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In the Velveteen Rabbit, the rabbit's inability to move functions as the main barrier that hinders it from being acknowledged as a real creature.
For example, the Velveteen Rabbit realizes that it is not real when he meets the "new type" of rabbits, which are able to move freely.
"Can you hop on your hind legs?" asked the furry rabbit.
That was a dreadful question, for the Velveteen Rabbit had no hind legs at all! The back of him was made all in one piece, like a pincushion
Furthermore, the rabbit only realizes that he has finally become real when he sees that he is able to jump.
"The Rabbit found that he actually had hind legs! He gave one leap and the joy of using those hind legs was so great that he went springing about the turf on them, jumping sideways and whirling round as the others did. He was a real rabbit at last, at home with the other rabbits."
Ultimately, the rabbit's transformation into a real creature through acquiring hind legs, actual fur, and real whiskers leads to the following question:
Are we real as long as we have the physical traits and abilities that correspond to real creatures?
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