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I have recently transfered this page from another web address. In the transloading, some of the punctuation marks did not carry over correctly. I am working to update my writing to correct this problem. Thank You for your patience with this very busy high school English teacher :) All the Best to You! Captain Campion

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© 2004 Actual Reality Writings. No reproduction of this document is allowed without the expressed permission of the author

Among many readers of Richard Adams,' Watership Down, there is considerable debate over whether or not El-ahrairah or the Black Rabbit of Inle comes for Hazel at the conclusion of the novel. However, careful analysis of Adams' portrayal of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle in the novel will establish that it is the Black Rabbit of Inle, not El-ahrairah.

First, the Black Rabbit of Inle and El-ahrairah are not one in the same. Chapter thirty-one, "The Story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle," leaves no doubt that both individuals are not one in the same but separate figures. Dandelion, in chapter six, The Story of the Blessing of El-ahrairah, provides information on the origins of El-ahrairah. He states,"'Long ago, Frith made the world. . . . Frith made all the animals and birds . . . Now, El-ahrairah was among the animals in those days and he had many wives'" (Avon Paperback ed. 40-41). It must be made clear that in no place within Watership Down is El-ahrairah ever considered a deity possessing supernatural power. He is, however, blessed with a cunning mind and lightening speed by Frith, but he still remains simply the first rabbit ever created and a folk hero for all rabbits that come after him. Therefore, El-ahrairah is mortal and subject to death. It is through myth-making and storytelling that rabbits keep him eternally alive as a mythical hero. Nevertheless, it is his mortal status and subjection to death which logically lends itself to discussing the Black Rabbit of Inle.

Chapter thirty-one is another lapine story. It too is told by Dandelion (See Avon Paperback ed. 277) depicting a struggle between El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle as a result of King Darzin seeking revenge on El-ahrairah after the latter steals the former's lettuce (See chapter fifteen, "The Story of the King's Lettuce") and after the latter frees his comrade, Rabscuttle, from the imprisonment of the former. During the telling of the story, Dandelion provides a description of the identity and purpose of the Black Rabbit of Inle:

". . . El-ahrairah realized in his heart that if there was one creature anywhere who might have the will and certainly had the power to destroy his enemies, it was the Black Rabbit of Inle. For he was a rabbit, and yet more powerful than King Darzin a thousand times over. But the thought made El-ahrairah sweat and shudder, so that he had to crouch down where he was in the run. . . . Now, as you all know, the Black Rabbit of Inle is fear and everlasting darkness. He is a rabbit, but he is that cold, bad dream from which we can only entreat Lord Frith to save us today and tomorrow. When the snare is set in the gap, the Black Rabbit knows where the peg is driven; and when the weasel dances, the Black Rabbit is not far off. You all know how some rabbits seem just to throw their lives away between two jokes and a theft: but the truth is that their foolishness comes from the Black Rabbit, for it is by his will that they do not smell the dog or see the gun. The Black Rabbit brings sickness, too. Or again he will come in the night and call a rabbit by name: and then that rabbit must go out to him, even though he may be young and strong to save himself from any other danger. He goes with the Black Rabbit and leaves no trace behind. Some say that the black Rabbit hates us and wants our destruction. But the truth is--or so they taught me--that he too, serves Lord Frith and does no more than his appointed task--to bring about what must be. We come in to the world and we have to go: but we do not go merely to serve the turn of one enemy or another. If that were so, we would all be destroyed in a day. We go by the will of the Black Rabbit of Inle and only by his will. And though that will seems hard and bitter to us all, yet in his way he is our protector, for he knows Frith's promise to the rabbits and he will avenge any rabbit who may chance to be destroyed without the consent of himself. Anyone who has seen a gamekeeper's gibbet knows what the Black Rabbit can bring down on elil who think they will do what they will." (Avon Paperback ed. 280-281)

Dandelion also states that the Black Rabbit lives in a burrow, has an Owsla, speaks with "the voice of water that falls into pools in echoing places in the dark," can be bargained with, and that the Black Rabbit does not wish any rabbit to suffer but has to allow it as a result of his office under the servitude of Frith (Avon Paperback ed. 283-284)

