A central symbol of [i]Fear and Loathing[/i] is the “Great Red Shark”, the hot red convertible Raoul and Dr. Gonzo rent at the beginning of their trip. At first, it is a symbol of freedom for the men. It is the American Dream in the form of a car. But as things change for Raoul in Las Vegas, it takes on a darker side. It becomes the failed promise of that dream and becomes an object of fear and anxiety. The reason for this is that Raoul and Dr. Gonzo had stocked the Shark full of drugs, booze, soap, and grapefruit. The soap and grapefruit would not be incriminating in and of themselves, but the other items become objects of increasing anxiety for Raoul Duke, especially once he is forced to abandon his hotel and his bill, making him a fugitive.

This represents an important duality of the American dream. One side is the importance of freedom and the pursuit of happiness, which is the spirit in which Duke first rented the car. But the other side is the corruption and fear which comes with a self-interested craving for pleasure in the forms of drugs, alcohol, and greed. This is the side of the American Dream which Raoul and Dr. Gonzo have come to see.