Watership Down discussion

I loved all the characters so much, and it's difficult to choose just one, but I think my favorite rabbit was Dandelion. Who was yours?

My favorite was Fiver. I last read this many years ago and that is the character that sticks with me.

Hazel is probably my favorite, but it's a close call between him, BigWig and Fiver.

I love Hazel but cried so much when BigWig died.

My favorite is Fiver... and his psychic wisdom. :o) They were all a great team.

BigWig didn't die...do you mean Hazel?

Oh yeah, the big three. Hazel, Fiver, and Bigwig. So many epic moments between the three of them. I loved every interaction between Bigwig and General Woundwort, especially the final battle when Bigwig stood his ground and defended the warren. Fiver's vision during the siege nearly made me shiver, and his moment with Vervain near the end of it was incredible. And my goodness wasn't the last chapter wonderful. When El-Ahrairah himself came to take Hazel to join his owsla in the afterlife. Could there have been a better ending? I think not.

I will always love Hazel and Dandelion, but my favourites were Blackberry and Hyzenthlay.

Fiver is a great character because he's not the strongest or smartest of the group. However, everyone agrees (after a while) that his gift is essential.

Hazelrah

I loved them all, but Hazelrah was definately best.

If you look up Adams' own reminiscences about how he wrote the book, you can see that he felt the same. Several of the rabbits were 'special' and essentially not going to get killed. The work began as stories he was telling to his children.

Bigwig - hoorah!

I loved them all. I guess if I had to pick my first favorite is, Hazel and then second is Fiver. What a awesome book!

I love this book. I remember thinking that this was the first proper book I ever read. It was so emotive with such powerful story telling. Favourite character....The Black Rabbit of Inle. By the end he isn't such a scary character, just an escort really for rabbits whose time is up.

I read this book many years ago and Fiver is the character that sticks out in my memory as the character I cared about most.

Hazelrah was my hero...he stood up for his friends & for what he thought was right, even when everyone else was against him. Together Hazel & Fiver were a great team.

Kehar was the tops when I was little.

Oh, Kehaar was great fun. I love it that in the cartoon movie (which was otherwise pretty poor) they had Zero Mostel do Kehaar's voice.

BigWig and Kehaar were so endearing, but Hazelrah was my hero!

Fiver. Also Hazelrah! Got to love them both.

Hazel and Fiver.

Silver. Always under-rated. Strong silent type. Ace cool!

Apart from Hazel, it would be Fiver or Blackberry ;)

Bigwig! Close second Blackberry.

Fiver was my favourite - he was so sure but unsure of himself. But they were all great (apart from Woundwort of course....)

Hazel and Bigwig, but loved Kehaar, too!

Definitely Hazel and then Fiver. But the character I always looked forward to hearing from the most was Keehar: had me in hysterics at times.

Liked the post from Hazel (23 Sept 2012) about the Black Rabbit of Inle. I've re-read this book many times, but the first time I read it that character gave me the creeps. Until the end... such a metaphor for our own life and how many of us deal with religion.

*spoilers*

I love almost all of the characters, but Fiver is my favourite. As a child, I was particularly interested in his psychic abilities, and I've always enjoyed his relationship with Hazel. As I've got older I've appreciated him more and more (and other characters as well), and he really comes into his own at the warren of the shining wires.

Bigwig is my second favourite. I think he goes on the biggest personal journey of anyone, starting off wanting to be in charge, sometimes bullying, but showing qualities that make Hazel trust and depend on him. Obviously the snare is a turning point, and then by the end of the book he's pretty much saved two warrens, under the guidance of his friends. It's good that Adams gave him intelligence not too far from Fiver and Blackberry's - it would have been all too easy to make him all brawn and no brains, but of course he needs his smarts. Also, his relationship with Kehaar is just sweet.

Steve makes an excellent point about Blackavar. He's perhaps not in my top five, but very probably in my top ten - what an excellent character.

Straying from the topic a little bit, I must agree with John that the rabbit who comes to take Hazel to the afterlife is El-ahrairah, not the Black Rabbit of Inle. If someone is in doubt about this, the film is misleading, but I don't think they got that right. The biggest clue is the glowing ears, already referenced in one of Dandelion's stories.

Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig, how can you choose between them! All the characters are wonderful though, such a great story!!

Bigwig, he was the muscle that made it all possible.

Someone in this chain liked Fiver the most because he isn't the smartest or the strongest of the group, yet he had his special gift, which is very true. For similar reasons, Hazel is my favorite character. He's not the biggest; Bigwig is. And he's not the fastest; that's Dandelion. And Blackberry's the smartest. Even Fiver has his psychic ability. But what I love about Hazel is that he's simply the best leader. He has enough brains and courage to lead the rabbits, and to be recognized by others as the clear leader, commanding their respect despite not having the most overtly impressive skills.

But what I love about Hazel is that he's simply the best leader.


Agreed! Still love Bigwig though :)

Hazel and Keehar.

Strange how one of the most scary characters in children's literature should be a rabbit (well for me anyway). Was he a Colonel? Woundwort, anyway....terrifying.

They all had their own special qualities that made them unique and wonderful. If forced to choose, I will say Hazel! But its Fiver who gets the show running with his psychic abilities and Hazel's willingness to listen to his brother!

Blackavar was my favorite.

I'd say Pipkin, or maybe Hazel. I like Strawberry third place.

Blackberry! He's the smartest one and he comes up with all the brilliant plans and Dandelion tells the best stories!

Favorite rabbit?? They're ALL rabbits!
I read this book many years ago and still remember the journey. I quite agree that all the characters were marvelous.

My favourite is El-ahrairah, I love the idea of the Robin Hood of rabbits.

BIGWIG for the win!!

Still watch the cartoon often and cry at the end every time. I have had a bunny for a few years now too. Love watching him. I would have to say Hazel but there were so many rabbits that stood out.

Hazel would most likely be my favorite -- and it's rare that the main character of a book is my favorite. He is a great leader and the most well-rounded out of the bunch. Though I almost like every character equally so it's kind of hard to say.

My second favorite might be Dandelion. A story-telling rabbit, what more is there to like! :)

BigWig. crazy big old guy

I'm a Bigwig fan as well!

My favorite has to be Fiver!!

Cannot decide! Yup, it's a toss up between Hazel-rah, Fiver, and Bigwig. Probably Hazel. But who is Hazel without Seer? And without Soldier, Thinker, Storyteller, Runner? In some scenes, loyal little Pipkin takes best of show. I also liked the lead does from Woundheart's warren, but don't ask me to spell their names. Yikes.

Bigwig! He was tough when it counted.

Blackavar and Holly

Fiver!! If I where a rabbit, or a rabbit where me .. I think it would be Fiver.