From this passage, the reader learns that the Black Rabbit, acting as an avenger, can destroy the enemies of rabbits. From the reaction of El-ahrairah after considering the power of the Black Rabbit, the reader also learns that the Black Rabbit is greatly respected and feared by the vast majority of rabbits if not all rabbits. The reader also learns that the Black Rabbit is associated with "everlasting darkness," which is a reference to death and eternal closure to lapine life. Furthermore, rabbits can pray to Frith in hope of being saved from being selected by the Black Rabbit for death. It is also clear that the Black Rabbit serves Frith as the agent that brings about lapine deaths (Cf. Medieval image of the Grim Reaper, Death personified as an agent of destiny and fate) and he is not partial to rabbits, whether their lives be dominated by virtue or vice; he simply carries out the grim task Frith gives him. Most importantly, Dandelion states that the Black Rabbit's will must be followed; when he calls a rabbit's name in the night, they must go to him.

Finally, the reader can infer divine status upon the Black Rabbit of Inle. Notice these two examples from the quoted text above: 1) ". . . he was a rabbit. . ."; 2) ". . . He is a rabbit . . ." (Avon Paperback ed. 280). Strangely, Dandelion states the existence of the Black Rabbit in both past and present tense. He also places emphasis and stress--note the italics--on the word is. This is certainly for a purpose. No specific answer is provided for the tense references or for the stress on is, but an educated inference can be made as to their meaning. How can something that was continue to be? This logical fallacy is the status of the Black Rabbit. It appears that the implied meaning here is to state that the Black Rabbit of Inle is an everlasting deity--a rabbit-god of times past, present, and future. Even the origin of the Black Rabbit, Inle, suggest divine status associated with the moon. Moreover, the stress on is appears to lend itself to Dandelion emphasizing the fear and respect a rabbit should have for the Black Rabbit of Inle who is ever-present and ready to select a rabbit unto death at the command of Frith.

From this, the reader gains a deeper perspective into chapter nineteen, "A Honeycomb and a Mouse." At the end of this chapter, the injured Holly finds Hazel's band of refugees after escaping the destruction of Sandleford warren and the brutality of Efrafa. Screaming for help, Holly screams, "'Thlayli! O Thlayli!?'" (Avon Paperback ed. 150). Bigwig, in horror, states, "'You have to go . . . You have to go when he calls you?'" (Ibid). Even though Hazel is unsure of the identity of the rabbit, it is clear, based upon Dandelion's description of his role in chapter thirty-one, that Bigwig is certain that the rabbit calling for him is the Black Rabbit of Inle.

This logically leads to the central question surrounding Hazel's demise. Many readers of Watership Down admire Hazel's seemingly virtuous life. It is hard for them to accept that such a heroic rabbit as Hazel can be taken by the Black Rabbit of Inle. They, in turn, would rather believe that it is El-ahrairah that comes for Hazel in The Epilogue. Adams describes the scene like this:

One chilly, blustery morning in March, I cannot tell exactly how many springs later, Hazel was dozing and waking in his burrow. He had spent a good deal of time there lately, for he felt the cold and could not seem to smell or run so well as in days gone by. He had been dreaming in a confused way--something about rain and elder bloom--when he woke to realized that there was a rabbit lying quietly beside him?no doubt some young buck who had come to ask his advice. The sentry in the run outside should not really have let him in without asking first. Never mind, thought Hazel. He raised his head and said, "Do you want to talk to me?" "Yes, that's what I've come for," replied the other. "You know me, don't you?" "Yes, of course," said Hazel, hoping he would be able to remember his name in a moment. Then he saw that in the darkness of the burrow the stranger's ears were shining with a faint silver light. "Yes, my lord," he said. "Yes, I know you." "You've been feeling tired," said the stranger, "but I can do something about that. I've come to ask whether you'd care to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you and you'd enjoy it. If you're ready, we might go along now." They went out past the young sentry, who paid the visitor no attention. The sun was shinning and in spite of the cold there were a few bucks and does at silflay, keeping out of the wind as they nibbled the shoots of spring grass. It seemed to Hazel that he would not be needing his body any more, so he left it lying on the edge of the ditch, but stopped for a moment to watch his rabbits and to try to get used to the extraordinary feeling that strength and speed were flowing inexhaustibly out of him into their sleek young bodies and healthy senses. "You needn't worry about them," said his companion. "They'll be all right--and thousands like them. If you'll come along, I'll show you what I mean." He reached the top of the bank in a single, powerful leap. Hazel followed; and together they slipped away, running easily down through the wood, where the first primroses were beginning to bloom. (Avon Paperback ed. 480-481)

