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Similes
Chapter 11: Hard Going
Explanation and Analysis—Leadership:
In Chapter 11, Hazel leads his fellow Sandleford Warren refugees through a dense thicket in the nighttime—a dangerous escapade for prey animals with nocturnal predators. Remarkably, Hazel succeeds in guiding his group through. His success is an example of situational irony:
"Oh, Hazel," said Blackberry, coming up to him round a puddle in the gravel. "I was so tired and confused, I actually began to wonder whether you knew where you were going. I could hear you in the heather, saying 'Not far now' and it was annoying me. I thought you were making it up. I should have known better. Frithrah, you're what I call a Chief Rabbit!"
"Well done, Hazel!" said Buckthorn. "Well done!"
Hazel did not know what to reply. He looked at them in silence and it was Acorn who spoke next.
The rabbits treat Hazel like he is a genius leader for navigating them safely through the night. In reality, Hazel was just as lost as the rest of them, wandering aimlessly through the forest. Despite Hazel's lack of knowledge, he has the confidence of a leader, willing to step up and make decisions where others are not. Though Hazel is seemingly just as clueless as the rest of them, he chooses to project comfort and security for the sake of his fellow travelers, encouraging them and supporting them as an egalitarian leader should.
Related Themes:
Chapter 12: The Stranger in the Field
Explanation and Analysis—Elil:
In an example of foreshadowing from Chapter 12, Hazel, Blackberry, and Dandelion scout ahead, scenting a suspicious and strange lack of elil in their vicinity:
"I don't think it makes much difference where we do a bit of scratching," he said. "It's all good, so far as I can see. Not the slightest trace of elil, no scent or tracks or droppings. That seems unusual, but it may be just that the home warren attracted more elil than other places. Anyway, we ought to do well here.
While it may at first appear fortuitous for the rabbits that no scents of elil abound, this is a sign of worse danger—human machination. It seems that the humans in this area have done something to erase evidence of their presence, which hints that they are actively trying to ambush the wildlife. There are no animal predators around because the human predator has killed them all, wanting exclusive access to the rabbits. This scenario is a key example of situational irony: what appears to be an indicator of safety is, in fact, an indicator of danger. The lack of other elil scents foreshadows the human-wrought danger that is yet to come.
Related Themes:
Chapter 48: Dea ex Machina
Explanation and Analysis—Human Savior:
While the rabbits are used to thinking of all humans as elil, it is not so in Watership Down. In fact, in an instance of situational irony, it is a human being—Lucy of Nuthanger Farm—who rescues Hazel from his gunshot wound (inflicted by a human who was elil).
In the following passage from Chapter 48, Lucy argues with her father, advocating on Hazel's behalf:
"Look at yore feet! En I told you—Wha' got there, then?"
"Rabbit," said Lucy defensively.
"In yer nightdress an' all, catch yore bloomin' death. Wha' want with 'im, then?"
"Goner keep 'im."
"You ain't!"
"Ah, Dad. 'E's nice."
" 'E won't be no bloomin' good t'yer. You put 'im in 'utch 'e'll only die. You can't keep woild rabbit. 'N if 'e gets out 'e'll do all manner o' bloomin' 'arm."
"But 'e's bad, Dad. Cat's bin at 'im."
In this passage, Lucy expresses a level of care and empathy for Hazel that Hazel himself likely would not expect. Hazel perceives human beings as threats, and rightfully so—Lucy's dad advocates against helping Hazel, content to let him die of natural causes. Adams draws a distinct line between human children and human adults, observing that children, younger and less jaded by the world, are far more likely to express care and concern for animals who need help.
Related Themes:
Chapter 50: And Last
Explanation and Analysis—Woundwort's Death:
In the following example of situational irony from Chapter 50, General Woundwort asserts that "dogs aren't dangerous":
The dog, coming suddenly upon him face to face among the rough tussocks, recoiled a moment, startled and confused. Then it sprang forward; and even as they ran, his Owsla could hear the General’s raging, squealing cry,
“Come back, you fools! Dogs aren’t dangerous! Come back and fight!”
General Woundwort ironically claims that dogs are harmless and easily fought, but he is killed in the confrontation with the dog (allegedly, the body is not recovered). Here, Woundwort exhibits the classic narcissism and arrogance of an authoritarian leader. To be such a leader, one must be convinced of one's own absolute power. How else could a person (or, in this case, a rabbit) keep an entire society under their thumb?
Being convinced of his own absolute power, Woundwort lacks the appropriate caution when engaging with his enemies. He underestimates Hazel; he underestimates Fiver—and he especially underestimates the dog, his eventual cause of death. Woundwort does not possess Hazel's empathy and humility. His lack thereof is his downfall. Such is the case with all authoritarian leaders: they grow sick with a power that causes them to overlook their own fallibility.
Related Themes:
