The Red Tent
"The Red Tent""The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant tells the Biblical story of Dinah, the only daughter in Jacob's family of four wives and twelve sons. Told from Dinah's perspective, the book details lives of women and the importance of the 'red tent' at that time. It teach us timeless lessons of life, love and suffering of woman. The novel begins with the stories of Dinah's mothers, the four wives of Jacob: Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilbah. Although, Leah is Dinah's birth mother, all four teach her lessons and share their gifts. With their help and insight, Dinah grows into a strong, capable woman. Through the novel, we grow with Dinah from her childhood in Mesopotamia through puberty, when she is then entered into 'the red tent', and well of into her adulthood from Cannan to Egypt. Throughout her journey we learn how 'the red tent' is constantly looked upon for encouragement, solace and comfort. It is where woman go once a month during their periods, where they have babies, where they dwell in illness and most importantly, where they tell stories, passing on wisdom and spinning collective memories.
Dinah's baby is taken from her in order that he might grow up as an Egyptian prince. Most of us do not experience great glories and victories in life; rather, most of us gather our joys and small pleasures where and when we can, and the rest of the time we do what is necessary to survive. for on that day I was a girl who was ready for a man". He is even given a new name, an Egyptian name, Re-Mose and Dinah is forbidden ever to call her son by the name she originally gave him, but she knew that it was the only way to protect him. She was completely captured by him and next time they met, they confess their love for each other and spend days and nights rejoicing their passion together. Each of her mothers taught her something different: Rachel taught her to help pregnant women deliver children, Leah taught her to weave and be strong, Bilbah taught her patience and Zilpha taught her to honor the Gods. l of advice and wisdom, Dinah matures from a simple-minded young girl to a valiant independent woman. Shortly after Jacob's reunion with his twin brother Esau, family settles in the city of Shechem. Jacob, Dinah's father did not seem to have much of role in her life at all. Dinah hold the truth of her past deep in her heart for many years. Re-Mose seems very distant from his mother but it may be just a normal at that time of male dominance. A woman's value was determined to a great extent by the number of children she bore, particularly by the number of male children. Upon 'agreement', bride price was paid; next morning Dinah wakes up in a pool of Shalem's blood, rendered by hands of her brothers Simon and Levi, who also killed every single man in Shechem.
Common topics in this essay:
Egypt Throughout,
Shortly Jacob's,
Simon Levi,
Re-Mose Dinah,
Death Dinah,
Leah Dinah's,
Told Dinah's,
Jacob Dinah's,
Life Dinah,
Gods Fertility,
red tent',
'the red,
'the red tent',
woman novel,
red tent,
simon levi,
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Acceptance Essays