In this final passage in the novel, a rabbit calls the aged Hazel from the darkness of Hazel's burrow to join his Owsla. Hazel identifies the rabbit, consents with some reservation to go with him, and leaves his physical body behind as both companions leap away together across the downs.

Based upon the previous conclusions, it is clear that Hazel's visitor is the Black Rabbit of Inle. Just as Bigwig, in chapter nineteen, knew to listen to the call of the Black Rabbit so the reader finds Hazel in the same situation. It is impossible for this visitor to be El-ahrairah because El-ahrairah is not divine or eternal but mortal and deceased. However, there is evidence that lends to conclude that the Black Rabbit is divine and eternal. The most conclusive evidence is that no other character is so closely associated with death than the Black Rabbit of Inle; it is a major sense of his being and purpose under Frith. Moreover, the summons is to join an Owsla, which the Black Rabbit of Inle possesses, and the summons comes from the night--the darkness of the burrow. Finally, Hazel is also powerless to refuse the will of the visitor, just as Dandelion and Bigwig described a rabbit would be when the Black Rabbit of Inle calls a rabbits name. All these descriptions of Hazel's visitor are directly parallel to the descriptions of the Black Rabbit of Inle in the novel. Therefore, there can be no doubt that it is the Black Rabbit of Inle, not El-ahrairah, that summons and accompanies Hazel at the closure of Hazel's life and at the closure of Watership Down.

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© 2004 Actual Reality Writings. No reproduction of this document is allowed without the expressed permission of the author

Introduction--The Heroic Warrior Archetype as a Model of Dualistic Psychology

Whether in novel or poetic form, the archetype of the heroic warrior is found within numerous works of fiction. Such examples of this archetype include Beowulf and Milton's Satan. Depending upon one's perspective, the heroic warrior is either edified as a great figure who fights for the cause of social reconstruction and defends the helpless or is hated as an ndisciplined rebel whose destructive forces undermine the predominate convictions of society. Moreover, it is also possible for both positive and negative assessments to coexist, exposing dualistic forces shaping the heroic warrior's personality. In the case of Milton's Satan, this dualistic perspective is evident by the presence of positive and negative personality traits battling each other for supremacy. An analysis of Milton's Satan reveals a champion of social reconstruction, but also, through his rebellion, an enterpriser of social evil. Yet, who defines what is good and what is evil? Whether or not you view Milton's Satan as good or evil depends upon your bias about whether his rebellion against his authority is justified. In other words, viewing Milton's Satan as a champion of justice and social change is also stating Milton's God is a tyrannical despot. On the other hand, if Milton's Satan is evil for inciting an unjustified and reckless mutiny, Milton's God is just, moral, and correct in his attempts to punish his unruly subordinate.

No matter what your stance, there is some truth in each argument. However, the truth found in each argument proves the existence of their being within the context of dualism. The same analysis given here to Milton's Satan can also be given to Richard Adams,' General Woundwort. If one analyzes the common characteristics associated with the archetypal role of the heroic warrior within literature, good and evil, or what is commonly considered as such, exist intertwined within the heart and will of the character. Therefore, establishing that a literary heroic warrior can hold a duelist personality, the aim of this paper is to compare the character of General Woundwort with the dominate characteristics of the literary heroic warrior. Beginning from what is most commonly considered good to what is evil, the heroic warrior's personality undergoes progressive changes from birth until death. Woundwort's dualistic personality undergoes the same process. Analysis of him will reveal his personality and its changes and will allow for proposals arguing whether or not Woundwort is a model for good or a model for evil. To do this, four sections will be addressed outlining the origins and rise to power of the heroic warrior, the zenith of his career, his eventual downfall, and his immortal presence within myths.

