History Literature / TheRedTent

* BloodstainedDeflorationL The women of Canaan are expected to show bloodied bedsheets to their in-laws following their wedding nights, to prove they were virgins when they got married. They're shocked to learn the women of Padan-Aram don't do this; instead, when a girl experiences menarche and becomes a woman in their eyes, she participates in the Ritual of Opening, where she breaks her hymen herself by masturbating with a carved figurine of a goddess and offers her virgin blood to the mother goddess Inanna, with the other women witnessing and cheering her on.

* OldManMarryingAChild: At least two of the expectant mothers that the midwives are summoned to attend are girls who've only just begun menstruating, having been impregnated by much older men.

* FirstPeriodPanic: During the TimeSkip, Dinah's cousin Tabea got her first period, but rather than it being celebrated or her even being told what was happening to her (as it would be in Dinah's immediate family), Tabea was simply shut into a dark hut, not allowed to leave until she stopped bleeding, and told she was "[[UncleanlinessIsNextToUngodliness impure]]". (She does, however, get to wear a belt or apron that marks her as an adult woman instead of a little girl.) When Rebekah finds out about this, she is enraged, and sends Tabea away, along with her aunt, never to be seen again. Dinah is upset that this happened to her OnlyFriend, but Leah defends Rebekah, saying that it was a NecessaryEvil to protect ''their'' customs.

** Meta. In a very subtle way. Leah wears sky blue. She is Judah's mother. Mary (and Joseph, and thus Jesus) is from the tribe of Judah. Mary is usually depicted wearing sky blue. A very subtle way to foreshadow which of Jacob's wives would be the ancestor of who is probably the most famous Jewish person ever.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: The purpose of the Ritual of Opening is to break the girl's hymen, in order to offer the resultant blood to Inanna, and "open her up" as preparation for marriage. The hymen doesn't ''quite'' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymen work that way]], but to be fair, this ''is'' [[ScienceMarchesOn the Bronze Age]].

''The Red Tent'' is a 1997 novel written by Anita Diamant, which expands on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah the story of Dinah]] in the Literature/BookOfGenesis. The original Bible story is about a young girl who was raped by a prince, and her brothers [[RapeAndRevenge killed every man in the prince's city-state for it]]. Diamant's novel expands on the story, and tells it from Dinah's perspective. Her encounter with the prince, for example, is not a rape in Diamant's novel; [[AdaptationalConsent it was loving and consensual]]. The story narrates Dinah's life, such as spending time with the women of her family in a red tent designated for their "time of the month."

* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Played with. Rachel believes this, in her bitter sadness over being unable to have children of her own - and she's proven correct when she finally bears Joseph, who immediately becomes Jacob's favourite child. Averted for Leah however; she quickly realizes that no matter how many children she bears Jacob, he will never love her as much as he loves Rachel.

* BittersweetEnding: Since Dinah was the only surviving female child, and ran away to Egypt, all of the private women's traditions of her tribe die with Jacob's wives - but nonetheless, the memory of Dinah herself lives on through her brothers' daughters. Eventually, she dies peacefully in her old age, surrounded and mourned by her new family, although what's left of her old family barely acknowledges that she ever existed.

** Rebecca's reason for being so emotionally distant and surrounding herself by [[EtherealWhiteDress white-clad veiled servants]] all named "Deborah" is [[spoiler: the loss of her nursemaid, Deborah]].

* CloserToEarth: The women feel an intense connection with their homeland and goddesses, so much that they are distraught when Jacob packs them all up and moves to a new land - hence why they steal Laban's teraphim, in order to keep their goddesses close.

** Laban treats Ruti so horribly that she [[spoiler: has an abortion so that she won't give him another child]]

** This happens to Zilpah when Jacob destroys the Teraphim. [[spoiler: She becomes physically ill as well, and dies as a result.]]

* TheFairFolk: This is what Zilpah hopes she's carrying: a daughter (perhaps some kind of demi-goddess) who will come out fully-formed and magical. [[spoiler: She ends up having twin boys instead, and it almost kills her.]]

* HollywoodHomely: Leah (described in the Bible as being rather plain compared to Rachel) is [[InformedFlaw considered this]] because one of her eyes is green and one is blue, something she feels very self-conscious about. [[spoiler: Only because people used to tease her about it, and she only displays signs of self-consciousness around men.]] [[invoked]] Also, years of bearing children and nursing take a toll on her.

