Characters
Hazel
Hazel is the leader of the rabbits who escape from Sandleford Warren after his brother Fiver warns that it will be destroyed. Despite initial skepticism from other rabbits, including the Chief Rabbit, Hazel trusts Fiver's vision and orchestrates their escape. Hazel is a yearling and has not yet solidified his status within the warren but displays a shrewd and buoyant air. Calm, steady, and modest, he encourages democratic discussion within the group and listens to all opinions before making decisions. Although not infallible—one poor decision involves trying to procure does from a nearby farm—his judgments are generally balanced and fair. Hazel's leadership and wisdom guide the rabbits safely across the countryside, outsmarting humans, predators, and overcoming natural disasters along the way. He ultimately matures into the much-loved and respected Chief Rabbit of the new warren at Watership Down.
In their journey, Hazel outwits the evil dictator General Woundwort of Efrafa. His actions draw parallels with legendary tricksters like Brer Rabbit and Robin Hood. He establishes a new warren on the Belt, composed of rabbits from both Watership Down and Efrafa. Hazel's compassion and courage make him the novel's central figure, embodying the very spirit of leadership. At the book's conclusion, an epilogue subtly implies Hazel's peaceful passing, summoned by a divine figure, possibly Lord Frith, to the next world. As he departs, he observes his rabbits one last time, feeling a profound sense of his strength and speed transferring to their young, vibrant bodies.
Fiver
Fiver, the runt brother in Hazel’s litter, is physically weaker than his peers but possesses the unique ability to foresee the future. His visions, often shrouded in allegory and myth, are crucial to the survival of the group. Fiver frequently falls into trance-like states, dreaming of future calamities that await their band. His premonitions alert them to impending dangers such as encounters with human farmers and the tyrannical General Woundwort. Despite his small stature, Fiver’s prophetic insights make him an indispensable member of Hazel’s band and significantly influence their decisions and strategies.
Bigwig
Bigwig is a formidable rabbit known for his strength, bravery, and unwavering loyalty to Hazel and his friends. Originally from Cowslip Warren, he accompanies Hazel to Watership Down and becomes a crucial member of the team. Bigwig plays a pivotal role in securing the cooperation of General Woundwort’s controlled rabbits and liberating does for their warren. His heroics include saving Hazel from a cat at Nuthanger Farm and delivering the decisive blow to Woundwort. In the larger narrative, Bigwig is a symbol of courage and physical prowess, often at the forefront of the group’s battles.
Kehaar
Kehaar is a seagull who becomes an invaluable ally to Hazel’s group after being nursed back to health following an injury. In gratitude, Kehaar acts as a scout, providing intelligence on enemy movements, predators, and potential allies. With his odd Eastern European accent, he adds a layer of comic relief to the story. Kehaar’s loyalty and ability to communicate effectively across species boundaries underscore his importance. He plays a key role in the attack on Efrafa, and his reconnaissance skills are instrumental in the rabbits' strategic planning.
General Woundwort
General Woundwort is the authoritarian leader of Efrafa Warren, a society run like a military camp. His reign is characterized by stringent control, unnatural rabbit behavior, and a hierarchical system that maintains order through fear and discipline. Woundwort’s upbringing was marked by loss and survival, which fueled his desire for power and control. Despite his oppressive regime, he is a formidable and nearly victorious antagonist. However, Hazel and his rabbits successfully challenge his tyranny. After Bigwig...
(This entire section contains 1272 words.)
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defeats him, Woundwort vanishes into legend, becoming a mythic figure in rabbit folklore, akin to a bogeyman used to frighten young rabbits into obedience.
Prince El-ahrairah
Prince El-ahrairah is the mythical progenitor and protector of rabbits in their folklore. His tales, interwoven throughout the narrative, symbolize cunning, playfulness, and resilience. These stories provide insight into the rabbits’ culture and serve as moral guides. El-ahrairah’s adventures parallel the experiences of Hazel’s group, echoing the challenges they face on their journey. As the primal rabbit, his role evolves from a trickster to a savior-like figure, embodying the virtues of bravery and self-sacrifice. The tales of El-ahrairah offer comfort and wisdom to the rabbits, reflecting their present circumstances—lighthearted in safety and solemn in peril.
The Black Rabbit of Inlé
The Black Rabbit of Inlé is a spectral figure in rabbit mythology, representing death and the unknown. He serves as a counselor to El-ahrairah during times of great need, such as the white blindness plague. As a symbol of mortality and the inevitable end, the Black Rabbit reinforces the themes of destiny and the cyclical nature of life.
Strawberry
Strawberry is a young, intelligent rabbit who joins Hazel’s group from a farmer-controlled warren. Initially comfortable with the human arrangement, he changes his mind after his mate is killed by a snare. Disillusioned, Strawberry opts for freedom and becomes an adviser in the Watership Down warren. His journey from complacency to action reflects the broader themes of autonomy and community in the novel.
Laurel
Laurel is one of the domesticated black angora rabbits residing at Nuthanger Farm. Rescued by Hazel’s group, his presence highlights the tensions between domestic safety and wild freedom.
