“He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man” Hunter S. Thompson, best known as “Dr. Johnson” is considered one of the best American writers and creator of the “Gonzo Journalism”. He was characterized by his hard-driving lifestyle, which included the steady use of illicit drugs and firearms (Bio). In 1971, Thompson wrote his most famous novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where he narrates his drug-fueled journey through Las Vegas (Bio). In this novel, he wrote a quote that most audiences believe it describes himself and his life, “He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man” because he was always under the influence of drugs and alcohol avoiding to feel the reality of life. Fueled by alcohol …show more content…
Steadman was a little nervous because that was his first time in the U.S.A and first time in such crowded event. To calm him down, Thompson said to him “ ‘If the inmates get out of control we’ll soak them down with Mace’ while showing him the can of ‘Chemical Billy’ resisting the urge to fire it across the room at a rat-faced man typing diligently in the Associated Press section” (29). Who does that? A 5 year old or a crazy man, but not a normal person. Thompson used to behave like a beast most of the time, he didn’t feel or think about the outcome of his poor …show more content…
It was the face we’d been looking for-and it was, of course, my own. Horrible, horrible…” (37). Similarly, Steadman acknowledged to Thompson before leaving back to London, and after going through the drawings he had sketched during the Kentucky Derby, that he felt terrible. Thompson depicts, “‘He smiled. ‘You know- I’ve been thinking about that,’ he said. ‘We came down here to see this teddible scene: people all pissed out of their minds and vomiting on themselves and all that…and now, you know what? It’s us” (38). It can be seen from the above, that the novel The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved, is a perfect example of Dr. Johnson’s hard-driving lifestyle, which included the steady use of alcohol. Because he gave birth to the Gonzo Journalism with this master piece of first-hand personal experiences, he is considered one of the best American writers. Consequently, in 1971 he created Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas were he shared his drug-fueled journey through Las Vegas (Bio), and wrote the best description of himself in one quote, “He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man”. This quote is clearly supported by Thompson’s life legacy, he was always under
Because the premise of Cormac McCarthy’s text in All the Pretty Horses relies solely on John Grady’s decision to “run” from his familiar ranch-life in San Angelo, it is important to determine his reasons for leaving. The decay of western civilization casts a long shadow over all of McCarthy’s work, especially in this novel (M. Bell, 2). Ranch life is synonymous with McCarthy’s fictional character of John Grady Cole. When John Grady realizes that his ranch is to be sold, his very way of life is shattered. His normal routine is rocked when his mother, a virtual stranger to John Grady, chooses to sell the 18,000-acre cattle ranch he has called “home” following the finalized divorce and subsequent death of John Grady’s father. Until now, in 1949, his grandfather’s ranch has insulated him from...
Childhood is a continuous time of learning, and of seeing mistakes and using them to change your perspectives. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how two children learn from people and their actions to respect everyone no matter what they might look like on the outside. To Kill A Mockingbird tells a story about two young kids named Scout and her older brother Jem Finch growing up in their small, racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. As the years go by they learn how their town and a lot of the people in it aren’t as perfect as they may have seemed before. When Jem and Scout’s father Atticus defends a black man in court, the town’s imperfections begin to show. A sour, little man named Bob Ewell even tries to kill Jem and Scout all because of the help Atticus gave to the black man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee illustrates the central theme that it is wrong to judge someone by their appearance on the outside, or belittle someone because they are different.
The inevitable outcomes of fate in our lives are like a boundless chain of dominos falling successively. Every action is calculated and deliberate; our lives are a predetermined path that only someone as powerful as God could change. Cormac McCarthy demonstrates both the good and evil that the power of fate brings for his character John Grady in All the Pretty Horses. John Grady’s journey starts in Texas, where he realizes after his grandfather’s death that there isn’t much left for him there. He idealizes a cowboy way of life not found in Texas. He journeys with his buddy Rawlins across the border to Mexico, a lawless desert land where trouble never seems too far away. Fate leads him to a capricious kid named Blevins, whose erratic behavior and rare, expensive, and thought to be stolen horse creates a series of dilemmas for John Grady when he arrives at La Purísima, a Mexican ranch. He finds more than just the cowboy way of life he longs for at the ranch; he also finds Alejandra, the owner’s attractive daughter. As fate would have it, he falls in love with her, but fate would also have it that their love is forbidden. Matters only get worse when John Grady falls in trouble with law insuring only more chaos. The series of events that Cormac McCarthy writes in All the Pretty Horses are meant to unfold as if the hands of fate put John Grady through all the pain, and suffering to be reborn, matured, and find salvation at the end of journey.