** Jacob disowns Reuben for having sex with Bilhah, just as he did in the biblical narrative. He also does the same to Dinah - after the whole business with the Shechemites and her running away, he never spoke her name again and acted as though she had never existed.

* LostHimInACardGame: Laban gambles away Ruti. [[spoiler: Leah and Jacob work together to rescue her, though.]]

* MotherhoodIsSuperior: Leah and her sisters dote on Dinah. They don't pay much attention to the boys after they finish nursing, since they go off to tend the herds with their father. [[spoiler: Except for Bilhah, who has an affair with Reuben once he grows up.]] Likewise, Jacob pays more attention to his sons than he does to his daughter, again on the grounds that men and women operate in different spheres of their semi-nomadic society.
%% * TheMourningAfter: [[spoiler: Inverted at the end]]
* MrFanservice: InUniverse and Invoked. Benia in the miniseries shows off his toned body on purpose while working on Dinah's roof in order to get her to fall for him. It worked. Afterwards, he dresses much more modestly when working- just as he did before meeting Dinah.

** When [[spoiler: Leah and Jacob work together to rescue Ruti from being taken away when Laban lost her in a bet.]] Sure, she gets to stay with her family, but her husband starts treating her even worse than he did before.

* PregnantBadass: Dinah, by this time a seasoned midwife, has the presence of mind to [[spoiler: perform an episiotomy ''on herself'' as she struggles through a difficult birth.]]

* SecondLove: [[spoiler: Benia and Dinah are both this for each other.]]

* ValuesDissonance:
** The women of Padan-Aram, who do the Ritual of Opening and celebrate the New Moon together, contrasted to the women of Canaan, who "prove" their virginity to their in-laws with the bloody sheets of the wedding night and are not familiar with the New Moon rituals. [[invoked]]
** Isaac being monogamous and having (and wanting) only one wife is seen as the exception, not the rule. Not condemned- just not the norm.

* ButNotTooBlack: Bilhah's mother was a black woman, so her skin is the color of dark amber.

''The Red Tent'' is a 1997 novel written by Anita Diamant, which expands on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah the story of Dinah]] in the Literature/BookOfGenesis. The original Bible story is about a young girl who was raped by a prince, and her brothers [[RapeAndRevenge killed every man in the prince's city-state for it.]] Diamant's novel expands on the story, and tells it from Dinah's perspective. Her encounter with the prince, for example, is not a rape in Diamant's novel; [[AdaptationalConsent it was loving and consensual]]. The story narrates Dinah's life, such as spending time with the women of her family in a red tent designated for their "time of the month."

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: The purpose of the Ritual of Opening is to break the girl's hymen, in order to offer the resultant blood to Inanna, and "open her up" as preparation for marriage. The hymen doesn't ''quite'' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymen work that way]], but to be fair, this ''is'' [[ScienceMarchesOn the Bronze Age.]]

** This is also how Jacob's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob%27s_ladder vision of the angels on the stairs]] (and famed fight with an angel) is viewed by the other characters in Diamant's novel.

** Averted. [[spoiler:Ruti induces a miscarriage so as not to give her husband another child (that he'll probably just abuse) and the other women understand her choice]].

%% * JerkAss: Laban, but also Simon and Levi

* NaughtyByNight: The women act differently in the privacy of the Red Tent than they otherwise do. They are more outgoing, and they serve the goddesses of their homeland (rather than the [[{{God}} God of Jacob)]]

* TheQuietOne: Bilhah rarely talks or even smiles, especially as a child. Dinah is arguably this, particularly after she [[DespairEventHorizon loses her husband.]]

** Although not directly involved with Shalem's murder, Jacob indirectly sets it into motion by [[DoesNotUnderstandSarcasm misinterpreting a sarcastic remark]] from Joseph.

* WeddingEnhancedFertility: As per tradition, the bride and groom spend a week secluded in a tent after their wedding. Leah and Rachel both immediately become pregnant after they are married to Jacob - Leah gives birth to Jacob's firstborn son later that year, but Rachel sadly miscarries.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Zilpah spies on Jacob doing this in the field, shortly before his planned wedding to Rachel - she informs Rachel that he has [[BiggerIsBetterInBed very ample equipment]], terrifying her so much that she backs out of the wedding and has Leah take her place.

