At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was offered to General Woundwort the opportunity to show whether he was really the leader of vision and genius which he believed himself to be, or whether he was no more than a tyrant with the courage and cunning of a pirate. For one beat of his pulse the lame rabbit's idea shone clearly before him. He grasped it and realized what it meant. The next, he had pushed it away from him.
In this pivotal moment on Watership Down, General Woundwort faces a critical decision that tests his self-perception as a visionary leader. He is confronted with the possibility of embracing a new idea proposed by a disabled rabbit, which could indicate true leadership and innovation. The situation is charged with tension as he must choose whether to accept this opportunity or reject it.
Ultimately, Woundwort's reaction reveals his character—he has a fleeting insight into the potential to rise above tyranny and embrace his role as a genuine leader. However, he quickly dismisses the idea, suggesting that he may be more akin to a cunning tyrant than the inspirational figure he imagines himself to be. This conflict underscores the themes of power and the nature of true leadership within the narrative.
