Chapter 10, October Summary and Analysis

Hunter S. Thompson writes from a bleak position in this extremely brief, 3-page chapter. He feels his man is a goner, and he knows who is going to win. He writes about what he plans to do on election day, which is vote and hide. There is a sense in which no one can blame him. Having lost his morale but not his commitment to his values, this is where he is left. Thompson then paints a brief picture of Nixon and McGovern. He writes that their differences are well described in terms of the ancient Yin / Yang symbolism. The yin is the more subtle, perhaps dark; whereas, the yang is typically the more forthright and direct. Often these forces complement one another. In extreme cases, this could be said to demarcate the brute from the liar. The liar...