Diamant relays the trials of childbirth with gruesome
reality and, in doing so, pushes the strength and power of women
to the forefront. She describes the trials of the women in labor
in the red tent, where, surrounded by their sisters and sometimes
the midwife, they suffer through a drug‑free labor that might last
up to four or five days. Very often women did not survive childbirth
or lost two to three babies for every one that lived. Despite this
risk, the women must perform the duty of bearing children—particularly
to birth sons to bring pride to their husbands—so they must return
to the tent time and time again. Leah is revered as first wife and
mother of five sons, while Rachel must label herself a failure as
a wife for being unable to birth even one healthy child. She chooses
to apprentice as a midwife, learning as much as she can about childbearing
as a replacement for her inability to have children. In this way,
rather than simply accepting her situation, she takes control and
finds a way to define herself as something other than mother.
Zilpah represents the women of the time who cared more
for their sisters and their gods than for performing the roles of
wife and mother. Though Zilpah plays a minor part throughout much
of the novel, she fulfills a necessary voice in the chorus of female
characters. She is Dinah’s spiritual guide and a source of strength
to her sisters. However, after her interference in Jacob’s wedding
plans and the birth of her twin sons, she is quickly pushed to side,
as the relationship between Leah and Rachel takes center stage in
the narrative. Diamant never fully explains why Zilpah interferes,
though she does mention several times her strong dislike for men
and her disinterest in sleeping with Jacob, possibly suggesting
that Zilpah is a lesbian. It is even mentioned that Zilpah did not
much care for her own sons once they grew beards. It could be assumed
that lesbians living at the time would have lived much like Zilpah,
as a man’s lesser wife who bears several children but resides mostly
on the fringes of the family. Her bond with her niece and with her
female goddesses is strong, and she influences the females of the
family with her faith and storytelling abilities. Zilpah provides
a necessary contrast to the devoted wife figures, Leah and Rachel.
