Watership Down Character Analysis

In the novel, Watership Down by Richard Adams, a group of rabbits from the Sandleford warren leave their home to avoid danger. Throughout their journeys, there arises a chief rabbit, a leader, that possesses unique qualities. Hazel, the unordinary chief rabbit, shows unique qualities in many ways, including using resources around him to his advantage, listening and respecting other rabbits’ ideas, and treating all rabbits equally. As the unique chief rabbit of the new warren, Hazel uses his surrounding resources to his advantage. For example, Hazel and Bigwig find an injured bird, approach him, and take him into their warren for treatment and inspection. Because of these actions, the bird, Kehaar, feels as if he is in debt to the rabbits …show more content…
Throughout the entire story, it was difficult to recall anytime Hazel didn’t listen or respect any other rabbits’ ideas. In the novel, the rabbits must cross a stream in order to fulfil their objectives, the rabbits are using a boat to travel across the creek. Blackberry says, “So it floats. We could put Fiver and Pipkin on it and make it float again. It might go across the river. Can you understand?” (Adams 37). Because Hazel listened to them, the whole crew is able to cross the complicating stream. To elaborate on the idea that Hazel listens and respects all the other rabbits’ ideas, is when the rabbits from Watership Down feel as if they need to run from the danger that seems upon them. In the passage, Fiver (first sentence) and Hazel (second to last sentence) say, “Believe me, something very bad is close upon us and we ought to go away. Well, I suppose we’d better go and see the Chief Rabbit and you can tell him about it. Or I’ll try to. But I don’t expect he’ll like the idea at all” (Adams 9). Hazel describes to Fiver that they will go and see the Chief Rabbit because of Fiver’s vision. The result: Hazel listens to Fiver and speaks with the Chief Rabbit, and they are able to escape and travel to where they reside …show more content…
Out of all the Chief Rabbits described in the novel, Hazel treats his followers the fairest. For instance, at the time where Fiver and Pipkin become wounded, Hazel says, “Well you’d better get on, then”, he said, “and anyone else who wants to. Personally, I’m going to wait until Fiver and Pipkin are fit to tackle it” (Adams 36). What Hazel means by this is that he will wait as long as he must for the wounded, fragile Pipkin and Fiver; if the rest want to move on, they are allowed, but Hazel will wait. Another illustration for how Hazel treats all rabbits equally is when Bigwig appears trapped in the snare/fence and Hazel isn’t about to abandon his acquaintance, letting him suffer alone and eventually pass. Hazel shouts, “Thlayli! Listen! You’re in a snare-a snare! What did they say in the Owsla? Come on- think. How can we help you” (Adams 110-111). In this situation Hazel tries to find a way to free Bigwig from his trap and tries to receive information from Bigwig about anything they learned from the Owsla about the snare. Because Hazel refuses to leave a fellow rabbit behind, he can now free the now wounded Bigwig from the torture of the snare. Hazel shows many special attributes that make him a unique chief rabbit. These attributes include: Hazel uses his resources around him to his advantage, listens and respects the other rabbits’ ideas, and he treats all rabbits equally. All in all, Hazel, a different