How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
After this, El-ahrairah tried not to tell Hufsa anything at all. But it was difficult to prevent him from hearing things because, as you all know, rabbits are very good at keeping secrets from other animals, but no good at keeping secrets from each other. Warren life doesn't make for secrecy. (22.49)
We hear this idea a few times, that warren life is terrible for keeping secrets—like an underground version of Facebook. This is another example of the connection between community and home in Watership Down. It's hard to keep a secret in the home because everyone in the home is connected. (Literally in most warrens: it's all one big hole in the ground. The echoes must be something else.)
Quote #8
"If it comes to the worst," said Bigwig, "we can leave the hutch rabbits and bolt. Elil take the hindmost, don't they? I know it's tough, but if there's real trouble we ought to save our own rabbits first. Let's hope that doesn't happen, though." (25.45)
This might sound a little harsh—like Bigwig cares more about his friends than these hutch rabbits, which is weird if we consider that he's breaking the hutch rabbits out so they can join his group. But this is the flip side of home and community: some rabbits are on the inside, but some are on the outside.
Quote #9
"Come on, get out of the way," he said. "I'm going to sleep now, Hazel, and Frith help you if you say I'm not."
"That's how we go on, you see," said Hazel to the staring Blackavar. "You'll get used to it after a bit." (39.94-5)
When reading this, put yourself in Blackavar's shoes: it's no wonder that he stares at Hazel and Bigwig. He grew up in Efrafa where you could be killed for speaking as Bigwig does here. This reminds us that each warren might have its own politics and culture.