Targets of Satire in the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Throughout Douglas Adams’ The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy a number of satirical techniques are used to question and condemn often serious and controversial targets of satire. The vices and follies of Arthur Dent- the main character and representative of the human race throughout the novel- are exposed and ridiculed for the entirety of the story. Within the novel, politics, in particular bureaucracy is a target of satire, especially so regarding the unpleasant race of the Vogons. Skilfully, Douglas Adams manages to address religion in an inoffensive manner using horatian satire, highlighting the inconsistencies and faults in religious ideas, and existential questions. With his targets of satire Adams manages not only to entertain, but to enlighten the reader; allowing them to identify a the trivial side of many serious issues and aiding them in thinking from an atypical perspective through the medium that is The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.
A recurring theme arising in the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy is the satirising of the human races follies and vices. Arthur Dent, a dull, self-centred being, is cleverly used to represent the whole human race, ridiculed for their narrow minded train of thought relative to the universe. “You'd just have to program it to say What? And I don't understand and Where's the tea? - who'd know the difference?"(Adams, 1978, p. 150). Zaphod states this referring to a replacement artificial brain for Arthur. This quote uses the knaves and fools satirical technique to ridicule a clueless character. Further, the novel also ridicules humanities relative technological advancement. “What do you mean you've never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven's sake, mankind, it's only four light years away, you know. I'm sorry, but if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that's your own lookout.” (Adams 1979, pg 31). By understating the difficulty of space exploration and, this quote from the Vogon, -before
A recurring theme arising in the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy is the satirising of the human races follies and vices. Arthur Dent, a dull, self-centred being, is cleverly used to represent the whole human race, ridiculed for their narrow minded train of thought relative to the universe. “You'd just have to program it to say What? And I don't understand and Where's the tea? - who'd know the difference?"(Adams, 1978, p. 150). Zaphod states this referring to a replacement artificial brain for Arthur. This quote uses the knaves and fools satirical technique to ridicule a clueless character. Further, the novel also ridicules humanities relative technological advancement. “What do you mean you've never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven's sake, mankind, it's only four light years away, you know. I'm sorry, but if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that's your own lookout.” (Adams 1979, pg 31). By understating the difficulty of space exploration and, this quote from the Vogon, -before