The Inspirational Character of Arthur Dent by Stephan

The Inspirational Character of Arthur Dent by Stephan - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

There is a trilogy. In this trilogy are printed 5 books. (I know that a trilogy generally only has 3 but in some extraordinary cases more than 3. Just stay with me on this). Within this multi-volume trilogy lays a man. Not a large muscular heroic man. Nor was he a small feeble weasel of a man. He was, it is safe to say, average. There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about him, except for perhaps his annoying habit of stating the obvious, like “It’s a nice day” or “It’s a far bit from London to New York” or “Vogon poetry can make one’s brain feel as if it has been squeezed out of a vice, strained into a fancy glass and topped with a small umbrella.” Then again, as far as that goes, the annoying habit of stating the obvious is a shortcoming of the whole of the human race. But then, only 2 humans remain in the universe since the earth was destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass, which actually didn’t need to be built anyway thanks to the invention of the Infinite Improbability drive. The point is, this man was, safe to say perfectly average. His name, which was even more average than he, was Arthur Dent.

Arthur Dent is one of the central characters in Douglas Adams series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. By and large, he is just an average fellow who has had greatness thrust upon him, albeit reluctantly accepted. Throughout the series, Arthur really goes from a simple middle-aged man from England, to a star-hopping hitchhiker.

I first read the series when I was in High School and instantly fell in love with it. I have read it innumerable times since then. I enjoy all the characters, Ford, Zaffod, Trillian and even the paranoid android Marvin. But there was just something about Arthur that made me identify with him. How even though his life was pulled out from under him and an entirely new set of circumstances were plopped in his lap like an overweight Pomeranian, he persevered. He learned to adapt to his new way of life and overcome nearly every obstacle set before him.

I believe that the reason I identified with him and why he has actually been an inspiration to me is simply because I feel I myself am just an average fellow. I have done nothing horribly notable in my life, nor have I lived a quiet and sequestered life. I have just continued to make lemonade with all the lemons life has handed me.

Lets look at it this way. As of the writing of this essay, I am nearly 40 years old. I am now going to school to learn how to do 3D animation, an adjusted version of my childhood dream. That means, when I graduate, I will be approximately 42 years old (get the reference?). By the time I reach the point I can retire (+ - 30 years) I will be roughly 70 years old. Now, some may say that is FAR too old to be doing animation and cartoons, but I have two words for you, which when said together is a name; STAN LEE. But that’s enough on that subject.

Back to the subject at hand, Arthur Dent and his inspiration to me. He continually overcame obstacles, stared fear and smelly Vogons in the eye and persevered. I believe I have done that as well. I left behind a life on the West Coast that I had forged for 30+ years and trotted off to the Middle of America to start anew. In a way, I am not so different than my dear friend Arthur. I have left behind the life I knew and am marching forward into the unknown.

So when you read some of my other colleagues essays on how they were inspired by Conan the Barbarian, King Arthur or Tom Sawyer, please remember it is easy to admit you have been inspired by great deeds or great works. It is a whole other matter to say that a man, who was abducted by aliens, while he was wearing his pajamas, inspired you.