Richard Adams and Animal Welfare
Posted: May 17, 2020 Filed under: Animal Welfare, Speculative Fiction | Tags: Animal welfare in Richard Adams Plague Dogs, Christian animal welfare, Christian animal welfare as advocated by Richard Adams, discussion of animal welfare in Plague Dogs, Richard Adams a Christian animal welfare activist, Richard Adams and animal welfare 2 Comments
Richard Adams
English author Richard Adams is best known for his worldwide best seller, Watership Down first published in 1972, and was subsequently made into an animated movie 1978, and animated television series in England, then recently butchered by Netflix-BBC two years ago. Adams was involved in a number of movements directed toward animal welfare, and was, for a time, director of England’s RSPCA. In Watership Down, Adams’ rabbit characters remark about humanity’s indifference, and even hostility to animals and the environment in general. Perhaps the most striking lament by Adams comes from Chapter 21, “For El-ahrairah to Cry.” Here, Holly (the Bard of the band of rabbits) states:
It [evil] comes from men…All other elil [enemies] do what they have to do and Frith [the rabbits’ god] moves them as he moves us. They live on the earth and they need food. Men will never rest till they’ve spoiled the earth and destroyed animals
Watership Down Character: Blackavar
Posted: July 12, 2017 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Blackavar's conversion in Watership Down, significance of Blackavar in Watership Down, Watership Down character of Blackavar Leave a comment
Blackavar
In Chapter 35 of Watership Down, “Groping,” Bigwig has infiltrated the Soviet-style Efrafan warren, and makes this observation of its inhabitants: “…never in his life had he seen such a cheerless, dispirited lot of rabbits.” Due to the oppressive rule of General Woundwort the warren was in decline, and Bigwig observes a disfigured rabbit. Adams gives this description:
This rabbit had very dark fur — almost black. But this was not the most remarkable thing about him. He was dreadfully mutilated. His ears were nothing but shapeless shreds, ragged at the edges, seamed with ill-knit scars and beaded here and there with lumps of proud, bare flesh. One eye-lid was misshapen and closed askew. Despite the cool, exciting air of the July evening, he seemed apathetic and torpid. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground and blinked continually. After a time he lowered his head and rubbed his nose on his forepaws in a listless manner. Then he scratched his neck and settled down in his former drooping position.
Watership Down: Its Biblical Parallels and Allusions
Posted: January 5, 2017 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Biblical themes in Watership Down, Judeo-Christian themes found in Watership Down, Watership Down's biblical parallels, Watership Down's creation narrative, Watership Down's parallel to Israel's flight from Egypt in Exodus chapter 14 4 CommentsWhether it’s literature, music, cinema, or anything creative, I view the work and critique it through a theological lens. Richard Adams’ wonderful book, Watership Down receives the same treatment. I have written of the spiritual dimensions of the characters in earlier postings, e.g. Hazel, Bigwig, and Lord El-ahrairah. While reading through the book’s pages I noted many times the biblical parallels that Adams places in his first work. In this posting there will be a few examples of biblical references, or allusions. The mythology and primitive religion in this novel has no direct correspondence to Christianity — Adams does not write an allegory. In fact, Adams has stated in interviews that he intended no spiritual or religious theme to be in the book. But, again, parallels and allusions are found — and with some you would have to be a bit myopic not to see them.
Watership Down Podcast: Emerging from Darkness into Light
Posted: November 5, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Hazel's imitation of El-ahrairah, Imitatio Christi as spirituality, Podcast about Watership Down, Watership Down's contrasts of darkness/death and light/life, Watership Down's spirituality Leave a comment
In August, 2016 Doxacon Seattle took place at South Seattle College. This year’s Doxacon theme took on the contrast of Darkness and Light. The following podcast is the recording of my presentation on the emergence of the rabbits of Richard Adam’s fabulous story from darkness and death into light and life; their emergence from restriction into full expression of being and person as they imitate their Lord El-ahrairah. It is a story of their salvation. It is thus, a story of our own salvation in Christ as we as Christians imitate our Lord Jesus Christ. The link below comes from Ancient Faith Radio.
