Rent Tent
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The story of The Red Tent is a story of the power of women. It is a story of women’s lives and how they are loved and share with other women the answers of life. They turn with other women for strength, companionship and help. The book shows the different manners of women. The Red Tent is symbolic because it is a place where women connect and can share in their strengths. The Red Tent is a secret world. It is a place women can celebrate being a woman.
The power of women was shown frequently in this book. In one incident, Ruti, Leban’s wife proved her power over her abusive husband by aborting his baby that she was carrying. Having the ability to bear children is a power only women can have over men. Ruti had the upper hand in this story because although Leban was controlling his wife by abusing her, Ruti had greater strength by taking away the one thing men valued and took for granted. The gift of having children especially sons was something men acquired and thrived for. Ruti felt bearing another child for Leban was an injustice for both her child and herself. Having a baby boy meant giving Leban a gift. A boy meant Leban having another person to tame and having on his side to abuse Ruti and having a girl meant having another person to abuse. Ruti had asked for a way to terminate the pregnancy, which showed how she overpowered Leban.
Another proof of strength of women was the event when Rachel had taken her father’s statues of his gods. The result of not having them would be horrific and Rachel was prepared to handle the situation. When Leban came to claim his missing items, Rachel was very aware of what she did and showed no remorse to her father. Using her womanly powers also recognized as her monthly flow against her father showed the power of Rachel. She used being a woman and a very natural event to fight against Leban, a man. This was proven to be successful when he had left the tent without his statues.
A third example of womanhood overcoming the notion that men were superior is at the