Versions of Reality Quotes in The Red Tent

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

I dreamed in vivid detail in the nights following her death, and Re-nefer visited me in the form of a small bird flying out of a sunrise, screaming "Shechem" in a familiar voice that I could not name. (3.3.14)

In a way, we can interpret this dream as a reminder for Dinah: Re-nefer is telling her never to forget what happened at Shechem, despite her desire to repress the memory.

Quote #8

I might have lost heart except for the consolation I found in my dreams, where a garden of a thousand lotuses bloomed, children laughed, and strong arms held me safe. (3.3.23)

Once again, Dinah's dreams are all over the place. Here, she uses her dreams as a respite from reality where she can revel in the feeling of being safe and happy.

Quote #9

That night, I dreamed of Meryt and woke up laughing at something she said. The following night I dreamed of Bilhah. [...] One night later, Zilpah greeted me and we flew through the night sky, a pair of she-hawks. (3.5.36)

A sequence of dreams always means something important in this novel. In this case, Dinah seems to be having some kind of spiritual experience in which she remembers her past and the experiences that shaped her.