Discuss the relevance of mythology in ‘Watership Down’ and the comparative absence in ‘Animal Farm’ CAND 7

Discuss the relevance of mythology in ‘Watership Down’ and the comparative absence in ‘Animal Farm’ CANDIDATE 7

Mythology plays a large part in Watership Down. It is referenced throughout the novel. Chapter ones allegory is taken from Agamemnon, and features Cassandra foretelling a death or danger. Fiver acts as a Cassandra-like character in Watership Down. They are both prophetic, but not believed my many.

Animal Form has a similar character, Old Major. He also foretells the future, but in a very different way. Fiver foretells a danger, then later a new home, and so causes an escape from their old life and a search for a new, better one. Old Major, however, foretells the animals changing their lives for the better where they are, by overthrowing the evil of man.

In Watership Down, Fiver travels with the group, and remains with them throughout the novel. He guides them in many different ways, such as warning them of the danger in Cowslips warren, to showing them where their new home will be. Because of this, they are successful in their initial escape of the danger, and their later search for a new home (and a better life). It may be said that Fiver is meant to represent the importance of faith in mythology, and the importance of characters like Cassandra in literature.

In Animal farm, Old Major dies before his prophecy begins to take action. Because of this, the pigs are able to warp and change the original idea, and so overall, the animals are unsuccessful in achieving their dream of a better life.

In Animal Farm, there is no firm supernatural or mythological belief. Their faith is put into authority, and so into their leaders. They allow the pigs (who represent man) to be their guidance. The pigs have no external guidance themselves, apart from Old Majors dream, but they warp that to their own gain, at the detriment of the other animals. Supernatural belief is mocked in Animal Farm, with some of the animals believing in ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’. Orwell may have done this to show that guidance from mythology and faith in the supernatural is important and necessary, and without it, as with the animals, we will fail in our endeavours.

In Watership Down, the Rabbits often take guidance from El-Ahrairah, an idealistic character from their mythology. They use examples of El-Ahrairah’s doings to guide them in decisions, such as the assisting of other animals, which lead to their alliance with Keharr, who was critical in them succeeding in their dream. They use El-Ahrairah in a similar way to how people use the example of Jesus to help guide them. Their following of el-Ahrairah leads them to success, and so it could be said that Adams was trying to show the importance of putting faith in mythology or religion, and using it to guide you.