Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… on the Heart of Gold spaceship. Zaphod has managed to steal the beautiful ship decked out with large video screens, an excitingly chunky interior, and the latest GPP (Genuine People Personalities) technology. The Heart of Gold is also powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive, allowing the ship to pass through every point in the universe.
Profession… President of the Galaxy – an outrageous job for an outrageous man. Zaphod’s main job is actually to distract citizens from noticing what the true rulers are up to, a mission he is more than capable of. Whether it’s stealing the Heart of Gold or downing three Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters in one sitting, Zaphod Beeblebrox will accomplish the task with enough pizzazz to garner the attention of a galaxy.
Interests… leading a wild and successful life, which, for some reason, comes incredibly easy to Zaphod Beeblebrox. He didn’t even try particularly hard to become the President of the Galaxy. He just decided that he would and suddenly, he was. Trillian believes that Zaphod’s triumphs come from the fact that he never truly understands the importance of anything he does. Zaphod thinks that it’s because he’s “a great and amazing guy.” Both theories have their merits.
Relationship Status… dating Trillian, a genius humanoid astrophysicist he met at a fancy dress party he crashed. How very Zaphod of him.
Challenge… uncovering the Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Zaphod has a big plan to discover the secrets of the universe after some jerk forced him to sector off the part of his brain that knew. The only clue to the perpetrator’s identity is the initials burnt into the cauterized synapses: Z.B. Who could that possibly be?
Personality… ”clever, imaginative, irresponsible, untrustworthy, extrovert, nothing you couldn’t have guessed” – at least, that’s what the government medical officers’ tests showed when Zaphod underwent screening prior to his nomination as President. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he’s got two heads and three arms that sometimes fight with each other. Most people just think he’s a narcissist. Classic Beeblebrox lines like “If there’s anything more important than my ego around, I want it caught and shot now,” make it hard to disagree.
Get to Know him in...
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Mere seconds before the Earth is to be demolished by an alien construction crew, Arthur Dent is swept off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher penning a new edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
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Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!
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Don't Panic! The story of Arthur Dent, an average Englishman who life was spared by his friend, who turned out to be an alien, while the planet Earth is destroyed. His friend tells him about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a guide with anything you ever needed, and wanted to know. They travel across the galaxy, meeting friendly, and not so friendly characters in order to find the great question (the answer being 42).
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You are Arthur Dent, an Englishman with a bad hangover wearing a dressing gown containing a much needed buffered analgesic and some fluff. Your house has just been destroyed, followed shortly thereafter by your planet Earth (mostly harmless). You've been rescued by your friend Ford Prefect, who's not actually an out-of-work actor. He has given you a book (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), a towel, and is now telling you to put a fish in your ear. It must be a Thursday; you've never quite gotten the hang of Thursdays. Death can come quickly if Arthur fails to observe his surroundings, collect inventory, talk to people, and consult the Guide. Don't Panic!
