Analysis of Redwall

   The most inetersting theme to me in Redwall was the idea of pressure, in particular leaders under pressure.  From the beginning there is a very profound focus on leaders, or positions with power.  The Abbot of Redwall maintains the mice with his leadership role from a standpoint of a higher education or knowledge.  He is followed because he is respected as a wise leader.  In contrast, Cluny maintains the rats with his leadership role from a standpoint of higher power, or the unfair advantage of his deadly tail.  He is followed because he is feared as a merciless master.  Matthias is later presented as a leader as well, recognized by the Abbot.  He leads with bravery and encourgament, urging others to stand up for themselves as he leads the way.  It is easy to lead when all is going well, but when trouble strikes, the leaders have very different responses.  The Abbot and Matthias are the first leaders faced with struggles of the news of Cluny.  After wisley taking heed to the warning, the Abbot seems at a loss of how to lead in this circumstance.  This is when Matthias shows his leadership abilities under pressure, stating that "we will be ready!"  This characteristic of Matthias continues throughout the book as he has the ability to inspire the mice in times of trial, as well as himself. This "david against Goliath" confidence remained with Matthias even against the most trying opponents.  Cluny, on the other hand, fluctuates under pressure and shows great signs of anger and frustration.  His followers act accoringly, killing each other for the upper edge. 
     Redwall presented much different messages than what I expected from a book aimed at an audience of children.  I found it very interesting that it took much more of a realism perspectic rather than that of an idealistic.  This theme of realism in the fantasy was played out through characters as well as cultural interactions.  There were plenty of good and bad characters in the story.  It is expected for there to be evil characters such as Cluny and his rats, Asmodeuss, King Bull and the foxes.  What I felt was unexpected was the more "bad" tendencies of the good characters.  For example,  Matthias' treatment of Warbeak and the violence that was presented on both sides of the battle.  Likewise, the characters of the shrews (especially Guoism), Julian the Cat, and Captain Snow presented many flaws but were seen as good characters.  This is unique for a children's fantasy because it does not convey the typical perfect, black and white, good over evil, beautiful world.  Similarly,  the cultural interactons in the book present an interesting message to be a focus for this type of book because they are centerd around two main aspects of society: hierarchy and race.  The order of the classes is most obvoius in the Redwall mice, ranging from the powerful mice such as the Abbot, to the working class field mice such as Cornflower and her family.