Ridge, John Rollin. The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1955.
One of the many human behaviors seen in literature is alcoholism. It is known that many writers used alcohol and sometimes abused its consumption to get “inspiration” during the process of writing. Ernest Hemingway is one of many alcoholic writers. In a letter he wrote to Ivan Kashkin, a Russian translator and critic in 1935, he explains his love of alcohol: “… I have drunk since I was
Throughout one’s lifetime, difficult obstacles and circumstances may present themselves during times when one’s strength may not be extremely prevalent, as fear continues to restrict their ability to overcome the constant uneasiness which forms when contemplating taking risks. Demonstrated in the poem “The Story” written by Karen Connelly, fear often withholds others from performing to the best of their ability, as it hovers in the shadows, always lurking from behind. Connelly begins by portraying fear as the vast, unknown ocean as “seaweed shadows twist below” (line 6-7), intimidating the reader as they begin to imagine jumping into a dangerous void with unidentified outcomes. As the feeling of fear begins to burrow into the minds of those
Into the Wild by John Krakauer is a rare book in which its author freely admits his bias within the first few pages. “I won't claim to be an impartial biographer,” states Krakauer in the author’s note, and indeed he is not. Although it is not revealed in the author's note whether Krakauer's bias will be positive or negative, it can be easily inferred. Krakauer's explanation of his obsession with McCandless's story makes it evident that Into the Wild was written to persuade the reader to view him as the author does; as remarkably intelligent, driven, and spirited. This differs greatly from the opinion many people hold that McCandless was a simply a foolhardy kid in way over his head. Some even go as far as saying that his recklessness was due to an apparent death-wish. Krakauer uses a combination of ethos, logos and pathos throughout his rendition of McCandless’s story to dispute these negative outlooks while also giving readers new to this enigmatic adventure a proper introduction.
Riedel, Luther. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 2 Mar. 2014 .
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson is a novel that takes a journalistic approach to Raoul Duke’s drug trip to Las Vegas. His point of view is unreliable because one does not know for sure whether he is experiencing these events, or if it is the drugs speaking for him. He is with his Lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, and they are attempting to find the American Dream. Both are convinced that they can somehow find this in Las Vegas, and set out together to do so. In reality, the different aspects of Las Vegas are representative of the actual American Dream, which, realistically, is disappointing and unachievable today.
Lying is bad but the fear that can come from it is worse. Fear can rule a person which drives them to extreme and irrational acts that can shape society in a negative way. We as people are so accustomed to how we should act that during times of fear and crisis our vision is blurred and sometimes our decision making abilities are impaired. We often look past at how much fear can affect us and our society. Starting from Salem 1692 and going to the McCarthy era fear ruled the people and even now in present time America we are constantly living in fear.
Hate is a powerful tool: it can break barriers, create violence, establish revenge, or destroy people entirely. Leaving behind rationality; “hatred is a way to shut down the mind to a degree, in order to handle overwhelming stress or trauma”(Wilson 2014), through hatred people detach themselves from practicality and inevitably ensue themselves with violence and revenge. The main character Zits in the novel Flight by Sherman Alexie goes on a spiritual journey to find out what hatred, violence, and revenge can cause. The cause of Zits hate, the violence from his past, the effects violence has, the symbol of Zits hate-Justice, and the change seen in Zits at the end of the novel all shows how hate develops throughout the story. Confronted with
Courage exists in several forms in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. As defined by Atticus Finch, real courage "…when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (149). The novel explores the how this real courage can be shown in different ways through the lives of many characters in Maycomb, particularly, Tom Robinson, Mrs. Dubose, and Atticus. Their courage is evident through their lifestyle, actions, and beliefs.
“Let me rather die a youth, fighting ever, suffering ever, than live at ease like a beast that feeds on flowery pastures and feels no fiery gladness, no heart bleeding pain.”
(Midgley, M. (1995) Beast And Man — The Roots of Human Nature, Routledge, p. 97)
Jack London fought his way up out of the factories and waterfront dives of West Oakland to become the highest paid, most popular novelist and short story writer of his day. He wrote passionately and prolifically about the great questions of life and death, the struggle to survive with dignity and integrity, and he wove these elemental ideas into stories of high adventure based on his own firsthand experiences at sea, or in Alaska, or in the fields and factories of California. As a result, his writing appealed not to the few, but to millions of people all around the world.