Woundwort--Origins and Rise to Power

Literary heroic warriors are commonly born to prominent parents. However, they are plagued by circumstances that frequently foretell the tragic death of their fathers (Sellier 558). At times, the entire family succumbs to some tragedy leaving the child stranded and alone. However, some agent of salvation preserves the life of the child and nurtures them back to health (Sellier 558). A look into Woundwort's origins also begins here. Woundwort is born the strongest of a litter of five. His father is a "happy-go-lucky and reckless buck" who is brave enough to live near humans. He also enjoys his ability to outwit humans and steal from their gardens, but he miscalculates the risks involved in such endeavors. Tired of him ruining his crop, a cottager kills Woundwort's father using a shotgun. Just like the typical heroic warrior, Woundwort loses his father to tragedy. However, the tragedy does not stop at his father's death, but Woundwort's mother and siblings also succumb to the wrath of the cottager and elil. As a helpless kitten, Woundwort finds himself alone and frightened. However, like most heroic warriors, Woundwort survives the family crisis through the intervention of an agent of salvation. Ironically, for Woundwort, his savior is human, an old schoolmaster who nurses him back to health (Adams 313-314).

During his stay in the care of the schoolmaster, Woundwort begins to exhibit the most prominent defining characteristics of the heroic warrior--the ability to succeed in endeavors through great courage and wondrous works despite the odds against him (Moore &Gillette 78-79, 82, 94; Sellier 557-559). As he matures, Woundwort becomes very strong and powerful. He refuses to be domesticated, and begins to literally bite the hand that feeds him. Woundwort also becomes a fierce and skilled fighter. In a fantastic and unnatural feat, Woundwort nearly kills the schoolmaster's cat, and he eventually uses his brute strength to escape from human contact by tearing open the wire holding him within his hutch. Though unfamiliar with life in the wild, Woundwort survives the open fields and elil until he stumbles upon a warren (Adams 314; Cf. Bigwig's comments 373).

Heroic warriors crave power, and their wondrous accomplishments allow for the obtainment of power. Their greatness wins the praises of others, and they are frequently encouraged to become political leaders. Moreover, this rise to political office commonly results in the forced removal or death of an incumbent ruler (Sellier 559). After Woundwort discovers a warren, through his ferociousness, he forces them to accept him. Shortly after, he wins the admiration of many rabbits allowing him enough political support to instigate a coup against a political opponent named Fiorin and the incumbent Chief Rabbit resulting in both of their deaths. Yet, Woundwort is not satisfied with his new status, but rather envisions a greater society for all rabbits where the focal enemy, humanity, can be avoided and outwitted. Here begins Woundwort's will for social reconstruction (Adams 314-315).

Woundwort--At His Zenith

All great heroic warriors are devoted to a cause that they feel is just, and its fulfillment is more important than their own selfish desires and survival. For the heroic warrior, duty is defined by aiding others through the fulfillment of a cause, and its fulfillment will result in a great new civilized order. However, its fulfillment can only be achieved through cunning wit and fierce self-discipline, and if the new civilized order is established, the heroic warrior is celebrated as the savior of his people (Moore &Gillette 78, 83-86, 92; Sellier 559).

Resulting from his childhood experiences, Woundwort grows to hate humanity. Humans are the greatest threat to the rabbit, and unless they are avoided and outwitted, they will destroy all the children of El-ahrairah. Therefore, Woundwort feels he must increase his power and that of his fellow rabbits if they are to frustrate the conspiracies of their enemies. Following his vision, Woundwort leaves his newly acquired warren with his most loyal followers to establish a new warren that will end the threat of humanity. This is Woundwort's self-induced purpose in life, and it leads to the establishment of Efrafa (Adams 315).

Efrafa is Woundwort's crowning achievement. A feat of ingenious and cunning ingenuity, Efrafa is designed with the focal goal of avoiding humans but it is also engineered to be ompletely invisible to all possible enemies. However, fantastic structural engineering is not enough to fulfill Woundwort's dream. He needs a fixed internal stability and security that are only achieved through a disciplinarian order. He must prohibit any movement outside of Efrafa, because such movement will attract enemies and expose the warren (Adams 245-247).

