Minor characters from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

There are many minor characters in the various versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. In fact, defining a major character is rather difficult. If the major characters are those the plot focuses on, they are Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Marvin and Trillian, with the possible inclusion of Slartibartfast, Prostentic Vogon Jeltz, Random Dent and Fenchurch. If they are defined as characters appearing in all the books, they are only Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent. In this case, the definition of major characters will be those in the series with major plot significance not appearing on this list.

Agrajag

Agrajag is a piteous creature that is continuously reincarnated and subsequently killed unknowingly by Arthur Dent each time. Agrajag first appears in the series as a falling bowl of petunias (although, if the books are read in sequence, the reader doesn't know it at the time). In another incarnation, he was a prehistoric rabbit who was killed by Arthur for breakfast and whose skin was fashioned into a pouch. In yet another, he dies of a heart attack after seeing Arthur and Ford materialize in the midst of a cricket match at Lord's cricket ground while they (Arthur and Ford) were seated on a Chesterfield sofa.

Related Topics:
Reincarnated - Arthur Dent - Petunia - Rabbit - Heart attack - Cricket

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Eventually, Agrajag becomes aware of his many past incarnations and wishes to take revenge on Arthur Dent. He diverts Arthur to the Cathedral of Hate for revenge, but mistakenly does so before the death of one of his incarnations has actually happened. Agrajag tries to kill Arthur anyway, and once again dies at Arthur's hands, but not before setting off the explosives intended to kill Arthur in a massive rockfall. Because of cause and effect and the laws of time and the universe (not to mention dramatic necessity), Arthur escapes the rockfall and goes on to witness the death of Agrajag that hadn't yet happened when he was diverted to the Cathedral of Hate.

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Some readers believe Agrajag's character represents the futility of life or the mess that the Universe is in. Series author Douglas Adams had his own ideas about what the character represents, which he may share with us in a way. In the 2004/2005 BBC Radio series for the last three books of Adams' series, Douglas Adams plays Agrajag, having recorded the part for an audiobook version of Life, The Universe and Everything. Producer Dirk Maggs added a suitable voice treatment, and Simon Jones as Arthur Dent recorded his lines opposite the pre-recorded Adams.

Related Topics:
The Universe - Douglas Adams - 2004 - 2005 - BBC Radio - Life, The Universe and Everything - Dirk Maggs - Simon Jones

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Adams was thus able to "come back from the dead" to participate in the new series—an irony which his books and the existence of Agrajag himself certainly show that Adams would enjoy.

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Appears in:

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• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (unnamed)
• Life, the Universe, and Everything
• Mostly Harmless