Leadership In Watership Down By Richard Adams

Leadership, is an important characteristic that many possess, this is required to form a productive society. There are many different ways for one to be a leader, and that couldn’t be more evident in the novel Watership Down, by Richard Adams. This novel is about a group of rabbits who leave their warren to flee danger and form a warren of their own. This group of rabbits goes through many struggles in finding a place to set up their new warren, like escaping a rabbit farm or getting attacked by crows. They later reach their ideal spot and dig it out using techniques they learned throughout their travels. Hazel becomes the leader through the way he acts throughout their travels and becomes the chief rabbit of his new warren. Soon after founding

Style of leadership is also very important because it can drastically change the outcome of any event, as when Hazel's group was trapped at a river when they were fleeing from their original warren. All his rabbits were tired and many couldn’t swim across the river, so Hazel went to others for help and was able to listen to his companions even in stressful situations as seen when he says, “You may be heard. What do you suggest, then?” (36). Hazel also listened to his companions even when he had no idea of what they were saying as evident when Adams writes, “Hazel had no idea what he meant,” (37) but hazel still went along with the other rabbits plan. However, General Woundwort worked so his followers could only depend on him with rabbits speaking up against him and offering advice being hurt and disregarded. Hazel also cares about the general welfare of his group with many examples being found throughout the text but, an especially good example being where Hazel says, “I got Pipkin into this and I’m going to get him out” (36). This shows how Hazel cares about the safety of his group and tires to keep them safe at all times. General Woundwort only cares about himself and had little regard for the wellbeing of his people. As is evident by the discomfort of his people and how he lets no one ever leave his warren even with the crowded conditions. The two rabbits, General Woundwort and Hazel, are also very different by how they hold power Hazel holds power because he is the best at fully utilizing all his people's potentials. General Woundwort rules by power and strength which eventually causes his demise when he gives up attacking Bigwing because Bigwig says, “My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run and until he says otherwise I shall stay here,” (450), Woundwort is fooled by this