In Margaret Atwood's book "The Tent," the author explores the dark realities surrounding the child sex trade. The narrative highlights moral and societal failures by portraying the trade as something deplorable and a stark departure from our values. It underscores the importance of protecting children and emphasizes that they should be cherished rather than exploited.

Atwood employs a blunt and striking tone when discussing the children involved, suggesting that the exploiters often overlook the inherent worth and potential of young lives. The metaphor of children being "unattractive and rude" serves to criticize the superficial motivations behind such trades and draws attention to the grim consequences inflicted upon vulnerable youth.