The Restaurant at the End of the Universe: The Depressed Robot Holds the Key (prompt 4)(chapter 20)

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it is revealed that the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42. The question, however, must be figured out by the giant organic super-computer that is earth. Unfortunately, as we find out in the next book, Earth was destroyed by psychologists so they could preserve their business and retain their clients just before the question was found.

Now, Arthur Dent holds the question to the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything. The only question remaining is how do Zaphod and the crew get it out of Arthur? Nobody knows. At least that was how it seemed. In this chapter, Marvin makes a startling announcement. Marvin, a manic depressive robot, hears the crew discussing how to find the question and announce that he can see it stamped on Arthur's brain waves. When asked why he hadn't said anything sooner, he replies, "You didn't ask."

This obviously surprised me. As a reader and an analyst, this is not what I was expecting. As a reader, I see Marvin as a sad little robot with funny remarks who doesn't really do anything. As an analyst, I see Marvin as a minor character used primarily for comic relief. Either way, I did not expect him to be able to find the question to the ultimate answer of life, the universe, and everything.