''The Red Tent'' is a 1997 novel written by Anita Diamant, which expands on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah the story of Dinah]] in the Literature/BookOfGenesis. The original Bible story is about a young girl who was raped by a prince, and her brothers [[RapeAndRevenge killed every man in the prince's city-state for it.]] Diamant's novel expands on the story, and tells it from Dinah's perspective. Her encounter with the prince, for example, is not a rape in Diamant's novel; it was loving and consensual. The story narrates Dinah's life, such as spending time with the women of her family in a red tent designated for their "time of the month."

In 2014, it was made into a 2-episode miniseries airing on Lifetime, starring Creator/RebeccaFerguson as Dinah.

''The Red Tent'' is a 1997 novel written by Anita Diamant, which expands on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah the story of Dinah]] in the [[Literature/TheBible Book of Genesis.]] The original Bible story is about a young girl who was raped by a prince, and her brothers [[RapeAndRevenge killed every man in the prince's city-state for it.]] Diamant's novel expands on the story, and tells it from Dinah's perspective. Her encounter with the prince, for example, is not a rape in Diamant's novel; it was loving and consensual. The story narrates Dinah's life, such as spending time with the women of her family in a red tent designated for their "time of the month."

''The Red Tent'' is a novel written by Anita Diamant, which expands on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah the story of Dinah]] in the [[Literature/TheBible Book of Genesis.]] The original Bible story is about a young girl who was raped by a prince, and her brothers [[RapeAndRevenge killed every man in the prince's city-state for it.]] Diamant's novel expands on the story, and tells it from Dinah's perspective. Her encounter with the prince, for example, is not a rape in Diamant's novel; it was loving and consensual. The story narrates Dinah's life, such as spending time with the women of her family in a red tent designated for their "time of the month."

* AbsurdlyYouthfulMother: Leah is about sixteen and Rachael about fourteen when they marry Jacob and become pregnant, although Rachael doesn't successfully carry a child to term until she's nearly thirty. At least two expectant mothers that various midwives are called to attend during childbirth were impregnated as soon as they began menstruating; depressingly, in each case the mother and child both die during labour.

* PoisonousFriend: Jacob becomes corrupt and greedy after he starts listening to Simon and Levi instead of Leah and Reuben.

* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: In spades. Despite the fact that he favours Rachel, Jacob apparently has a much more satisfying sexual relationship with Leah. Zilpah only sleeps with him once, and only because Leah obligates her to, but she still finds the experience not entirely unpleasant. Dinah recalls the first time she and Shalem make love ''very'' fondly, and later [[spoiler:enjoys a very healthy sex life with Benia.]]

%% * IllGirl:

* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Zilpah tries to invoke this many times, interpreting dreams to predict the future. Her predictions are seldom accurate, though.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Zilpah spies on Jacob doing this in the field, shortly before his planned wedding to Rachel - she informs Rachel that he has [[BiggusDickus very ample equipment]], terrifying her so much that she backs out of the wedding and has Leah take her place.

* MismatchedEyes: Leah has these. Based on a potential interpretation of the Biblical narrative, in which she is described as having "tender eyes" - the exact meaning of said description has been fiercely debated.

%% * AmbiguouslyGay: It is somewhat implied that Zilpah is a lesbian, due to her disinterest in Jacob (though she could also be [[{{Asexuality}} asexual)]]

%% * NoPreggerSex: Although this is the customary rule, it was averted during Rachel's pregnancy with Joseph.
%% * MirrorCharacter: Jacob and Esau

%% * NotSoDifferent: Jacob and Esau

* SiblingRivalry: Rachel and Leah don't ''hate'' each other, but their relationship is strained due to

%% * TeamMom: Leah. Also Inna

* TheUnfairSex: Most men in the story (with a couple of exceptions, such as Prince Shalem and Benia) are portrayed as selfish, arrogant, greedy, power-hungry jerks.
* TheUnfavorite: Just as in {{Canon}}, Leah, although it is clear that she is still loved and cared for, and Jacob is still attracted to her, just not on the same level as Rachel. All of Jacob's elder sons eventually become this as well, after Rachel bears Joseph.
%% ** Also Bilhah, who tends to be somewhat of a loner from the very beginning

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Re-Nefer seems nice at first, and actively encourages Shalem and Dinah's romance. After Dinah's brothers massacre the men of Shechem, she nonetheless still seems to care for Dinah when she flees with her to Egypt. [[spoiler:However, her kindness towards Dinah comes into question after Dinah gives birth to a son, when Re-Nefer decides to take control in the boy's upbringing and give him the privilege and opportunities as a prince of Egypt, essentially reducing Dinah to his wet nurse. She even threatens to throw Dinah out if she uses the name she gave him, Bar-Shalem, instead of Re-Mose. She doesn't necessarily hate Dinah, she just values her grandson more.]]