Therefore, Woundwort heeds the advice of his Council and adopts "the Marks" system. Acting first as a system of identification, "the Marks" system affects all rabbits within the warren and functions efficiently through their loyalty and cooperation. Each mark (group of rabbits) is headed by members of the military--the Owsla--including a Captain with his officers and sentries whose duty is to carry out the policies of Woundwort and his Council. Moreover, there is another branch of the Owsla containing the trackers, spies, and messengers. They are commonly posted in "Wide Patrols," or expedition parties that roam the outskirts of Efrafa reporting all news they find to Woundwort. These patrols became the training camps for the Owsla and the best chance for advancement into higher ranks. The final division of the Owsla is the Council police force, or Owslafa. Their duty is to hold internal order within Efrafa, to hold prisoners, to punish and execute prisons, and to act as a last defense in case of an invasion (Adams 244-251, 315-317, 321, 325-326, 328).

In its completion, Efrafa appears invulnerable and its Owsla invincible. Continuing his role as the heroic warrior, Woundwort creates the strongest bulwark against elil ever know to rabbits. The Efrafans are proud rabbits, and Woundwort is hailed as the greatest rabbit second to El-ahrairah himself. He is truly the savior of his people and the children of El-ahrairah.

Woundwort--Downfall of a Champion

Continuing to fulfill his role as the heroic warrior, Woundwort falls from grace into the grips of the "Shadow Warrior." Here, negative forces begin to overtake the just cause of social reconstruction. When a heroic warrior reaches his zenith of power, he frequently begins worshiping the self; this is the cult of personality. At this stage, the heroic warrior begins to see himself as godlike. An obsession with power grows greater than ever before, and pride in oneself reaches previously unattainable heights. The heroic warrior becomes emotionally detached from his people while losing his sense of moral consciousness. While the mind hungers for more conquest, the elements of everyday life are ignored as banal and unimportant. However, the people under such rule eventually take notice. Their leader is always on display as an example, and if they feel their society is undergoing a change for the worse, rumors of rebellion erupt (Moore & Gillette 83-85, 87-94; Sellier 557, 559-560).

Woundwort's apex of power begins to crumble when he and his Council are unable to end the problem of overcrowding. Miscalculations and erroneous decisions on this matter cost Efrafa dearly. It begins with Hyzenthlay's petition to Woundwort and the Council to allow some Efrafan does to form an expedition and establish a new warren. However, fearing that hlessi will draw elil attention to Efrafa and expose it, the Council and Woundwort refuse to grant her request. As numbers rise, the crowded pregnant does are unable to bear their litters. This leads to harsh resentment of the Owsla, and rumors of a break-out. (Adams 247, 318, 327, 331).

Woundwort's indifference and detachment from the complaints about overcrowding are not his only errors. He and his Council also practice discrimination and racism. Enter the story of Blackavar. Strong and ambitious, Blackavar seeks to imitate his father by becoming an Owsla officer. However, he consciously holds some reservations about the ruthless nature of the Efrafans. However, more importantly, since his mother came from a foreign warren, the Council and Woundwort viewed him as "tainted" with the blood of a non-Efrafan. He is a half-breed, and this status frequently resulted in other "full blooded" Efrafans being selected over him for Owsla posts and honors. In his anger, Blackavar unites with Hyzenthlay and other does who seek to form a new warren. When the Council and Woundwort refuse their petition, Blackavar calls for a plan of escape. Though his first attempt fails, Blackavar increases Woundwort's troubles with his successful allegiance and escape with Bigwig and the runaway does. After this event, rumors of rebellion become reality for Woundwort (Adams 391-392).

Simultaneously, Woundwort is also experiencing problems with his Owsla. Partly resulting from the intervention of the Sandleford rabbits and the chance occurrence involving the train on the Iron Road, Woundwort's Owsla finds itself lacking capable leaders. Within days, Efrafa loses three captains?Bugloss, Charlock, and Mallow, and concerned and hungry to hold order, Woundwort and the Council carelessly grant a new hlessi, Bigwig, a post within the Efrafan Owsla. However, this is just what Bigwig is hoping for, and immediately he begins using his position to seek out Hyzenthlay and all others who wish to escape from Efrafa. When the escape becomes a success at the riverbank, Woundwort suffers his first defeat (Adams 318, 321-322, 326, 330-332).

