WD Internal Values

Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page

Now that we know the unequaled story values of Watership Down, it's time to dig deeper into the heart of the book. A novel of this divine caliber has depth of meaning and is full of symbolism. Many different parallels have been drawn between the story and real life--this is my own personal conclusion about the inner meaning of the novel. Other Watership Down devotees may or may not agree with me, but, anyway here it is.

I believe that the whole story stresses the warped nature of different types of government that are present in our world today, and how the flaws of each will eventually lead to the demise of the civilization. Each rabbit warren symbolizes a type of government and satirically mocks it. The table below elaborates:

**Warren..................................Type of Government**
Sandleford	Constitutional Monarchist State Definition: undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person and those appointed by him/her under him/her I think this applies to Sandleford, as there is a distinct and designated supreme leader (The Threarah), a distinct hierarchy below the leader (the Head of Owsla, the Owsla), the main civilization (the generic rabbits), and the unimportant, unnecessary citizens (the outskirters). Because of the supreme rule of the Threarah, the warren was destroyed.
Warren of the Shining Wires	Flawed Socialist State Definition: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods In Cowslip's warren, there was no private ownership--the warren was shared equally by all its inhabitants, as was all the food. Everyone got an equal share. I call it "flawed" because there really was no organized government or societal structure, as there was in Sandleford, or later in Efrafa. Also, the food was handed to the rabbits by men--they didn't have to work for it. I believe that this state would eventually lead to the warren's demise.
Efrafa	Fascist State Definition: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition If the above does not define Efrafa, I don't know what does. Woundwort was the ultimate dictator, leading a strong, organized, and overly-controlling government. The warren as a whole was put before any individual. Individuals were always unhappy and suppressed by the severe Owsla. Any rabbit who even dared to think about questioning the leadership or policies implemented in Efrafa was brutally punished. Everything was monitored; feeding, eliminating, surrounding areas, etc. I believe that Efrafa's system would've broken down eventually, even if the Watership rabbits had not raided. It was already overcrowded, and the tensions in the warren were sky high--it would not have lasted.
Watership	Marxist Utopian State Definition: a place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government, and social conditions--impossibly ideal This is the only state in the novel that would not bring on its own demise--it was perfect. There was harmony equality, and overall happiness. Happiness with the government and the warren. Everyone working for the good will of all. In real life, as the definition states, this is an impossible state to achieve--many human societies have tried and failed over the course of history.

Warren..................................Type of Government

Sandleford

Constitutional Monarchist State
Definition: undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person and those appointed by him/her under him/her

I think this applies to Sandleford, as there is a distinct and designated supreme leader (The Threarah), a distinct hierarchy below the leader (the Head of Owsla, the Owsla), the main civilization (the generic rabbits), and the unimportant, unnecessary citizens (the outskirters). Because of the supreme rule of the Threarah, the warren was destroyed.

Warren of the Shining Wires

Flawed Socialist State
Definition: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

In Cowslip's warren, there was no private ownership--the warren was shared equally by all its inhabitants, as was all the food. Everyone got an equal share. I call it "flawed" because there really was no organized government or societal structure, as there was in Sandleford, or later in Efrafa. Also, the food was handed to the rabbits by men--they didn't have to work for it. I believe that this state would eventually lead to the warren's demise.

Efrafa

Fascist State
Definition: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

If the above does not define Efrafa, I don't know what does. Woundwort was the ultimate dictator, leading a strong, organized, and overly-controlling government. The warren as a whole was put before any individual. Individuals were always unhappy and suppressed by the severe Owsla. Any rabbit who even dared to think about questioning the leadership or policies implemented in Efrafa was brutally punished. Everything was monitored; feeding, eliminating, surrounding areas, etc. I believe that Efrafa's system would've broken down eventually, even if the Watership rabbits had not raided. It was already overcrowded, and the tensions in the warren were sky high--it would not have lasted.

Watership

Marxist Utopian State
Definition: a place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government, and social conditions--impossibly ideal

This is the only state in the novel that would not bring on its own demise--it was perfect. There was harmony equality, and overall happiness. Happiness with the government and the warren. Everyone working for the good will of all. In real life, as the definition states, this is an impossible state to achieve--many human societies have tried and failed over the course of history.

OK, granted, I'm not an expert on government--quite the opposite, actually. I'm a high school junior who is obsessed with this incredible novel and has thought about it extensively. My conclusion works for me. Richard Adams has even said that he did not intend the story to be as symbolic as many have made it (perhaps I am one of them), but it is still fun to try to draw parallels.