The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Character Analysis

Arthur Dent

Arthur Dent is a British man who unknowingly escapes the destruction of earth with his alien friend, Ford Prefect. On the morning of earth’s annihilation, Arthur wakes up with a hangover and learns that… read analysis of Arthur Dent

Ford Prefect

Ford Prefect is an extraterrestrial being who landed on earth fifteen years before the planet’s destruction. Ford is from “a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse,” and is the distant cousin of the… read analysis of Ford Prefect

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Zaphod Beeblebrox is the two-headed president of the galaxy, and Ford Prefect’s distant cousin. Zaphod is purposefully suited for the role of president. This is because the job requires a person who is “controversial,”… read analysis of Zaphod Beeblebrox

Trillian

Trillian is a woman from earth who left six months before the planet is destroyed by the Vogons. Trillian has “a degree in math and another in astrophysics,” which is why she decided to travel… read analysis of Trillian

Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast is an old man who lives on Magrathea. Like his fellow Magratheans, Slartibartfast is a custom planet designer. More specifically, he designs fjords (narrow coastal inlets), and was actually the person who designed… read analysis of Slartibartfast

Mr. L. Prosser

Mr. Prosser is a British construction foreman on earth. Mr. Prosser is tasked with demolishing Arthur Dent’s house to make way for a new bypass. Before he can do so, though, Arthur lies down… read analysis of Mr. L. Prosser

Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz

Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz is the commander of the Vogon spaceship that destroys earth. Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz is a “fairly typical Vogon in that he [is] thoroughly vile.” What’s more, he hates hitchhikers. After annihilating earth… read analysis of Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz

Eddie

The Heart of Gold’s main computer, which pilots and generally controls the ship. Unlike Marvin, Eddie has a cheerful disposition. In fact, this robot is so optimistic and chatty that Zaphod constantly insults… read analysis of Eddie

Lunkwill

A “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who works as a programmer on a long-running project to find an answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything.” Lunkwill and his colleague Fook are the two programmers chosen to turn… read analysis of Lunkwill

Deep Thought

A supercomputer built by Lunkwill, Fook, and other “hyperintelligent pandimensional beings.” When Deep Thought is finally up and running, these programmers ask it if it is the most advanced computer in the galaxy… read analysis of Deep Thought

Yooden Vranx

The former president of the galaxy. When they were young, Zaphod and Ford met Yooden while raiding his ship, which was a heavily armored “megafreighter.” Impressed by Zaphod’s ability to get past the ship’s security… read analysis of Yooden Vranx

Benjy Mouse

A “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who has been living on earth in the form of a mouse. More specifically, Benjy has been on earth as one of Trillian’s two pet mice. When Trillian left earth… read analysis of Benjy Mouse

Minor Characters

Marvin

A depressed robot aboard the Heart of Gold. Like the other robots onboard, Marvin was designed with GPP features: Genuine People Personalities. This is why he’s capable of feeling enough emotion to experience depression.

Fook

A programmer who helped build Deep Thought and who, along with Lunkwill, turns the supercomputer on for the first time.

Majikthise

A “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who belongs to the Amalgamated Union of Philosophers, Sages, Luminaries and Other Thinking Persons. As a philosopher, Majikthise doesn’t want Deep Thought to determine an answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything,” arguing that the “eternal verities” belong to thinkers, not machines.

Vroomfondel

A “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who belongs to the Amalgamated Union of Philosophers, Sages, Luminaries and Other Thinking Persons. As a philosopher, Vroomfondel doesn’t want Deep Thought to determine an answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything,” arguing that the “eternal verities” belong to thinkers, not machines.

Pouchg

A “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who—along with his colleague, Loonquawl—asks Deep Thought to finally reveal the answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything.” Pouchg is disappointed when Deep Thought says that the answer is 42. Arthur Dent watches a virtual recording of this moment while standing in Slartibartfast’s office.

Loonquawl

Pouchg’s colleague, a “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” trying to find out the answer to “Life, the Universe and Everything” from Deep Thought.

Frankie Mouse

Benjy Mouse’s colleague, a “hyperintelligent pandimensional being” who has been living on earth in the form of one of Trillian’s pet mice.