The Red Tent
In the Book of Genesis, little is known about Jacob’s only daughter Dinah, but through Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent a light is shone on Dinah and the life of women in biblical times. Told through Dinah's perspective, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood and the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers – Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah – the four wives of Jacob. They give Dinah the skills she needs to sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land.
One of the most interesting things about The Red Tent was the relationship between Jacob’s four wives. The first part of the book goes into great detail about how they interact with one another and with Jacob. It’s a constant balancing act between their bond as sisters and their rivalry as wives. Leah and Rachel have an especially tumultuous relationship. In the beginning they are rivals, but as they grow older they seem to live contently together. Leah’s leadership over the home and Rachel’s gift as a midwife give them the space they need.
With Zilpah and Bilhah it’s a different sort of relationship with their sisters and Jacob. They are not technically his wives, but Zilpah is especially close to Leah just as Bilhah is to Rachel. But no matter their quarrels, these four women work together to sustain their home and take care of Jacob’s many children.
The communal raising of the children was another part I particularly enjoyed about The Red Tent. In western cultures, typically we’re divided into family units with two parents who mainly raise the children, with the help of grandparents and extended family as needed. But in biblical times, and in many cultures outside of the western world, the community raises the children. This was the case with Dinah and her many brothers. Because she was the only girl, her mothers doted on her. While she did have to work hard, she was taught many things her brothers never learned. She had access to the red tent – the place the women went when they were on their period – and through that had access to her mothers’ shared knowledge.
The focus on sisterhood, womanhood, and motherhood dominated the book, but I liked how Diamant also touched on spousal death and how one can move forward after such a significant loss. Although Dinah loses her first love violently, in time she is able to move past her grief. She finds happiness with her second husband and although it’s different than her first marriage, it’s just as wonderful. Lots of stories tend to focus on that “first great love” and if it doesn’t work out, it’s assumed the one left living never remarries or finds love again. It was refreshing to see Dinah’s story end differently.
The Red Tent pulls back the curtain during a remarkable period of early history. Dinah’s story may be seen as insignificant compared to her famous brother Joseph, but Diamant gives readers a special treat with her rich storytelling of this young woman who the bible forgot.
The Red Tent Rating: ★★★★
One of the most interesting things about The Red Tent was the relationship between Jacob’s four wives. The first part of the book goes into great detail about how they interact with one another and with Jacob. It’s a constant balancing act between their bond as sisters and their rivalry as wives. Leah and Rachel have an especially tumultuous relationship. In the beginning they are rivals, but as they grow older they seem to live contently together. Leah’s leadership over the home and Rachel’s gift as a midwife give them the space they need.
With Zilpah and Bilhah it’s a different sort of relationship with their sisters and Jacob. They are not technically his wives, but Zilpah is especially close to Leah just as Bilhah is to Rachel. But no matter their quarrels, these four women work together to sustain their home and take care of Jacob’s many children.
The communal raising of the children was another part I particularly enjoyed about The Red Tent. In western cultures, typically we’re divided into family units with two parents who mainly raise the children, with the help of grandparents and extended family as needed. But in biblical times, and in many cultures outside of the western world, the community raises the children. This was the case with Dinah and her many brothers. Because she was the only girl, her mothers doted on her. While she did have to work hard, she was taught many things her brothers never learned. She had access to the red tent – the place the women went when they were on their period – and through that had access to her mothers’ shared knowledge.
The focus on sisterhood, womanhood, and motherhood dominated the book, but I liked how Diamant also touched on spousal death and how one can move forward after such a significant loss. Although Dinah loses her first love violently, in time she is able to move past her grief. She finds happiness with her second husband and although it’s different than her first marriage, it’s just as wonderful. Lots of stories tend to focus on that “first great love” and if it doesn’t work out, it’s assumed the one left living never remarries or finds love again. It was refreshing to see Dinah’s story end differently.
The Red Tent pulls back the curtain during a remarkable period of early history. Dinah’s story may be seen as insignificant compared to her famous brother Joseph, but Diamant gives readers a special treat with her rich storytelling of this young woman who the bible forgot.
The Red Tent Rating: ★★★★