In Christ,
Fr. Irenaeus
Wateship Down Characters: General Woundwort
Posted: August 18, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: General Woundwort as antagonist of Watership Down, Significance of General Woundwort in Watership Down, Watership Down character General Woundwort Leave a comment
General Woundwort
Every novel needs a villain or two. Watership Down is no different — Richard Adams gives his readers General Woundwort, the dictatorial Chief Rabbit of the Efrafan Warren. Adams provides the General’s “bio” in chapter 34.
General Woundwort was a singular rabbit. Some three years before, he had been born — the strongest of a litter of five — in a burrow outside a cottage garden near Cole Henley. His father, a happy-go-lucky and reckless buck, had thought nothing of living close to human beings except that he would be able to forage in their garden in the early morning.
Watership Down Character — Fiver
Posted: June 26, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Fiver - the mystic of Watership Down, Fiver of Watership Down, Fiver's significance in Watership Down Leave a comment
Hazel and Fiver
The Character of Fiver in Richard Adams’ Watership Down can easily be overlooked. Fiver can be passed over by the reader and assigned a secondary role behind Hazel and Bigwig, or Thlayli. However, this is a mistake. In fact, Fiver’s role as prophet, seer, and mystic propels the rabbits forward on their adventure of discovery and transformation. His gifts save the rabbits and bring clarity to their encounters and their mission – to create a new type of warren for a new breed of rabbit.
Read the rest of this entry »
Watership Down Characters – Bigwig (Thlayli)
Posted: June 12, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Bigwig as Champion to Hazel, Bigwig in Watership Down, Significance of Bigwig in Watership Down, Watership Down character Bigwig 1 Comment
Bigwig, or Thlayli
There are three primary rabbit characters in Richard Adams’ Watership Down. There are the two brothers, Hazel and Fiver. The third primary cunicular hero is Bigwig — his name in the lapine language is Thlayli. He is large — even imposing — and possesses great physical strength. The evening after Fiver pronounces his vision of doom and death for the Sandleford warren, Bigwig approaches Hazel and Fiver and we read this dialogue:
“Hello, Bigwig,” said Hazel. “You’re off duty?”
“Off duty,” said Bigwig, “and likely to remain off duty…The Threarah’s [name of the Chief Rabbit of their warren] rather good at making himself unpleasant when he’s been woken up…I told him that the Owsla’s privileges didn’t mean all that much to me in any case, and that a strong rabbit could always do just as well by leaving the warren…lettuce stealing isn’t my idea of a jolly life.” (p. 15).
Watership Down Characters — Hazel
Posted: June 6, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: character development of Hazel in Watership Down, Hazel in Watership Down, Hazel-rah, Significance of Hazel in Watership Down, transformation of Hazel in Watership Down, Watership Down, Watership Down character Hazel Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
The outstanding theme of Richard Adams’ Watership Down is transformation — the salvation brought about by transformation from a lesser to a greater person, or rabbit in the case of the novel’s heroes, especially the protagonist Hazel. Transformation can only come through one’s movements through challenge, struggle, hardship, and even suffering. Movement of the person (rabbit) through such situations may not lead to a transformation into a better or greater person, but may lead to the formation of a bitter, violent soul. Thus, as one moves through trials one needs a model — a guide — to imitate. “We become who we imitate.” Hazel had as his model the cunicular exemplar: Lord El-ahrairah. It is this archetypical rabbit’s character and acts that transformed Hazel from a scared, simple “bunny” to the king (Chief Rabbit) of the glorious warren named Watership Down. Read the rest of this entry »
Watership Down Characters – the Black Rabbit of Inle
Posted: May 26, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: interpretation of the Black Rabbit of Inle, The Black Rabbit of Inle of Watership Down, Watership Down characters Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
Shortly after the rabbits of Watership Down reach their new home (Watership Down), there is a frightening encounter experienced by Hazel, Speedwell, Dandelion, and Bigwig in the chapter “Fear in the Dark.” “There’s something coming up the line of the hedge,” replied Speedwell. “An animal. Making a lot of noise, too.” They discuss the possibilities of the source of threat. Then things become intense.
