Bigwig is easily my favorite character. So when I read this I was honestly stunned at the view point placed on Woundwort. Yes he kept a lot of rabbits alive but he was in the long run a slave driver, murderer, and...what not many have covered here...a rapist.
In the book it goes into detail that each doe is forced to mate whenever they came into season, with whichever owsla member, or other higher up rabbit called for them. They were not allowed to choose. In fact one of the things Bgwig says to Hysenthlay is that at Watership Down a doe gets the freedom to mate with whom she chooses.
That alone is enough to condemn him, but also add to his perverse list the capture, murder of many rabbits, and his will to stifle their own nature. As scene when he forbids them from digging, eating certian amounts, and even going to the bathroom when they choose and where a rabbit is most comfortable doing. He longed to control every aspect of their lives. Adam's himself said that he compared Woundwort's way of thinking to Hitler. While Bigwig is more or less a hero for releasing the rabbits that were kept under Woundwort's rule.
Yes he betrayed him but he went into that mission with that intent. And honestly I think that the betrayal to a tyrant can hardly be called dishonorable. This is just the way I see it though. You're free to like and see any character how you wish.
Topic: About Bigwig (Read 1866 times)