Why is 42 the answer to everything in the universe in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
2006-10-23 17:24:36 · 11 answers · asked by JaHannah 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The meaning of Life, The Universe, and Everything!, or should I say the answer to the question of Life the Universe and everything, the only problem is...no one knows what the question is.
2006-10-23 17:32:45 · answer #1 · answered by essexsrose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't any one else remember?
true it is the answer the computer made for the meaning of life, but at the end the mighty rulers of the Galaxy (the mice) change it to the "number of paths that a man must walk down."
As for the actual symbolic meaning, I doubt the writer of a book like the "Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" would think about things like that.
We could speculate though...
perhaps it is all down hill from 42 on
perhaps it is calling for a one day weekend (42 = 6*7, 7-6 = 1)
perhaps if you switch it around to 24, it is saying that at this time in a persons life everything is backwards
perhaps the average age is 43 in the galaxy.
maybe the computer blew a fuse while contemplating the number 42
4 is the square of 2, the square root of 42 is irrational. maybe we see meaning in irrationality.
But I think that the author knew that we would try to dissect its meaning, and therefore left it meaningless. LOL
(you'r not the author are you?)
2006-10-23 17:42:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
42 was the answer given by the super comptuer thing to the question of life, the universe, and everything. Seeing how the computer thing only watched TV for eternity, I think he made up the answer so he sounded real smart. I was much more impressed with the folks who built custom-made planets, I git some ideas.
2006-10-23 19:20:06 · answer #3 · answered by guysmiley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just is. That's never explained. The question is the missing part. They asked for the answer which is 42. Somehow, there is a question, whose answer is 42, that explains the reason for life. But no one knows the question because the computer designed to find the question blew up.
2006-10-23 17:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by Earth Queen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you read it? Or are you just asking so you won't have to? The book is meant to be funny. Beyond the answers you've already been given, the whole 42 thing is part of the book, and meant to be humorous. If you don't get that, may I suggest you try reading a different book? Maybe Curious George... or The Cat In The Hat.....?
2006-10-23 22:31:35 · answer #5 · answered by kristalshyt 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
'injanier' is right! The meaning of life- 42- is meaningless if you don't know the question. That is the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything is the journey itself.
2006-10-23 18:20:29 · answer #6 · answered by aas_627 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adams is saying that it would make no difference if someone handed you the ultimate answer, because until you understand "life the universe and everything", you won't understand the answer. He goes on to explain that the purpose of life on Earth is to figure out what the *question* is.
2006-10-23 17:58:25 · answer #7 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So that people would ask ? and maybe think and realize there is no one answer and so 42 makes as much sense as anything else.
2006-10-23 23:45:33 · answer #8 · answered by MUD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the Secret to life
2006-10-23 17:26:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is the answer to the question, "What is the secret of life?"
2006-10-23 17:26:39 · answer #10 · answered by Jim P 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