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Date Posted:
Oct/02/2006 6:29 PM
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I am on page 130:
The differences between Rowf and Snitter are frequently indicated. In the section I just read both of them try to convince the other they have to do something because they have no hope of hiding from the whitecoats forever. What interests me is that their plan is entirely different. Snitter tries to come up with a plan to succeed in evading the whitecoats, preferably by leaving the area. I think this was meant to highlight Snitter's intelligence by showing how he was able to plan for the future. Rowf, on the other side, decided that he should go back to the whitecoats. This incident showed to things. Rowf was shown in this to be extremely loyal, although his loyalty was misplaced. He thought that he was supposed to follow the whitecoats, and so he decided to return to them, evem though it might result in his death. I believe that if Snitter and the Tod earn his loyalty and use it wisely, it will unite the group. The second thing the reader could learn from this occurance is in relation to the Tod. If you pay attention it indicates that it was actually the Tod who stopped Rowf from going to the whitecoats, not Snitter. This makesme think that, contrary to Emma's beliefs, the Tod is actually going to end up being helpful. It also shows off his cunning because instead of telling Rowf how he waswrong, like Snitter tried to, he instead told Rowf how he had helped them by getting them away from the farmer. It shows that he was able to recognize Rowf's pride and knew how to play it to keep him from leaving.
I also liked the creation story that Rowf told. One thing I enjoyed immensely in Watership Down was his stories of El-hrairah.(sp?) It was nice to see a remnant of that in this book. I think that this story, other then the fact that the creator was a dog, seemed more like a creation myth for all species, not just dogs. In fact it showed dogs in an almost negative light, following humans whom they portrayed as horrible. This could also be seen in a good light, as showing the loyalty that is characteristic in dogs. I also love the way they gave a reason for why dogs dislike cats.
Reply to Emma:
I am less worried about the whitecoats catching them than I am about the farmers shooting them. The farmer would shoot them immediatly, giving them no chance to escape. Also, the farmers are more motivated to catch them. The dogs are eating the farmers sheep and they would want to get rid of the threat, but the whitecoats are not welcoming the prospect of claiming responsibility for the dogs, and therefore the dead sheep. If the farmers find the dogs, and therefore the Tod to, I believe that they would shoot him because he is also a danger to their livestock. I don't thinkk the whitecoats would care enough to do something to him.
Also, Draco was introduced in the very begining of the book, before even Ron and Hermione, and Ron and Hermione did not turn out to be bad.
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