The Red Tent

The Red Tent

In Diamant's powerful novel The Red Tent the ever-silent Dinah from the 34th chapter of Gensis is finally given her own voice, and the story she tells is a much different one then expected. With the guiding hands of her four "mothers", Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah, all the wives of Jacob, we grow with Dinah from her childhood in Mesoptamia through puberty, where she is then entered into the "red tent", and well off 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 women go once a month during menstration, where they have their babies, were they dwell in illness and most importantly, where they tell their stories, passing on wisdom and spinning collective memories. "Their stories were like the offerings of hope and strength poured out before the Queen of Heavens, only these gifts were not for any god or goddess--but for me" (3). It essentially becomes a symbol of womanly strength, love and learning and serves as the basis for relationships between mothers, sisters, and daughters.

With a heart-full of advice and wisdom, Dinah maturates from a simple- minded young girl to a valiant independent individual. "For a moment I weighed the idea of keeping my secret and remaining a girl, the thought passes quickly. I could only be what I was. And that was a woman" (170). This act of puberty is not only her initiation into womanhood but the red tent as well. She is no longer just an observer of stories, she is one of them, part of their community now. On account of this event, Dinah's sensuality begins to blossom and she is able to conceive the notion of true love.

It is at this point in the story, Diamant's use of creative midrash is at its best. Midrashim is used to forge clever and innovative stories from loop-holes in biblical text. It is a way of elaborating on what was already written and shedding light onto those who are pushed aside as meaningless characters or events. In chapter 7 Diamant successfully transforms what was once looked upon as brutal rape into an animated love saga. In order to understand how she is able to pull of such an imaginative tale, we must look to the biblical narrative itself. Shortly after Jacob's reunion with his twin brother Esau, Jacob settles in the city of Shechem. There, his daughter Dinah meets Shechem the prince of the land. The Bible tells us: "He saw her, and took her and lay with her by force." (Genesis 34:2). This act is translated into today's

concept of rape, but as the narrative continues we see how Shechem tries to justify his manner by claiming he fell victim to love. "Being drawn to Dinah, daughter of Jacob, and in love with the maiden, he spoke to the maiden tenderly" (Genesis 34:3). This, however, is not admissible in the eyes of Israel's men. Shechem's behavior is considered "an outrage in Israel...a thing not to be done", and therefore, hinders Shechem's aspiration of marriage to her (Genesis 34:7). One of the ways he is able to seek mercy is by offering Dinah's brothers and father a high bride price. This offering along with a promise for all men to be circumcised in accordance with God's command to their grandfather Abraham: "This is my covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised," is a fitting plea to their ears and Dinah is wed off (Genesis 17:10). But what about Dinah's ears? Who is to say that she wants to marry this man who defiled her? What is her view on it all?

Ironically, there is no mention of Dinah's feelings or thoughts throughout Genesis 34. All the attention focuses not on Dinah, but the men around her. The one who is affected the most throughout this whole ordeal is somehow left in the shadow. There even is no reference to how she succumbs to being raped, and later deceived by her own blood.

After the entire male community gives consent and performs the deed, two of Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, betray them and slaughter all the men of Shechem in their weakened state. They never bother to realize that one of their victims is now their sisters husband, a man she may have profound feelings for. They then go so far as to blame their malignant act of murder and pillage on her. "Should our sister be treated like a whore?" (34:31). Even her own father cast her aside, putting his reputation ahead of his daughters emotions, "You have brought trouble on me, making me odious among the inhabitants of the land..." (Genesis 34:30)

Dinah is no longer just "...a footnote or on those rare occasions when I was remembered, it was as a victim" in Diamant's novel The Red Tent (1). Here Dinah breaks years of unbearable silence and is given the chance to emit what she has lacked for so long, both a voice and a story.

In chapter 7 Dinah tells how she and her aunt Rachel were the two midwives invited into the palace of Shechem by king Hamor in order to assist in his newest concubine's, Ashnan, pregnancy. There, prince Shalem's looks make Dinah's cheeks "full of color" and upon their brief encounter they share in an intimate moment. "I did not wish to end this strange agony of confusion and need that came upon me...for on that day I was a girl who was ready for a man" (183-184). Dinah assents to this affair although she states "I thought perhaps it had been a mistake on my part...but my heart rebelled at the idea" (185). This answers a question that is brought to mind after reading Genesis 34:2. Dinah tells us here that upon meeting this man for the first time she is captivated by him and yields to their encounter that leaves her "drunk with happiness" and questioning when he will return for her.

After being sentence back to the palace upon Ashnan's wishes, Dinah confronts Shalem once again it, this time, however,