What is the American Dream? For some, the answer to this question is obvious. However, author Hunter S. Thompson believed that the American dream could not be understood without experiencing it firsthand. In his fictional autobiography Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson (under the name Raoul Duke) and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, took a trip to Las Vegas in 1971 to write an article about a race called the Mint 400. Instead of That, the duo is far more concerned with their own quest to find the American dream while racing through Las Vegas on a drug-fueled rampage. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an interesting and unique story because it is about the author's discovery of the American dream. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay One of the first mentions of the American dream comes right after Duke calls his superiors to ask for money to finance the trip. They can only get $300, which is not enough to please Dr. Gonzo. Duke brings up the fact that before this, they had no money or plans at all. Suddenly, with the help of the American dream and without any effort on their part, they are heading to Las Vegas with $300 in hand. This gives us a glimpse of what Thompson believes the American dream is. It definitely has to do with opportunity, since this whole thing was sparked by him having the opportunity to go to Las Vegas and cover the Mint 400. He was given an assignment to do something spontaneously and he jumped at the chance, perhaps because he thinks the American dream favors those who take risks. This would be the first of many incredible opportunities that would present themselves to Thompson during this journey. One of the first examples of the American dream at work came at midnight on a Saturday after the Mint 400. Duke and his lawyer ended up finding themselves in a difficult situation. Debbie Reynolds live show without having to pay anything just by saying they know her personally. It's a unique experience, being able to claim an association with fame and being treated differently without anyone verifying their story or even questioning them. In a city like Las Vegas, where famous people are performing everywhere all the time, how could they keep up with who knows who? Besides that, why risk angering someone who might have the power to cause them a lot of trouble? They can take advantage of this unique opportunity that the place where they are offers them. However, after just a few minutes, they are kicked out for causing a scene and leave in search of somewhere more welcoming to intoxicated patrons. The duo ended up at Circus-Circus, a 4-story circus-themed casino with live shows and performances. . They walked around to take in a bit of all the sights, when Duke remarked that the atmosphere was not good for someone in his fragile state of mind, even comparing it to the "Sixth Reich" (Thompson 28). When they arrive at a rotating Merry-Go-Round bar, Dukes' lawyer suddenly wants to leave town. Duke reminded him, “We came here to find the American dream, and now that we're in the vortex, you want to stop” (Thompson 29). At this point, they are both heavily intoxicated. His lawyer was showing signs of extreme discomfort and Duke even thought a foreclosure might be imminent, so they left. Despite this setback, he found the “main nerve” of the American dream in Las Vegas and, before his story is over, he will return there. Next time.