Boxwood
Boxwood, a domesticated black-and-white Himalayan rabbit at Nuthanger Farm, is part of a mating pair with Haystack. Hazel and his group rescue them from their confinement, exemplifying themes of liberation and the quest for a better life.
Clover
Clover, along with Laurel, is another domesticated black angora rabbit freed from Nuthanger Farm by Hazel’s band. Her liberation underscores the shared desire for autonomy among the rabbits.
Blackberry
Blackberry is a clever and inventive rabbit, crucial to the group for his ability to think outside the box. His ingenuity is evidenced when he devises a plan to use a floating piece of wood as a raft to help the rabbits cross a river. His intelligence is trusted by his peers, despite their inability to fully grasp his ideas. Blackberry also demonstrates his resourcefulness by unlocking cages and leading daring pursuits, such as releasing a dog to confront Woundwort and his forces.
Cowslip
Cowslip offers refuge to Hazel’s group at his warren, which initially appears idyllic. However, the rabbits soon learn that the safety and abundance come at the cost of occasional losses to a farmer's snares. Cowslip’s warren is marked by unnatural rabbit behaviors such as art and poetry, and his invitation, though seemingly generous, is a concealed death sentence. His character symbolizes the dangers of complacency and the price of perceived security.
Holly
Holly is the captain of the Owsla at Sandleford Warren, initially attempting to prevent the group's escape. However, after surviving the human destruction of the warren, he joins Hazel’s group, becoming a staunch ally. Holly's experiences transform him into a supportive and repentant figure, solidifying his role as a loyal subordinate in the new community. His leadership skills are instrumental in the expedition to Efrafa and throughout the rabbits' adventures.
Hrairoo
Hrairoo is another name for Fiver, referring to his role as a seer and prophet within the group. His visions are crucial to the rabbits’ survival and strategic decisions.
The Threarah
The Threarah, or Chief Rabbit of Sandleford Warren, is characterized by his complacency and dismissal of Fiver's warnings. His underestimation of the impending danger leads to the warren's downfall, illustrating the consequences of ignoring foresight. The Threarah's fate serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of arrogance and inaction.
Themes and Characters
The novel's central theme is the creation of community, which merges environmental concerns with leadership. In the rabbit world of Watership Down, a community forms when individuals unite around a shared life purpose, recognize the necessity of cooperation for survival, and trust in each other's unique skills.
The rabbits fleeing Sandleford encounter two distinct societies. Initially, Cowslip warren appears idyllic; its rabbits are well-fed and enjoy plenty of space. However, this abundance is misleading, as the warren exists merely as a farmer's colony, feeding the rabbits well only to occasionally harvest them for stew. The Cowslip rabbits are aware of their predicament but lack the resolve or insight to change it.
For rabbits, anything unfamiliar is perceived as a threat. Their first
instinct is to be startled, followed by fleeing.
While Cowslip warren is both pampered and trapped, Efrafa warren is fiercely
self-reliant. Yet, to maintain its independence, Efrafa has evolved into a
militaristic, fascist state governed by a relentless and vigilant leader. No
native rabbit is permitted to leave, and outsiders who enter its domain are
enslaved.
When the Sandleford refugees establish their own warren at Nuthanger Farm on Watership Down, they retain the freedom that Cowslip sacrificed for comfort and forge the unity that Efrafa could only enforce through oppression. Adams once noted his aim to depict an "animality" akin to "humanity," meaning the fundamental principles that balance individual and collective interests. Watership Down suggests that cooperation, discipline, and selflessness are vital to both animality and humanity.
Since Hazel's group's efforts are collective, none of the rabbits stands out as a singular leader. Together, they serve as the story's main character. Each rabbit embodies a skill, talent, or trait that enriches the community. Hazel is the strategist, identifying necessary tasks and bravely confronting danger. Bigwig is strong and brave, providing muscle and protection. Fiver acts as the visionary, attuned to signs and forewarnings that guide decisions. Holly is the faithful ally, prepared to offer intellect or strength as needed.
The rabbits receive assistance from Kehaar, a seagull whom Hazel helped when it was injured. In gratitude, Kehaar aids them in their assault on Efrafa. To the animal characters, this is an extraordinary example of interspecies cooperation. Kehaar not only offers strategic help but also comic relief; he speaks English with an Eastern European accent that is best appreciated when read aloud.
The sole villainous figure is General Woundwort, the despotic leader of Efrafa. After narrowly escaping death multiple times in his youth, Woundwort believes in ruling with an iron fist: he is convinced that only relentless vigilance, harsh discipline, and a readiness to inflict pain can guarantee survival. Woundwort is a formidable foe, nearly capturing Hazel's group. However, the obstacle he cannot conquer is Bigwig, who bravely thwarts the General's assault in a shadowy tunnel.
Another significant character emerges in the intertwined narratives. Throughout the story, the main events pause six times for a rabbit to recount tales of El-ahrairah, a legendary rabbit hero. These stories of rabbit bravery against traditional foes, and even against the "gods," encapsulate in one character the varied traits of Hazel's group. The El-ahrairah tales provide a gradual commentary on the essence of animal nature: the cleverness and bravery to confront adversaries, the wisdom and foresight to retreat when cleverness fails, and the readiness to sacrifice oneself for others when escape is not an option.