The shame and embarrassment of the defeat will not allow Woundwort to rest. He becomes completely obsessed with regaining his reputation by holding to a previous vow to kill Bigwig himself and returning the runaway does back to Efrafa. However, his intense desire to fulfill this vow clouds Woundwort's once perceptive and acute thinking that built and established Efrafa. After Kehaar's attack upon the group, his Owsla's morale is considerably lower than its previous heights. Woundwort finds himself constantly having to reassure his soldiers, trying to silence their superstitious beliefs regarding Bigwig and Kehaar. Moreover, Woundwort's failure to kill Kehaar and to stop the break-out surprises his officers allowing room for doubt to arise about his invincibility. Nevertheless, Woundwort still possesses the ability to hold order among his troops. However, by this time, the Owsla has become aware of the General's reckless obsession to destroy Bigwig, and their loyalty to him increasingly becomes a reaction not of admiration but of fear. Despite the possibility of another break-out from Efrafa, the low morale of his officers, the possibility of heavy losses, and the Council's disapproval, Woundwort sets out with twenty-six or seven rabbits to annihilate his enemy. Woundwort's desire to be a god will be his Waterloo (Adams 369, 374, 421-428).

The decision to set out for the Downs becomes very costly for the Efrafans. The trek is long and harsh, and the Owsla's already low moral sinks lower with fatigue. However, Woundwort's strength, passion, and sense of purpose is still able to hold their attention and allegiance. Nevertheless, their final undoing begins with Woundwort's rejection of Hazel's proposal to come to terms before the siege of the Honeycomb. With the Watership Down rabbits dug in, the Efrafan Owsla is forced to risk their lives digging them out. Resentment of Woundwort continues to grow, and the superstitions surrounding the image of Bigwig and Kehaar revive when some members hear Fiver's prophetic cries emanating from the depths of the Honeycomb. Again, Woundwort is forced to reassure his Owsla of their upcoming victory. However, after Woundwort is severely injured in his battle with Bigwig, the Efrafan Owsla suddenly realizes that Woundwort is not a god, but rather a rabbit just like them. With Hazel's ingenious plan to lure the farmer's dog to the Honeycomb, upon sight of the beast, Woundwort's most trusted and loyal officer refuses to obey the blind madness of the General. In the closing scene, Captain Campion decides to think in the best interest of the Owsla when he shouts, "Run. . . .Run for your lives!" Immediately, the scales fall from the eyes of the Efrafan Owsla, and all bolt for safety abandoning the General. In his obsession and despite the reality of the circumstance, Woundwort refuses to back down from this fight. He recalls all his past glories and victories, and he feels this one will not be any different. As the farmer's dog locks eyes with Woundwort, his Owsla could ". . . hear the General's raging, squealing cry, ?Come back, you fools! Dogs aren't dangerous! Come back and fight!'" A victim of his own heroic abilities, pride, and blind obsession, Woundwort lost his kingdom, his soldiers, and his life (Adams 423-428, 431, 436-444, 448-460).

Woundwort--The Immortal Deity--Closing Comments

No rabbit is certain whether or not the General was killed by the dog, because his body was never found. Rumors spread among Efrafa and the Honeycomb that he still lived. Some thought him to be living as strong as or stronger than he had at Efrafa. This belief in Woundwort cheating death points to the final stage of the heroic warrior's role?his immortality through the creation of myths. Mysteries surrounding the death of a great heroic warrior and death's association with unexplainable spiritual and sacred matters frequently lead to the creation of myths about a heroic character. Though the heroic warrior's status as a godlike figure has suddenly been removed by circumstances suffered by animate beings--failure, illness, death--through the creation of a myth, the heroic warrior continues his wondrous life within a spiritual and immortal context. Since in his previous life he must have possessed some supernatural power to achieve his greatness, also in the next life, he is able to possess some elements of his first existence. His influence, no matter what his bodily state, is felt in both spheres of life. The myth focuses on the heroic warrior's genius, virtues, vices, victories, defeats and the strong wills he instilled within the hearts of his people and himself. Though literally dead, he becomes a cultural folk hero like El-ahrairah that is full of life and ever-present within the lives of the living (Ferrier-Caverivière 579, 581, 583-584).

