Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Characters

The protagonist and narrator of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and author Hunter S. Thompson’s alter ego. Duke is a journalist, and when he is assigned a story in Las Vegas, he figures… read analysis of Raoul Duke

Raoul Duke’s attorney and travel companion on his trip to Las Vegas in search of the American Dream. Gonzo insists on going with Duke to Vegas in case he needs legal advice, but he… read analysis of Dr. Gonzo

Duke and Gonzo pick up the hitchhiker just outside of Barstow on their way to Las Vegas, and Duke describes him as a “poor Oakie kid” who has never been in a convertible before. Thompson… read analysis of The Hitchhiker

A “religious freak” from Montana and “artist” who only paints portraits of Barbara Streisand. Lucy is a runaway of “indeterminate age,” and Gonzo meets her on an airplane and gives her acid. Gonzo… read analysis of Savage Lucy

A photographer for Sports Illustrated and Duke’s contact at the Mint 400. Unlike Duke, Lacerda is actually interested in reporting the story, and he heads off to take pictures while Duke goes back to… read analysis of Lacerda

Duke’s rich friend from Big Sur who won big at a casino in Reno three weekends in a row. On the fourth weekend, Lionel was invited back to the casino by the General Manager—all… read analysis of Lionel Olay

A keynote speaker at the National District Attorneys’ Conference on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and “a well known authority on the abuse of dangerous drugs.” Despite his credentials, however, Dr. Bloomquist’s lecture is full of… read analysis of Dr. E. R. Bloomquist

Duke and Gonzo meet the police officer from Georgia outside the National District Attorneys’ Conference on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and he is the epitome of the clueless law enforcement official in attendance at… read analysis of The Georgia Cop

A waitress at North Star Coffee Lounge in North Vegas, a “ghetto” on the outskirts of Las Vegas for those who “fucked up once too often on the Strip.” The waitress looks like a “burned-out… read analysis of The Waitress

The cook at a North Vegas diner. Duke and Gonzo ask Lou where they can find the American Dream, and while he suspects they have been sent on “a goose chase,” he suggests they check… read analysis of Lou

– Duke’s friend from Circus-Circus. Bruce comes in at the very end of the book, and as Duke is an unreliable narrator, he never does reveal where he met Bruce or how. Duke goes… read analysis of Bruce Innes

A journalist from Life magazine who is also covering the Mint 400 in Las Vegas. Duke meets the Life reporter at the bar of the Mint Hotel, where the man is a drunken mess. He… read analysis of The Reporter