18: Chapter 20.  A Honeycomb and a Mouse 

 

18.1 Burrowkeeping 

 

This week we look at Chapter 20, but first a brief look at a character in the book who has been changed perhaps more than any other in screen versions of the story. 

 

18.2 Strawberry 

 

Strawberry is the only rabbit who arrives at WD with the group who was not from Sandleford and his emotional journey in the book is fascinating. 

 

He begins as a deceptive and weird member of the Warren of the Snares. Then he becomes a little mentioned member of the group as they arrive on WD. 

 

As the story progresses, he becomes more and more impressive as a member of the group, eventually being indistinguishable from those who left Sandleford. 

 

One of the many things that really annoys me about the 1999 TV series is the treatment of Strawberry as they arrive on the Down, which goes directly against what happens in the book. He is portrayed as a lazy decadent slob who wants nothing to do with digging the new warren, though he redeems himself later, his portrayal in the distinct third series being very different, both in appearance and attitude. 

 

In the 2018 Netflix series Strawberry is changed to a female character. 

I haven't mentioned the 1978 film yet. The reason for this is very simple. Strawberry is completely edited out of the story in the first screen version of WD. 

 

To sum up, I think that Strawberry is a character who has been changed, to his detriment, in the screen portrayals of WD perhaps more than any other. Overall I think this is a shame for such a positive figure of redemption. 

 

18.3 Chapter 20.  A Honeycomb and a Mouse 

 

The opening quotation, from the oldest surviving written work in history, 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' simply emphasises that Holly has clearly been through a lot. 

 

We are told first of the position Holly, or rather CAPTAIN Holly, held in the Sandleford Warren. We also now have a calm confirmation of Fiver's supernatural abilities. 

 

It takes a long time to get Holly up the hill to the holes halfway Up the slope. He's in a bad way. Bigwig comments to Hazel that he won't forget how Hazel left the ditch ahead of him to see whatever it was that was approaching them.  

 

The next day is also hot and Hazel takes the rabbits in small groups to the top to continue digging under the Beech Hanger. He asks Strawberry about the Great Burrow. 

 

The new great Barrow is named the Honeycomb for reasons that still seem unclear to me. Hazel is content to allow Strawberry to direct its digging as he clearly knows what he's doing. 

 

Suddenly there is a stamp of alarm as a kestrel has been spotted. Silver spots a field mouse trapped out in the open. Hazel suddenly decides to help it, going out in the open and telling it to run to their holes. 

 

Dandelion arrives to report on Holly, who has had a bad night but is showing signs of recovery. Holly is in good spirits and curious for information. Hazel proudly tells him that the whole group who left Sandleford gave made it too the Down, though not without injury. 

 

Strawberry joins them and calls Hazel 'Hazel-Rah', which surprises Holly. He says that everyone wants to sleep in the Honeycomb and they are curious to hear Holly's account of what has happened since they left Sandleford. Holly warns them that what he has to say will not be easy to hear. 

 

Holly asks Silver to make it clear to the group that he is not going to try to dominate the group on any way and that he respects Hazel's leadership.  

Bigwig says they are keen to hear what he has to say. Holly had assumed he would be speaking above ground and the Honeycomb is a big surprise to him. 

 

Holly is just about to begin when Speedwell enters to say that the mouse would like to speak to Hazel. The mouse makes it clear that he would like to help them if he ever can, in return for helping him. 

 

They rejoin the rest of the group...and Holly begins. 

 

18.4 Next episode  

 

Next time, we learn of the terrible fate of the Sandleford Warren.