Watership Down Chapters 27–29 Summary & Analysis

Analysis

The Efrafan rabbits run their warren in a completely different manner from the other warrens Hazel and his rabbits have seen. The Efrafan warren is extremely hierarchical, with power resting in the hands of very few; the majority are dominated by a small, militant minority. They treat strangers unkindly, and Holly and the others are lucky to escape with their lives. General Woundwort runs his warren in such a manner because he does not want it to be discovered by humans. The problem is that his method of saving his rabbits from humans also makes the rabbits' lives miserable. The only way a rabbit can be happy in Efrafa is by becoming a member of the small, privileged elite. Unlike the warren of the snares, where all the rabbits are equal in their self-deception, Efrafa is close to a totalitarian rabbit warren. The Wide Patrols that the Efrafan Owsla run are military groups designed to find predators and other wandering rabbits who might draw attention.

Given all that they know about the Efrafans, it does seem crazy of Hazel to want to return to the Efrafan warren. The rabbits maintain an almost unshakable faith in Hazel, however; not only has he led them through every obstacle, he has also survived being shot and left for dead. Now he comes to them with what he claims is a plan that will bring them more does. Hazel already has succeeded in obtaining the only two does that they have. It is Hazel's leadership that convinces the rabbits that they can succeed in such a daring act. Furthermore, Fiver—the one rabbit whom they all realize they should listen to—says that he is going and that he thinks the plan will work. Moreover, there is yet another reason why they are willing to entertain their leader's plan, even if they do not yet know what it is—they need to. They have only two does, and these two are hutch rabbits who may not survive. If the warren is to last much longer, they will need to find more does, and the only place that they can get them is in the Efrafan warren.

It is therefore not a question of what they need to do, but rather how they will do it. They have a few advantages that may take even the militant Efrafans by surprise. First, Kehaar is a great ally who can help in numerous ways. Additionally, Bigwig's fighting prowess has become almost legendary; the others have seen him attack and beat off a cat, and they know that with him in the lead they have a chancen at surviving almost anything. Once again, Hazel is attempting to do something extremely difficult, and he hopes to be able to do it by utilizing all of the rabbits' resources to the fullest. Blackberry will provide the plan, Bigwig the strength and daring, Kehaar the element of surprise, Fiver the guidance, and Hazel the coordination and leadership. The fact that Hazel gets the warren to agree to the mission against Holly's wishes indicates Hazel's charisma and the esteem with which the rest of the warren holds him.

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