Diamant may have been influenced by the recent resurgence of creating Midrashim, or stories that attempt to explain the Torah by examining its subtexts. Modern women have taken a keen interest in this practice, hoping to expand on the minute biblical mentions of women like Dinah.

The Red Tent is organized in a seemingly complicated yet beautifully simple way. There are three main sections; Dinah's mothers' story, her childhood, and her life in Egypt. Each is further divided into chapters.

Although the story is divided into sections, the plot progresses intact. The exposition consists of Jacob's arrival and subsequent marriages to Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah. Twelve of thirteen children are born, including Dinah, narrator and only daughter. Dinah grows up helping her aunt/mother Rachel, who brings her to the city of Shechem.

The initial incident occurs when Simon and L

Along with images of birth, there are a number of death images in the text as well. Referring to a child born of her mother, Dinah describes a heartbreaking scene: "The women looked away from the tiny doomed girl, but I saw only her perfect beauty. Her eyelids were veined like a butterfly's wing, her toes curled like the petals of a flower" (Diamant 140). The child's death, as most of the death images in the text, is spoken of with such tenderness and likened to such beautiful things in the similes that the image is more peaceful than sad.

Dinah, being the most prominent character, experiences all the changes that a lifetime has to offer. She is the archetype of the round character; the reader sees her morals and personality traits develop and reveal themselves in every line. The influence of her mothers is implicit in her opinions: "I am not certain whether my earliest memories are truly mine, because when I bring them to mind, I feel my mothers' breath on every word" (Diamant 75).This, however, by no means shadows her individuality. She shares her musings with the reader, expressing her beliefs and loyalties as well as disdain and even wrath.

A simple description of her own name best describes Dinah's character: "Maybe you heard it in the music of my name: the first vowel high and clear, as when a mother calls to her child at dusk; the second sound soft, for whispering secrets on pillows" (Diamant 1). Even so early in the novel, before the actual story begins, Diamant establishes a maternal element in Dinah. "Whispering secrets" proves to be an important element in Dinah's life, as the secrets of women are passed from mother to daughter in a never-ending cycle of life and love.

A separated atmosphere is created, as the lives of men and women revolve around gender traditions. Most notable are the menstrual rituals practiced by Jacob's wives, particularly the red tent. Men had no idea what women did during that time: " 'I don't think even the subtlest among them realizes what we know and do among ourselves...'" (Diamant 64). When Dinah enters the world of womanhood, Jacob is enraged by the ceremony enacted by his women: "Men knew nothing of the red tent or its ceremonies and sacrifices. Jacob was not pleased to learn of them" (Diamant 174). Division of this kind is even present among the women, as the foreign wives of Simon and Levi are disgusted by this celebration of fertility.

Second person narrative is used in the prologue and at the conclusion of the novel, both parts being separate from the story itself. Dinah charms the reader with sweet-spoken phrases such as "You crave words to fill the great silence that swallowed me, and my mothers, and my grandmothers before them." (Diamant 3) and "Wherever you walk, I go with you" (Diamant 321). Spoken in the present tense, the reader nearly feels Dinah's presence as the pages are turned.

In a climactic irony, Re-mose's employer turns out to be Joseph, Dinah's youngest brother. The truth about Shalem's murder is revealed to Re-mose, who in turn vows to avenge his father's death on Joseph's head. He is thwarted by Dinah, who convinces him to remove to the north. Joseph and Dinah attend the death of Jacob in the falling action, both forgiving the wrongs committed against them in their father's name. The story concludes with Dinah's death.

Rachel immediately characterizes herself as an impetuous and lazy, yet highly spirited woman. She acts on her every impulse, excusing herself from the household duties of a conventional wife. Her primary concern is conceiving children, thereby cementing herself in Jacob's heart as his favored companion. Her womb, however, remains barren except for her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. The latter costs Rachel her life.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 4910
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page double spaced)