon Arryn learning that the royal children are all illegitimate due to Queen Cersei having committed incest with her twin brother, this being explored at length. Jon Snow, presumed illegitimate son of Eddard Stark; Ramsay Snow, illegitimate son of Roose Bolton; and Gendry, illegitimate son of Robert Baratheon, are also main characters. In each case, their being illegitimate (or presumed so) is explored, and it affects them in different ways.

Game of Thrones

(2013) – Sebastian 'Bash' de Poitiers, part of the main cast, is the bastard son of King Henry II.

Reign

DCAU - episode epilogue – Terry McGinnis and Matt McGinnis are illegitimate sons of Bruce Wayne.

Justice League Unlimited

(2009-present) and its many spin-offs are reality TV shows about teenage girls who get pregnant out of wedlock

16 and Pregnant

Connor Kenway (Ratonhnhaké:ton) the protagonist, is the illegitimate son of Haytham Kenway and Kaniehtí꞉io

Assassin's Creed III

– Josuke Higashikata, the protagonist of Diamond Is Unbreakable, is the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar, as the result of a one-night stand with Tomoko Higashikata. In addition, Giorno Giovanna, the protagonist of Vento Aureo, is the illegitimate son of Dio Brando and an unnamed Japanese woman, being conceived with the body of Jonathan Joestar.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

– Mikan Sakura, the protagonist, is the illegitimate daughter of Izumi Yukihira and Yuka Azumi, though her parents were recognized as married after their deaths.

Gakuen Alice

Trunks is the illegitimate son of Vegeta and Bulma, (his parents got married one year after his birth).

Dragon Ball Z

– Rin and Yukio Okumura are the illegitimate half-demons sons of Satan through unknown human woman.

Blue Exorcist

– Kaoru Hanabishi (Honjo) is the son of parents who never married.

Ai Yori Aoshi

– Cain Hargreaves and his half-brother are illegitimate children of the same father.

Godchild

– Rin is thought the illegitimate daughter of Daikichi's grandfather.

Bunny Drop

– Rin Kokonoe was born to an unwed mother.

Kodomo no Jikan

– Gilbert is the product of an affair between his father and his father's sister-in-law.

Kaze to Ki no Uta

– Soichiro was born of an affair, as his father had been.

Kare Kano

– Tamaki Suoh is the illegitimate son of Yuzuru Suoh.

Ouran High School Host Club

Damian Wayne (the fifth sidekick known as Robin) is the illegitimate son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul.

Batman

Lars Alexandersson the new protagonist of the series, is the unknown illegitimate son of the series most antagonist Heihachi Mishima.

Tekken

- Like her Arthurian counterpart, Mordred is an illegitimate child conceived between Artoria and Morgan le Fay via magic and was made into a homunculus clone of Artoria.

Fate/Apocrypha

– Eren's friend, Historia Reiss, is the illegitimate daughter of Rod Reiss and a beautiful servant.

Attack on Titan

– Kuranosuke Koibuchi is the illegitimate son of Keiichiro Koibuchi and singer Lina as a result of their affair.

Princess Jellyfish

– Goro Akechi is the illegitimate son of Masayoshi Shido, a politician.

Persona 5

– Yuu Matsuura believes he is illegitimate, which colors his relationships with others, including the girl who loves him. This belief turns out to be mistaken.

Marmalade Boy

– Takumi Usui is an illegitimate child as a result of an affair between his mother and her butler.

Maid Sama!

– Count Egobossler is an illegitimate child as a result of an affair between his father and a beautiful maid.

Gatchaman Fighter

Tony Stark learns that his biological mother is Amanda Armstrong

Marvel Comics

Elizabeth is adopted by Comstock, an alternate reality version of her real father Booker DeWitt.

BioShock Infinite

Ciri discovers that she is the princess of Cintra.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Dante reveals his twin brother Vergil as the father of Nero.

Devil May Cry 5

Legitimacy (family law)

"Being Dickens" (review of Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, The Turning Point: 1851—A Year That Changed Charles Dickens and the World, Knopf, 2022, 357 pp.), The New York Review of Books, vol. LXIX, no. 7 (21 April 2022), pp. 50, 54–55.

Michael Gorra

"'Make 'Em Cry, Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Wait'", The New York Review of Books, vol. LXIV, no. 10 (8 June 2017), pp. 25–28. (About Wilkie Collins.)

Robert Gottlieb

Prus: Śledztwo biograficzne (Prus: A Biographical Investigation), Kraków, Wydawnictwo Znak, 2017.

Monika Piątkowska

"Representations of illegitimacy in Wilkie Collins's early novels", , 22 March 2004.[3]

Philological Quarterly

Joseph Conrad, New York, Dodd, Mead & Company, 1968.

J. I. M. Stewart

Chopin in Paris: The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer, New York, Scribner, 1998, ISBN 0-684-82458-2.

Tad Szulc