The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - Essay Example

The Red Tent The book is based on a story in the old testament involving the family of Jacob, and more so his wives and daughters. The novel is narrated by Dinah, who is a daughter to Jacob and Leah and gives an account of the events that took place in the tent where the family used to call home. The women in the book are the main characters and their stay in the Red Tent is of immense significance. The lives of Jacob’s wife and daughters revolve around the tent. The significance of the tent in the lives of the women can be derived from the fact that it served as a sanctuary. Leah, Dinah, and Rachel find the tent as a safe haven, which caters for their emotional needs. It is in this tent that the women had an opportunity to share feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This way, they were able to continue with life and feel unified and strong at the same time despite the challenges they were facing (Finding 49). The tent can also be regarded as significant since it serves as a birthplace where the women bring new lives into a society where the male gender is dominant. Thus, the Red Tent acts as a support system that brings the women together for their own well-being. Each woman in the tent is supported by the rest in times of giving birth. In the tent, some women gain experience of helping others with childbirth. For example, Dinah and Leah become midwives and assist their fellow women during childbirth. The tent also reveals the tribulations that women went through in the past, as well as the role of the ancient women (Finding 49). The setting of the book explores the traditions and customs that subjected women to suffering. Traditionally, women did not take part in meaningful activities in the society, as they were only expected to give birth, take care of their children, and provide household services to men. It was men who ruled over women and the female members of society had an obligation to be submissive. The Red Tent is also a symbol of the common problems that women used to face during the ancient times. This is because women are sent in this tent when they experience their menstrual cycle, as well as during the times when they are nearly giving birth. Although men consider this as a form of isolation, women take this as an opportunity to share amongst themselves and address the issues affecting them. Since they sit privately in the absence of men, such an experience enable them to talk freely and help one another (Finding 50). There are certain rituals taking place in the Red Tent, the most significant of them being childbirth. There are four characters in the novel who act as midwives and they include Dinah, Rachel, Inna and Meryt. This ritual is portrayed as an inevitable experience that every woman has to go through whether it means that the woman has to lose her life. In the novel, this ritual is portrayed as both a painful and frightening condition, especially in the past. This is because there are many children who are lost during childbirth. The main female character (Dinah) loses children during childbirth and some women die when giving birth. During the ritual of childbirth, there is no guarantee that the women will survive, despite the fact that there are midwives to assist them. The men in the novel are aware of the practice of childbirth taking place in the tent, but do not know the suffering the women go through. Their main concern is to know the gender of the children born and provide for the women and their children (Finding 51). Religious rituals are also conducted in the tent; the women fulfil their religious rituals to their goddess while inside the red tent. They carry out some rites that they consider holy inside the tent. Dinah’s mothers worship a goddess who is represented by Teraphim. The religion practiced inside the tent is different from what the Jacob himself practiced. Jacob’s religious beliefs are based on the recognition of a supreme being, circumcision of boys, as well as offering of animal sacrifices to God. However, Jacob’s wives do not feel impressed by such religious beliefs and opt for an alternative practice. Since they do not want to offend Jacob, they conduct this ritual secretly. Initially, Jacob is not aware of the religious practices being carried out in the tent, but comes to learn of it later. Upon learning about the Teraphim, he smashes it and forces his wives to convert to his religious faith (Finding 51). It is true that the representation of women in the novel help in carving out an autonomous space by women, which represent their plight in a society dominated by men. Since the novel portrays women suffering during the ancient times, the women of today can use it as a basis to fight for their rightful place in the society. Historically, women did not have a say in society, and their roles were limited to homes where they were expected to carry out household chores. The women in the Red Tent portray a group that has been isolated by men to the extent that they stay in a tent where they share a lot. They do not seem intimidated by the actions of men, but are determined to help one another. Given the suffering that the women in the Red Tent underwent, women in today’s society can use this as a motivation to address their rights. Based on the feminist ideology, a patriarchal society gives preference to men while women have limited opportunities for growth. As such, women should come out and address the problems they face by ensuring that they take part in meaningful activities in society. This implies that they should advocate for their rights to be equally represented in leadership positions and be well-educated just like men. In addition, women should advocate for well-paying jobs and equal employment opportunities, especially in the formal sector. This way, they will get recognized as important players in the economic and social development of the world (Finding 54). Works Cited Top of Form Finding, Ann. Anita Diamants the Red Tent: A Readers Guide. New York, NY [u.a.: Continuum, 2004. Print. Bottom of Form Read More