Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas Summary

603 Words2 Pages

In 1971, American columnist Hunter S. Thompson went on an adventure to find the American Dream. In his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas he uses Gonzo journalism to record and impart his drug and acid full experience roaming through 1970's Las Vegas. All through the book, he frequently references and derides the traditional ideals of Horatio Alger and takes stab at our social, overpowering need to enjoy. Thompson writes, “In a closed society where everyone is guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity” (p. 72). Everybody does whatever it is they want to in Vegas, and they all are guilty of something. Thompson is aware that everyone is breaking the rules, but however he feels that people in Vegas don’t care. They mind their own business and expect others to do so too. …show more content…

The characters in Alger’s books took years of sincere work before they got positive results from their actions. His books had a moral undertone. And on the other hand, Thompson writes about his pursuit for the American Dream in Las Vegas, a city that thrives on gambling. In Vegas, with a little bit of luck, any wanna be off the street can walkout with big bucks in no time. Winners could be criminals, liars, even homeless, or whatever –- it all depend on who’s got luck going their way that night. It’s like Thompson knocks out Horatio Alge saying, screw your bullshit moral bedtime stories, welcome to the real world. Welcome to Las Vegas. Welcome to

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