The Efrafans and Watership Down rabbits create such a myth about Woundwort. Based upon their recollections of Woundwort's greatness and the power he gave to his people, the myth-making begins with the former Efrafans who join the Honeycomb after Woundwort's death. For example, discussing the General, Silver lashes out against his "unnatural" behavior which resulted in all their strife and pain eventually leading to Woundwort's own death. He is about to praise Bigwig for defeating the General when Groundsel quickly checks him by insisting the General is not dead. His response speaks on behalf of most, if not all, the Efrafan officers:

"He hasn't stopped running," . . . "Did you see his body? No. Did anyone? No. Nothing could kill him. He made rabbits bigger than they've ever been?braver, more skillful, more cunning. I know we paid for it. Some gave their lives. It was worth it, to feel we were Efrafans. For the first time ever, rabbits didn't go scurrying away. The elil feared us. And that was on account of Woundwort?him and no one but him. We weren't good enough for the General. Depend on it, he's gone to start another warren somewhere else. But no Efrafan officer will ever forget him"(Adams 473).

Is the General still alive? Could this heroic warrior be defeated? Did he really live on in a myth? It seems most believe as Groundsel. As new litters filled the Honeycomb, mother rabbits tell their kittens the myth of Woundwort by focusing only upon his seemly supernatural accomplishments and greatness. They tell of how he still lives somewhere over the Downs defeating all types of elil and going to silflay in the sky instead of on the ground. Moreover, if there arises a great danger, he spiritually fights on the side of those who honor his name. They also tell their kittens the General is the first cousin to the Black Rabbit himself, and if they do not listen to what they are told, the General will get them. Adams closes, "Such was Woundwort's monument: and perhaps it would not have displeased him" (Adams 473-475, 480).

Would this monument have displeased Woundwort? It does not appear so. Notice Groundsel's and the mothers' myth about Woundwort focuses on his accomplishments and power, not his failures, errors, and miscalculations. Therefore, did the Efrafans and Honeycomb mothers view Woundwort as a champion of good or of evil? As stated in the introduction, the heroic warrior is either edified as a great figure who fights for a just cause and defends the helpless or is hated as an undisciplined rebel whose destructive forces undermine the predominate convictions of others. It is possible for both assessments of the heroic warrior to coexist here too (Cf. The responses of Silver with Groundsel and the mothers--Note also Hazel's indifference to Silver's slam of Woundwort). However, in the case of General Woundwort, such a cohabitation of positive and negative forces do not exist in a constant battle against the other for supremacy, but his life and its purpose, for most rabbits, becomes a model for dualistic balance. The lesson learned from Woundwort's myth is simple--strive for complete fulfillment in life, but remember to do it in reason and in moderation. Excessive power breeds excessive compulsive personalities that cannot be managed. When this type of personality is challenged and is shamed, it commonly results in disaster. However, the myth also speaks of holding onto your dreams and working very hard to achieve them, but it also reminds you of your limitations. You are not a god, nor are your people. In the end, Woundwort's myth holds him as the supreme model of courage, cunning, leadership, power, self-discipline, and stability. Yet, he is also the rival equivalent to tyranny. The goal of future rabbits is to find the balance between these personalities. This is truly Woundwort's monument.

Works Cited

Adams, Richard. Watership Down. New York: Avon, 1972.

Ferrier-Caverivière, Nicole. "Historical Figures and Mythical Figures." Companion to Literary Myths, Heroes and Archetypes. Ed. Pierre Brunel. Trans. Wendy Allatson, Judith Hayward, Trista Selous. New York: Routledge, 1992.

Moore, Robert and Gillette, Douglas. King Warrior Magician Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990.

Sellier, Philippe. "Heroism." Companion to Literary Myths, Heroes and Archetypes. Ed. Pierre Brunel. Trans. Wendy Allatson, Judith Hayward, Trista Selous. New York: Routledge, 1992.

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© 2004 Actual Reality Writings. No reproduction of this document is allowed without the expressed permission of the author.