Creating women's history

In the very first pages of the novel, Dinah introduces the theme of creating a woman's history. Throughout the book, Dinah is reminded that she, as the only daughter, is supposed to carry on the ways of Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah, and her grandmother Rebecca. Dinah says that from the minute she was born, her mothers passed on their stories. None of their sons will listen, but their daughter will. Dinah also notes that a man's history is written down, while a woman's is carried in the hearts of her daughters. Rebecca also foresees the downfall of the ways of Mamre because for so long Dinah does not share their ways.

Diamant makes this a theme in her book because so little is written in the Bible about Dinah. Her story is lost in the Bible because it does not compare to her father or Jacob's...