Watership Down: Analysis of Major Characters
"Watership Down: Analysis of Major Characters" provides an insightful exploration of the key figures in Richard Adams's tale of survival and community-building among a group of rabbits. Central to the narrative is Hazel, a young buck who evolves from a frightened rabbit into a wise leader, guiding his companions to safety. His character draws parallels to mythological tricksters, embodying cleverness and resilience. Fiver, Hazel’s weaker brother, possesses prophetic abilities that often lead the group through perilous situations. Bigwig, characterized by his strength and bravery, plays a pivotal role in protecting the group and challenging authoritarian figures like General Woundwort, the tyrannical leader of Efrafa Warren. Kehaar, the seagull, serves as a scout and adds humor to the narrative, reflecting the theme of unexpected alliances. The story also features Prince El-ahrairah, a mythical rabbit whose cleverness and adventures resonate with the rabbits' experiences, providing cultural context and wisdom throughout their journey. Collectively, these characters embody themes of leadership, friendship, and the struggle for freedom, making "Watership Down" a rich tapestry of interwoven narratives that reflect the complexities of both rabbit life and broader existential themes.
Watership Down: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Richard Adams
First published: 1972; illustrated with maps
Genre: Novel
Locale: The countryside of southern England
Plot: Fantasy
Time: The 1970's
Hazel, one of the rabbits forced to leave Cowslip Warren when it is destroyed by encroaching civilization. He is a young buck rabbit who eventually matures into a wise leader of his warren at Watership Down. Hazel undertakes to guide the rabbits across country to safety; in the course of their travels, he outwits humans, other beasts, natural disasters, and the evil dictator of Efrafa Warren, General Woundwort. Hazel's character is similar to those of such wily tricksters of myth and folktale as Brer Rabbit, Coyote, Odysseus, and Robin Hood. Eventually, Hazel establishes another warren on the Belt, made up of rabbits from Watership Down and Woundwort's Efrafa Warren.
Fiver, the runt brother in Hazel's litter. Although he is physically weaker than the others, Fiver can see the future, often clouded in myth, allegory, and allusion. Fiver frequently falls into a troubled fit during which he dreams what will befall his rabbit band; these dreams presage encounters with enemies such as General Woundwort and farmers.
Bigwig, another Cowslip Warren rabbit who travels with Hazel to Watership Down. He is notable primarily for his physical strength, bravery, and willingness to defend his friends, Hazel in particular. Bigwig is instrumental in getting the rabbits of the Mark under General Woundwort's control to cooperate in Hazel's plan to liberate does for his warren at Watership Down. He also saves Hazel from the cat while they are at Nuthanger Farm trying to liberate the domesticated rabbits. It is Bigwig who deals the defeating blow to General Woundwort.
Kehaar, the seagull who, after being helped by Hazel's rabbit band shortly after their arrival at Watership Down, acts as their scout, looking for evidence of trouble, predators, and other rabbits. He periodically departs to go to the ocean but always returns to lend assistance to his friends. His odd accent adds comic relief to the story.
General Woundwort, the dictator rabbit of Efrafa Warren. This rabbit runs his warren like a military garrison. All that occurs there is unnatural behavior for rabbits. The rabbits are not allowed to interact with one another, to feed when they normally would, or to breed and frolic. Woundwort maintains rigid control through a hierarchical system of officers and spies. Hazel and his rabbits fight Woundwort to liberate females for their warren. Woundwort is the personification of all that is unnatural in animal behavior. After Bigwig deals Woundwort a defeat, the rabbit disappears into the underbrush; he remains as a figure in the rabbits' mythology.
Prince El-ahrairah, the mythical founder and protector of the race of rabbits. His actions are recounted in tales that are interwoven throughout the story of Hazel and his band. Prince El-ahrairah is the emblem of all that is quintessentially rabbit: wiliness, cunning, playfulness, and a happy-go-lucky approach to life. The stories told about him by the rabbits mirror the predicaments and perils that Hazel's group faces as it struggles to make its way to Watership Down and establish a new warren there. These rabbit stories are the myths and legends that provide explanations for who they are, how rabbits came to be, and what their relationship is to other races (species) in their universe. Although El-ahrairah gradually takes on the character of the Supreme Being of the rabbit world, the stories that the rabbits tell about him reflect the current status of Hazel's group: If they are in danger, the story is serious; if they are secure, the tale is amusing and lighthearted.
The Black Rabbit of Inlé, a rabbit spirit who counsels El-ahrairah about the white blindness plague when he is in need of help.
Strawberry, a young rabbit who travels with Hazel's group and who eventually becomes an adviser in the Watership Down warren.
Laurel, one of the domesticated black angora rabbits at Nuthanger Farm.
Boxwood, a domesticated black-and-white Himalayan rabbit at Nuthanger Farm and the mate of the female Haystack, also a Himalayan. Hazel and his rabbits rescue these rabbits from their domestic captivity.
Clover, a domesticated black angora rabbit liberated from Nuthanger Farm by Hazel's band.