Introduction
The Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is regarded to be a book with no clear plot and sequence of the events. It is argued, that The basic plot line is the Raoul Duke’s and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo’s trip to Las Vegas in order to report the Mint 400 motorcycle race, as he is a journalist. Nevertheless, they soon choose to abandon their work, and start experimenting with drugs (LSD, cocaine, mescaline and cannabis). Starting of these experiments is also the beginning of the events, that for the plot line (which is unclear), which happens mainly in thei minds, as they experience the hallucinogenic trips, during which they destroy hotel rooms, wreck cars and have visions of anthropomorphic desert animals, all the while ruminating on the decline of American culture.
Scene Analysis
The most interesting scene for the analysis is the Raoul Duke’s and Dr. Gonzo’s way to Las Vegas. Originally, it is the very beginning of the novel, and all the minor characters are not represented yet. However, they exist, and their view of this trip is rather interesting, as they even do not imagine the future events. They can not expect, that Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo will abandon their reporting the motorcycle races, and try the drugs, where they will meet all the minor characters. It is interesting to mention, that it is not even known for sure, if these characters exist, or they are just the creations of the hallucinations. The way to Las Vegas may be regarded as the probability of further appearing of characters. The further situation may be expressed in the following passage, that expresses the following events from the viewpoint of the minor characters:
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive…” 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 diving around the car, which was going about a hundred miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas. And a voice was screaming: “Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?”
As for the story from the view point of the protagonists, it should be mentioned, that they try to reach Las Vegas in order to do their job, which will, probably, make them more experienced and respected among the editorial staff. The message, that is offered as the center of the plot is the changes in American culture, that the protagonists represent, and one of their aims is to promote these changes. They also search for the American dream, that is hard to find in the contemporary USA. However, the trip was the classic affirmation of everything right and true against false and left.
Conclusion
The novel is aimed to represent the current situation within the people, who search for happiness and success. Instead of struggling for success, most young people select the easiest way of being happy – drugs. However, this topic is represented in rather satirical form.