"The argument goes something like this: 'I refuse to prove that I exist,' says God, 'for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.'
'But,' says Man, 'The Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED.'
'Oh dear,' says God, 'I hadn't thought of that,' and promptly vanished in a puff of logic."
'But,' says Man, 'The Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED.'
'Oh dear,' says God, 'I hadn't thought of that,' and promptly vanished in a puff of logic."
The entire novel was written to be nonsensical, weird, and humorous (especially since it was written off of a BBC radio comedy). Themes of foolishness and strangeness are present throughout the novel and manifest themselves in the characters: particularly Zaphod, who hopes to find the legendary planet of Magrathea, "Trillian had come to suspect that the main reason why he had had such a wild and successful life that he never really understood the significance of anything he did." Perhaps one can benefit from his or her own foolishness?
Many of the events in this novel appeared to be very absurd, without having a real meaning. However, it is discovered that these seemingly random events do have a cause or purpose. Characters are constantly trying to figure out why they are doing what they are doing. However, Adams always puts these events of absurdity in places were reason is present, so that the lack of reason is highlighted. An example of this is found in the very first chapter, when a group of contractors are attempting to demolish Arthur Dent's house. Arthur claimed that he wasn't given notice of the demolition, but Mr. Prosser was absolutely convinced that Arthur was aware of the plans for destruction. The plans were "on display" behind a sign reading "Beware of the Leopard," in a locked filing cabinet in a disused bathroom located in the darkened, stairless planning office's cellar; an absurd form of a "warning" to Arthur.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a story about opening our eyes to the seemingly crazy things are realizing their importance (or unimportance, when compared to the vastness of the galaxy), as well as looking outside the normal and seeing the connections between everything.
Many of the events in this novel appeared to be very absurd, without having a real meaning. However, it is discovered that these seemingly random events do have a cause or purpose. Characters are constantly trying to figure out why they are doing what they are doing. However, Adams always puts these events of absurdity in places were reason is present, so that the lack of reason is highlighted. An example of this is found in the very first chapter, when a group of contractors are attempting to demolish Arthur Dent's house. Arthur claimed that he wasn't given notice of the demolition, but Mr. Prosser was absolutely convinced that Arthur was aware of the plans for destruction. The plans were "on display" behind a sign reading "Beware of the Leopard," in a locked filing cabinet in a disused bathroom located in the darkened, stairless planning office's cellar; an absurd form of a "warning" to Arthur.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a story about opening our eyes to the seemingly crazy things are realizing their importance (or unimportance, when compared to the vastness of the galaxy), as well as looking outside the normal and seeing the connections between everything.