Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Throughout my semester in Topics in Contemporary Literature, I have read a lot of works by a lot of different writers. Given the array of material that has been covered, I also have been introduced to a slew of new ideas and amazing characters. Two prime examples of this can be found within Barry Hannah’s “Ray,” and Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Both of the aforementioned characters are extremely complex, even though they may seem superficial, and both are the main focuses within the text. On one end there is Ray, who is a character that indulges in womanizing, fighting, and is often driven by pure lust and impulse. On the other end there is Raoul Duke, which is a fake identity that is taken by one of the main characters
After reading up on my psychology notes I came to realize that the one key thing that the two characters have in common is that it seems that they both exhibit the characteristics of a person that is suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder. Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by all of the following: Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest; Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure; Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead; Reckless disregard for safety of self or others; Lack of remorse; Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults. Raoul Duke and his attorney fail to conform to social norms as they carouse around Las Vegas high off of an assortment of drugs, and they also are exhibiting reckless disregard for the safety of themselves and others by being under the influence while operating a motor vehicle. Their entire trip to Las Vegas is on impulse and they definitely did not plan ahead. “Raoul Duke” is in fact an alias, which plays into yet another aspect of the characteristics of a person that is suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder. On the other end of the spectrum, Ray exhibits a lack of remorse after killing the eighty year old man, and a lack of remorse for his promiscuity. He also at times appears to be aggressive which leads him to get into a scuffle after he screams “I come from the Navy and I know how to kill in a fight! One of you is going to get it” (Pg.