Marg _xar's Key Ideas from Watership Down
by Richard Adams

Each rabbit warren that our heroes come across appear to provide insights into a particular societal structure, whether it be from the past or present times.

• Sandleford Warren
• Efrafa
• Watership Down Warren
• Warren of Snares

Sandleford Warren is run like a monarchy, with the chief rabbit overseeing all of the warren's operations. There is a set class system with limited mobility. Rabbits in the higher ranks are allowed to bully the lower-ranking members of their society without repercussions.

It also seems to be a 'society' which, in order to face a danger, has to see it. They do not believe in superstitions and visions.

Efrafa is a totalitarian warren ruled by a ruthless military leader. General Woundwort isn't afraid of flaunting his control over the warren. He maintains his power through intimidation, bribery, and torture. It reminds of a junta. Although the security system seems to work for the safety of the rabbits, the rabbits themselves live oppressed by the situation imposed on them by violence. Naturally, in such a lifestyle, some rabbits start to rebel.

It serves as an analogy for communism. The rabbits in the warren are exposed to constant propaganda and are not allowed to voice any complaints about the way the warren is run. Death permeates their society, but the rabbits have been tricked into believing that everyone is equal and that their community is a utopia.

In general, rabbits seem to "blind themselves" to what is going on; they are distant from God (Frith), tradition, and generally try to escape from reality.

The Watership Down Warren is the closest thing to a democracy in the novel. Hazel is elected as chief rabbit because he cares about the other rabbits and has done an admirable job attending to their welfare.

So, through all these rabbit warrens, the author seems to be looking for the ideal leader.

Probably El-ahrairah and Hazel, who are both trying to save their people even by losing their lives for it.

Throughout the book, violence against animals is highlighted. The author seems to want to emphasize the destruction man has done to nature and animals. However, we also see violence among animals, specifically the thousand enemies of rabbits. This kind of violence is a natural need for survival as opposed to humans.

Hazel and Bigwig were based off of two WWll officers Adams knew in the military during his part as a soldier before he retired and became an author.

• Hazel was inspired by Adams’ commanding officer, Major John Gifford, a man he described as “brave in the most self-effacing way” and an who rarely raised his voice.
• Captain Desmond Kavanagh was the inspiration for the iconic Bigwig. Adams wrote, “afraid of nothing“ and “by nature entirely the public’s image of a parachute officer” just like his officer role in the story.

Gifford survived the war but Captain Desmond Kavanagh did not.

In the story Black Rabbit of Inlè, El-ahrairah returns home after a long time, but things have changed. When he asks some young men about the war, they laugh at him. The war? What war? After, when El-ahrairah talks to God (Frith), he says:

«I am not angry. But I have learned that with creatures one loves, suffering is not the only thing for which one may pity them. A rabbit who does not know when a gift has made him safe is poorer than a slug, even though he may think otherwise himself.»

So too, sometimes we forget those who fought for us and we take our freedom for granted. But is it?

«All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.»