Fear and Loathing; a Psychological Acid Trip

“’Look over there,’ I said. ‘Two women fucking a polar bear.” (Thompson 48)

This is later on while the two men are at Circus-Circus, an off kilter casino where the pair find salvation on their drug binge. Similar to the lizard incident, Thompson is trying to explain an altered version of reality to his attorney pal.

The Lizard Trip

Madness at "Circus-Circus"

“You notice these lizards don’t have any trouble moving around in this muck – that’s because they have claws on their feet.” (Thompson, 24)

“But nobody can handle that other trip – the possibility that any freak with $1.98 can walk into the Circus-Circus and suddenly appear in the sky over downtown Las Vegas twelve times the size of God, howling anything that comes into his head. No, this is not a good town for psychedelic drugs. Reality itself is too twisted.” (Thompson 47)

This is when Dr. Thompson and his attorney first arrive at the hotel. Everyone in the lobby appear as lizards to Hunter. He is, again, completely mad on drugs. Therefore, his perception of reality is even more extremely distorted.

They are just arriving at the Circus-Circus. They hear about seeing a huge face projected into the sky. This is their own interpretation of how bonkers it would be to witness on such intense drugs. At this point and time, they are aware of how scrambled everything has become because of the drugs.

The Gorilla Trip

“Psychedelics are almost irrelevant in a town where you can wander into a casino anytime of the day or night and witness the crucifixion of a gorilla – on a flaming neon cross that suddenly turns into a pinwheel, spinning the beast around in wild circles above the crowded gambling action.” (Thompson 190)

He is terminally high on drugs when he returns to Circus-Circus and upon seeing the gorilla, these are the thoughts that race through his mind.

Characters

Hunter S. Thompson

• Main character.

• Erratic character.

• Incomprehensible at times.

• Dr. Gonzo’s client and good friend.

• Unaware of the reality of his surroundings because of the profuse amount of drugs he abuses.

Dr. Gonzo (unnamed Samoan man?)

• Dr. Thompson’s seemingly only friend and his "attorney".

• Aggressive character.

• Also uses drugs and alcohol throughout the novel in excess.

• Very impulsive.

Bad Vibes in the Bathtub

The Bat Trip

“I picked up the tape/radio – which was still plugged in – and held it over the tub. ’Just let me make sure I have it all lined up,’ I said. “You want me to throw this thing into the tub when ‘White Rabbit’ peaks – is that it?” (Thompson 60)

“And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and driving around the car, which was going about a hundred miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas.” (Thompson 3)

This is the moment when the attorney is completely obliterated on drugs and is lying in the bathtub. He asks Thompson to throw a radio which is plugged in, into the bathtub in order to feel good when it hits the water and electrocutes him.

This is when Hunter S. Thompson and his attorney are driving to Las Vegas and they are tripping out on drugs, it is the opening paragraph of the novel. This demonstrates his addiction to drugs from the beginning, and how it affects his mentality early on.

“’Green water and the White Rabbit…put it on; don’t make me use this.’ His arm lashed out of the water, the hunting knife gripped in his fist.” (Thompson 58)

THE

END

When Thompson wouldn't do as the attorney asked, he was threatened with a knife. The attorney was doing this because he was on so many drugs that this seemed to be an appropriate response to Thompson’s denial to do as he asked. They were both on acid.

Fear and Loathing; the Psychological Documentation of a Drug Binge in Las Vegas

By Sarah, Isabella, Bryce and Dawson