We have been lost to each other for so long. My name means nothing to you. My memory is dust. It is not your fault, or mine. The chain connecting mother to daughter was broken and the word passed to the keeping of men, who had no way of knowing. That is why I became a footnote, my story a brief detour between the well-known history of my father, Jacob, and the celebrated chronicle of Joseph, my brother. (Diamant, 1997, p. 1) This is the opening of the book The Red Tent, the story of Dinah, daughter of Leah, wife of Jacob. This starts the journey into the hidden world of ancient women, where in a male dominated society they make themselves powerful. The book makes you realize what a male slanted view we have on history. In the book, the women
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Ruti's shoulders stopped with despair, and several of her teeth were broken from the force of Laban's fists. For all their pity, the wives of Jacob did not embrace Ruti. Even her own sons laughed at her and treated her like a dog. (Diamant, 1997, p. 63)
She was badly mistreated, at first by everyone in the camp. Laban beat her viciously, her sons scorned her, and the women were no help since her sons by Laban were a threat to their own sons. Yet eventually the women realize how brutal Ruti's existence was and that she was a threat to no one. They did their best to help her and give her courage, but she eventually committed suicide. It was a sobering reminder that as powerful as the characters in the book were, not all had it the way they did.
Not that it was particularly easy for them either, but they kept their backs straight and refused to bow to anyone, except where it was necessary to get what they wanted. When Ruti was gambled away to a slave trader, Leah - excessively proud Leah - bowed her head to Jacob, called him her master and begged that he save Ruti. He, flattered, obeyed. When Inna the midwife was accused of witchcraft, this time it was Rachel who bended knee to her husband and fawned over him until he agreed. Not all of their tactics were as servile, however. If any woman in their immediate family was threatened, they were
Ruti's shoulders stopped with despair, and several of her teeth were broken from the force of Laban's fists. For all their pity, the wives of Jacob did not embrace Ruti. Even her own sons laughed at her and treated her like a dog. (Diamant, 1997, p. 63)
She was badly mistreated, at first by everyone in the camp. Laban beat her viciously, her sons scorned her, and the women were no help since her sons by Laban were a threat to their own sons. Yet eventually the women realize how brutal Ruti's existence was and that she was a threat to no one. They did their best to help her and give her courage, but she eventually committed suicide. It was a sobering reminder that as powerful as the characters in the book were, not all had it the way they did.
Not that it was particularly easy for them either, but they kept their backs straight and refused to bow to anyone, except where it was necessary to get what they wanted. When Ruti was gambled away to a slave trader, Leah - excessively proud Leah - bowed her head to Jacob, called him her master and begged that he save Ruti. He, flattered, obeyed. When Inna the midwife was accused of witchcraft, this time it was Rachel who bended knee to her husband and fawned over him until he agreed. Not all of their tactics were as servile, however. If any woman in their immediate family was threatened, they were