* ButNotTooBlack: Bilhah's mother was a black woman.

%% * TheEmpath: Bilhah

* LoveFatherLoveSon: Bilhah

* MadeASlave: Not on paper, but while Dinah functions as Re-Mose's nursemaid, but is not allowed to play the role of his mother (even though she actually is). Played up in the miniseries.

%% * NiceJobBreakingItHero:

%% ** Even before that, when [[spoiler: Leah and Jacob work together to rescue Ruti from being taken away when her husband lost her in a bet.]] Sure, she gets to stay with her family, but her husband starts treating her even worse than he did before.

** Just as in the {{Canon}} Bible story, but this time portrayed as orchestrated by the girls themselves (not Laban tricking Jacob into marrying Leah). Also, Jacob actually does love and care for his wives (well, in the beginning anyway), although Rachel is still his favorite.

%% * RiteOfPassage: The Ritual of Opening
%% * TheQuietOne: Bilhah. Dinah is arguably this, particularly after she [[DespairEventHorizon loses her husband.]]
%% * ScreamingBirth: Many examples, some more lethal than others.
%% * SecondLove: [[spoiler: Benia and Dinah are both this for each other.]]

%% * ShrinkingViolet: Bilhah.
%% * SiblingRivalry: Rachel and Leah.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: Rachel is taken in as an apprentice by elderly midwife and herbalist Inna, who also passes on a little of her knowledge to Dinah.

%% * LoveAtFirstSight: Dinah and Shalem.

%% * LoveTriangle: Between Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Dinah's son is taken away from her by her mother-in-law. She is barred from having nearly any involvement whatsover in his upbringing. When she briefly meets him again as an adult, they are complete strangers, and he doesn't immediately recognize her as his mother.]]

* MadeASlave: Dinah functions as Re-Mose's nursemaid, but is not allowed to play the role of his mother (even though she actually is). Played up in the miniseries.

%% * MamaBear: Adah

%% * TheMedic: Inna. Later, Dinah becomes this as she becomes a respected midwife along with her friend Meryt.

%% * BreakTheCutie

* ButNotTooBlack: Bilhah's mother was a black woman,

** And [[spoiler:Bar-Shalem/Re-Mose, when he learns that his life thus far has been BasedOnAGreatBigLie.]]

* FairFolk: This is what Zilpah hopes she's carrying: a daughter (perhaps some kind of demi-goddess) who will come out fully-formed and magical. [[spoiler: She ends up having twin boys instead, and it almost kills her.]]

** Also, in the miniseries, Dinah meets Judah's family. It is the only family of her brothers' that she meets, other than Joseph's. More subtle meta foreshadowing.
%% * FourthDateMarriage: Dinah has just met Prince Shalem, and shortly afterward, they are a married couple.

%% * InsatiableNewlyweds: Jacob and Leah. Later, Dinah and Shalem.
%% * IntergenerationalFriendship

%% * KnightTemplarBigBrother: Simon and Levi

** Rebecca in the book is mainly described as "arrogant". In the miniseries, she is shown chastising Werenro.

%% * AmbiguouslyGay: It is somewhat implied that Zilpah is a lesbian (though she could also be [[{{Asexuality}} asexual)]]
%% * AncientEgypt: Dinah starts a new life there with her mother-in-law and a servant after her husband is killed.
%% * TheAlcoholic: Laban.

%% * BibleTimes

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Re-Nefer seems nice at first, and actively encourages Shalem and Dinah's romance. After Dinah's brothers massacre the men of Shechem, she nonetheless still seems to care for Dinah when she flees with her to Egypt. [[spoiler:Turns out that she actually despises Dinah utterly, blames her for the deaths of her husband and son, and only really cared about the fact that Dinah was pregnant with Shalem's baby. As soon as Dinah births a son, Re-Nefer snatches him away from her and outright enslaves her.]]

%% * BrokenBird:

%% * ButNotTooBlack: Bilhah