Watership Down Characters: El-ahrairah
Posted: May 24, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Commentary on El-ahrairah, Commentary on Watership Down, El-ahrairah, Meaning of characters in Watership Down, Significance of El-ahrairah in Watership Down, Watership Down's El-ahrairah Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and he is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
El-ahrairah
Though it is clear that Hazel (who becomes Hazel-rah) is the primary character of Watership Down, Lord El-ahrairah is the primary background character. In fact, the story cannot be understood apart from El-ahrairah. El-ahrairah is a multifaceted character. He is a creature, a creation of Frith. He is the first rabbit. He is an archetype. He is a savior to rabbits, yet he needs salvation. He is daring and he is frail. He is bold and extremely clever, yet he can be afraid. He is mortal yet has a spiritual immortality. This is El-arhrairah.
Watership Down Characters – Frith
Posted: May 18, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Characters of Watership Down, Frith of Watership Down, Watership Down Leave a commentFRITH
Richard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
I begin my discussion of the characters of Watership Down with Frith because Frith is Creator. Frith is both rabbit-like and sun-like. This dual character is seen in the creation narrative in the sixth chapter. It is relayed by Dandelion to the other rabbits the night they fled from the Sandleford warren.
Long ago, Frith made the world. He made all the stars, too, and the world is one of the stars. He made them by scattering his droppings of the sky and this is why the grass and the trees grow so thick on the world. Frith makes the rivers flow. They follow him as he goes through the sky, and when he leaves the sky they look for him all night. Frith made all the animals and birds, but when he first made them they were all the same…Because the world was new and Frith shone down bright and warm all day (p 27).
“Journey to the Source” – Chapter One: Unexplained Vessels
Posted: October 17, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "Journey to the Source", short story Leave a comment“Journey to the Source”
Chapter One: Unexplained Vessels
Zetophos descended from the ambo of the vessel Friendship’s chapel down into its nave: “Let us depart in peace,” he called out.
“To serve in love and thanksgiving the Giver of Light and Life,” replied those assembled for the Sacred Liturgy. Zetophos completed the liturgy with the dismissal and final blessings. He consumed the remaining Bread and Drink of the Sacrament, reset the Altar, then began to remove his vestments in the sacristy. Read the rest of this entry »
“The Incorporation of Tresuios”
Posted: September 19, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "The Day of Light", short story, St. Paul Leave a commentAnother Short Story which precedes in time “The Day of Light.”
He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in heaven and on earth.
-St. Paul
“Tres, you’re daydreaming! We should hurry, the others are probably waiting for us by now.” Read the rest of this entry »
“The Visions of Theosebase”
Posted: September 5, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "The Day of Light", short story, St. Paul Leave a commentA Short Story which precedes in time “The Day of Light.”
He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
– St. Paul
Kalous awoke prematurely. He remained motionless on his mat. His nose and eyes burned and itched because of the pollen released by the grasses of outlying fields. If it wasn’t for the stifling heat’s daily invasion during the late afternoon they wouldn’t have to leave the windows open to cool off the cell. Sleep would be impossible if they didn’t do so. Among his cellmates, he was the only one who suffered from these allergies, but the torment would be gone by the fourth full-turn [1] of the day. Read the rest of this entry »
“The Day of Light”
Posted: September 2, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "The Day of Light", short story, St. Paul Leave a commentA Short Story by Fr. Irenaeus Williams
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in the heavens, making peace by the blood of his cross”
– St. Paul
With this first report from the journey, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Zetophos. In the Old Language it means “Light Seeker.” My background is that of Taerophos [1] (priest), historian, and auxiliary navigator. I was chosen to serve on this mission in those capacities because of my extensive study of the Day of Light and its historical setting, and my familiarity with flight conditions from limited missions within our solar system. Read the rest of this entry »
Father Irenaeus Williams 
Watership Down — The Warren of the Snares
Posted: August 10, 2016 | Author: Fr. Irenaeus | Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Commentary on Warren of the Snares in Watership Down, Meaning of Warren of the Snares in Watership Down, Watership Down Warren of the Snares | Leave a commentRead the rest of this entry »