by Tim Schlueter

Created on: March 03, 2010

“You’re not an officer for nothing…” said General Woundwort to Bigwig. Gender roles can be found in nearly every aspect of our society. However, it is not a modern problem. We find prominent gender roles in many of our classical myth stories. Also, the same theme can be found in modern literature, perhaps none more obviously then Richard Adams famed novel Watership Down. In comparing mythology and Adam’s novel many similarities can be found in the depiction of the male and female’s primary functions. The female characters are often objects of lust and fertility, with little or no use otherwise. When sex is not prominent we find the female characters resigning to domestic labors. Also, In the case of the male character certain requirements must be met. Males are perceived as powerful, strong, cunning, and heroic. In reality it can be difficult for either gender to live up to these expectations.

Perhaps the strongest theme in both myth and Watership down is that of the single purpose of females, which is to mate with. In myth we find many women become the lustful objects of male characters. Apollo finds himself pursuing many women, regardless of their wishes. Many goddesses are depicted as “fertility goddesses.” They represent reproduction and the role of the women in bearing the child. Many fertility goddesses such as Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hera are also noted for their incredible beauty. This underlying theme can create an expectation that a women must be beautiful to be worthy of mating and bearing a man’s children. Ironically enough while Zeus is out “mingling” with whomever he pleases, his wife, Hera remains steadfast and faithful to their marriage. Admittedly there are instances of goddesses being unfaithful; however, the significance of Hera, queen of the gods, remaining faithful to her husband while he “mingles” sends a strong message regarding the double standard found in many relationships.

In Watership Down females take a similar role. The second half of the novel is predominantly about the male protagonists acquiring female rabbits or “does” in order to mate with and produce offspring. When the group of male rabbits arrives at their destination, Watership Down, they are content until they realize that they have no does. This leads to a discussion where plans are ultimately laid to acquire does. The first attempt brings the rabbits to a nearby farm, where domesticated

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