In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a novel by Douglas Adams, the Earth disappears, leaving Arthur Dent as the sole remaining Earthling in the universe. Ford Perfect, Arthur’s alien friend who saved him, joins him on an extraordinary journey that completely derails Arthur’s life. As a protagonist with a laid-back and hapless hero persona, Arthur Dent often exhibits a humorous attitude and behavior that sets this book apart from others.
Despite the destruction of his planet, Arthur Dent has maintained a relatively lively attitude towards others. Though he used to be a lively yet rational man, he is now simply a lively man. One peculiar moment in his life was when Ford Perfect informed him of what The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy said about earthlings: mostly harmless. Whenever the book reaches a dull or pointless section, Arthur Dent consistently lightens the mood with a joke or an inhumane act, demonstrating his occasional lack of sanity or intelligence.
There was an astonishing event in the book where Arthur Dent experienced “temporary amnesia of sanity” following the aftershock. This surprising revelation was that humans had been serving as test subjects for hyper-intelligent mice. Arthur Dent, despite his minor mental instability caused by his planet’s disappearance, is portrayed as a heroic character in the story. Notably, he successfully transformed two murderous nuclear missiles into a sperm whale and a pot of flowers.
Arthur Dent can be seen as a hero because of his spirited demeanor, positive outlook, and calmness in dangerous situations. Despite being the sole survivor of his species, he consistently displays heroic traits. Douglas Adams, an exceptional author, consistently brings humor to readers across all of his works. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series and its sequels are highly recommended books that should not be ignored.
