Name : Hamza Zakir

Class : BS 8 A morning
Subject : Popular fiction
Topic : Symbols in the novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a comedy science fiction franchise created by
Douglas Adams. Originally a 1978 radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4, it was later adapted to other
formats, including novels, stage shows, comic books.Douglas Adams uses a variety of symbols to
represent different aspects of life, from humankind's quest for philosophical answers and fact-based
knowledge, to the unpredictable nature of life and the effects of personal perspective on its meaning.

Towel
In the world of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the towel is a symbol of safety when embarking on
an unknown journey. In a larger sense, it symbolizes practical things people usually take for granted as
well as the predetermined standards by which they judge other people. As may be expected, Adams
takes an under-appreciated everyday item and gives it an absurdly important role for galactic
hitchhikers. Not only is an ordinary towel useful as a pillow and for drying off, but it can save a
hitchhiker's life in hand-to-hand combat or if confronted by the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.
Adams is underscoring the idea that the ordinary may become, under different circumstances, the
extraordinary, or at least indispensable.

The towel, according to The Hitchhiker's Guide, also has immense psychological value. When a
hitchhiker has journeyed and fought his way across the length and breadth of the galaxy and still knows
where his towel is, he is a man to be reckoned with. He is also assumed to be a man with possessions—
whether he ever had them or not. As a result, non-hitchhikers will gladly supply him with whatever he
needs to replace any items "accidentally lost." In other words, just as Earthlings judge others by
predetermined standards (such as their job or where they live), beings throughout the universe judge
hitchhikers by their towels. Whether or not they will help a hitchhiker is determined by that possession.
Adams is underscoring the importance people attach to superficial standards of judging others, and once
again, the towel assumes an absurdly important role in the universe.
Every May 25, fans of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy annually celebrate Towel Day, paying tribute
to the genius of Douglas Adams by carrying towels.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Within the novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a kind of electronic book that provides Arthur
and readers useful tips for galactic travel. It is described as the standard repository of all knowledge and
wisdom. It tells readers everything necessary to know about anything, and it has replaced the
Encyclopedia Galactica in popularity and sales. In this way, the guide is a symbol of how the search for
knowledge and wisdom can be confounding. What often seems most meaningful (like the planet where
one resides or digital watches), in the grand scheme of things, may have little meaning after all. In
contrast, something as ordinary as a towel may have great significance. Even so, the fact that the The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy exists suggests that the galaxy can be understood and explained
somehow—and enjoyed "for less than thirty Altairian dollars a day.

The Vogons
In the book, the Vogons represent everything bad: evil, stupidity, and chaos—and a deadly combination
of the three. So deadly, in fact, that they end up destroying the entire earth just to finish a construction
project. They often are much happier when angry. Many of the Vogons follow blind orders and end up
almost killing Arthur and Ford. This race is incredibly ugly, stupid, and evil, and is always an antagonist in
the story.

The President of the Galaxy

The galactic political system in the story is a humorous symbol of how modern politics often function.
Zaphod Beeblebrox is named the president of the galaxy, but he has no idea what he wants to do with
that title. In fact, it is specified that whoever wants to become the president must undergo a
psychological exam that proves that they really don't want to be in power. This shows that often the
best people to be in power don't actually want to be in power at all (an old concept that dates at least as
far back as Plato's Republic).

Slartibartfast
Slartibartfast, despite his ridiculous name, represents a wise mentorship. He shows Arthur the creation
of his planet and why it was created in the first place. This begins Arthur's quest to find out meaning in
life and how he will use the information Slartibartfast has given him. Although there is not much going
on inside Arthur's head, it is up to old Slarty to fix that and make him into someone meaningful.