Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson is a seminal work in American literature that blends fiction and autobiographical elements. The narrative follows journalist Raoul Duke and his attorney companion, Dr. Gonzo, as they embark on a chaotic road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race. However, their journey quickly devolves into a drug-fueled escapade marked by paranoia and existential reflection on the American Dream.
As they navigate the surreal landscape of Las Vegas, Duke and Dr. Gonzo engage in reckless behavior, bouncing between casinos and hotel rooms while grappling with the consequences of their drug use. Their attempts to attend a narcotics conference further complicate their situation, highlighting the absurdity of their escapades against a backdrop of law enforcement and societal expectations. The book serves as both a critique of the 1970s counterculture and a profound exploration of themes such as escapism, the quest for identity, and the disillusionment that accompanies the pursuit of the American Dream. Through its vivid storytelling and dark humor, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" invites readers to reflect on the complexities of American society and the human condition.
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
First published: 1972
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Roman à clef
Time of plot: 1971
Locale: Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles
Principal characters
Raoul Duke , a journalistDr. Gonzo , an attorney
The Story:
Raoul Duke is behind the wheel of a convertible, realizing that the drugs he took earlier have just kicked in. Sitting beside him is his three-hundred-pound traveling companion Dr. Gonzo, an attorney. The two have just left Los Angeles and are headed for Las Vegas. Duke, who is a journalist, is set to cover a desert motorcycle race called the Mint 400 for a sports publication on the East Coast. He had been in Los Angeles at the time of the assignment and did not ask questions about the job. He had decided to take the job and go.
Once in Las Vegas, Duke and Dr. Gonzo check in to their hotel but find it difficult to do so because they are so high on drugs. They soon meet the photographer who is assigned to accompany Duke at the Mint 400. However, the journalists do not spend much time at the race. Turns out that Duke and Dr. Gonzo would rather visit casinos and drive their rented Cadillac about town. Still high on drugs, Duke begins to reflect both on the city of Las Vegas and what he hopes is the American Dream.
Dr. Gonzo leaves Las Vegas for an appointment, and Duke is left to escape from the hotel room the two of them destroyed. They also tallied a massive room-service bill. As Duke begins to leave the hotel, he receives a telegram and hurriedly reads it. He finally leaves Las Vegas, heads back to California, and encounters a police officer. He then stops in the small town of Baker—where he calls Dr. Gonzo, who reminds him that he needs to return to Las Vegas to attend a professional conference. The telegram had instructed him and Dr. Gonzo to attend the National District Attorneys Association’s Conference on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Duke returns to Las Vegas and faces the difficult task of trying to check in to the hotel with a briefcase full of drugs in the middle of countless law-enforcement officials.
Dr. Gonzo arrives at the hotel with a young woman he has picked up. Soon, however, Duke and Dr. Gonzo are facing another round of problems, such as taking care of the young woman, another destroyed hotel room, and the drugs in their systems. Still, the two somehow are able to attend one of the conference seminars. They snicker at the ignorance of the seminar presenters, who are discussing drugs.
Before leaving Las Vegas, Dr. Gonzo insults a waitress at a sleazy diner and then pulls a knife on her, and Duke sits awestruck. The next morning, Duke drops his friend off at the airport and then returns to the casinos. Soon, however, Duke is on a plane as well, thinking about the meaning of his trip to Las Vegas.
Bibliography
Carroll, E. Jean. Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson. New York: Hyperion Books, 1993. Written by one of Thompson’s compatriots, this book is filled with interviews and stories of his life and relayed in first person by the author.
Cowan, Jay. Hunter S. Thompson: An Insider’s View of Deranged, Depraved, Drugged Out Brilliance. Guilford, Conn.: Lyons Press, 2009. Cowan, who lived on Thompson’s compound in Colorado, is able to provide an in-depth and intimate portrayal of the man.
McKeen, William. Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. This biography is considered one of the most comprehensive. Provides an unfaltering portrait of Thompson.
Perry, Paul. Fear and Loathing: The Strange and Terrible Saga of Hunter S. Thompson. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1993. Perry, a former editor at Rolling Stone, offers a critical assessment of Thompson’s life, from his poor upbringing through his drug usage to his later endeavors in life.
Stiles, S., and R. Harris. “Keeping Curious Company: Wayne C. Booth’s Friendship Model of Criticism and the Work of Hunter S. Thompson.” College English 71, no. 4 (March, 2009): 313-337. Stiles and Harris examine the role that friendship has in Thompson’s works and how it is an integral element in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Whitmer, Peter O. When the Going Gets Weird: The Twisted Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson—A Very Unauthorized Biography. New York: Hyperion Books, 1993. Whitmer’s biography is the first well-researched and fact-filled work on Thompson. Still stands as a worthwhile read.