Quote 1:
The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double-backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the �Star-Spangled Banner,� but in fact the message was this: So long and thanks for all the fish. (p. 105)
Quote 2:
It (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) said: �The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication, otherwise known as the How, Why, and Where phases.
�For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question How can we eat? The second by the question Why do we eat? And the third by the question Where shall we have lunch?� (p.143)
Story Content Response
Quote 3:
�� these creatures you call mice, you see, they are not quite as they appear. They are merely the protrusion into our dimension of vastly hyperintelligent pandimensional beings. The whole business with the cheese and the squeaking is just a front.�
The old man (Slartibartfast) paused, and with a sympathetic frown continued.
�They�ve been experimenting on you, I�m afraid.� (p.109)
This quote impresses me in two significant ways. Slartibartfast�s disclosure that the whole planet Earth was an experiment made and conducted by mice allows Arthur to disband his emotional ties to earth to enjoy and participate in all the wonders of the galaxy. Besides the part it plays in the story, I find this quote to also be very funny.
Up to this point in his life, Arthur Dent believed that humans experimented on mice, ran and were the most intelligent creatures on Earth, and had never set foot off Earth. As you can imagine, being told the opposite of what he considered obvious facts was very confusing for Arthur. After Slartibartfast revealed the true purpose of Earth to him, he spent some time reflecting on these facts. However, he soon realized what the future could hold for him if he discontinued his lamentation. With this new comprehension, Arthur goes on with his life and has all the adventures described in The Ultimate Hitchhiker�s Guide.
There are three main humorous concepts expressed in this quote. �Slartibartfast� is a very absurd, whimsical name. The roles of the mice and humans on earth were reversed when Slartibartfast told Arthur that humans were not experimenting on mice, mice were experimenting on humans. The general consensus on Earth was that there was an omnipotent god who ran the Earth and everything around it. The fact that God did not run the world, mice did is, in my opinion, hilarious.
Personal Response
Quote 4:
� Patterns that Arthur knew, rough blobbly shapes that were as familiar to him as the shapes of words, part of the furniture of the mind. For a few seconds he sat in stunned silence as the images rushed around his mind and tried to find somewhere to settle down and make sense.
Part of his brain told him that he know perfectly well what he was looking at and what the shapes represented while another quite sensibly refused to countenance the idea and abdicated responsibility for any further thinking in that direction.
The flash came again, and this time there could be no doubt.
�The Earth�� whispered Arthur.
�Well the Earth Mark Two in fact,� said Slartibartfast cheerfully. We�re making a copy from the original blueprints.�
There was a pause.
�Are you trying to tell me,� said Arthur, slowly and with control, �that you originally � made the Earth?�
�Oh yes,� said Slartibartfast. �Did you ever go to a place� I think is was called Norway?�
�No,� said Arthur, �no, I didn�t.�
�Pity,� said Slartibartfast, �that was one of mine� (p. 108)
Slartibartfast showed Arthur a model of the Earth which they were rebuilding. Arthur�s realization of the truth of this statement was in many ways similar to my realization of Santa Claus� non-existence.
On a bus ride back to Edgemont Day Camp the summer after Kindergarten, Zac Levine and I had a heated debate with Evan Kaiman over the validity of Santa Claus� existence. At first I asked no one about Santa Claus and considered Evan�s theory ludicrous. After a few days I told my dad about the discussion and asked him about the credibility of Evan�s argument. He explained that Evan was right. Part of my brain completely understood this and thought Santa Claus was completely illogical anyway. Another part refused to accept this depressing revelation and closed off any immediate future thought on this matter. Within a few weeks, I was no longer distressed over the Santa issue.
Arthur Dent is astounded when he learns that Earth was an experiment. Part of his brain told him that he was looking at a map of Earth. Another part of his brain simultaneously rejected this simple idea deeming it impossible. After a couple hours, Arthur understands this surprising concept just as I understood Santa Claus.
