Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter S. Thompson is the narrator of "Mescalito," and is more than likely the unnamed narrator of "Death of a Poet" and "Screwjack." Thompson was a journalist famed for his extreme lifestyle and his exploration of previously taboo subjects, like sexual topics and drug abuse. In "Mescalito," Thompson was in Los Angeles at the Continental Hotel to cover, in his words, "street freaks" such as hippies. Thompson was a lifelong substance abuser, and as he struggled to come up with an article for his demanding newspaper, he was taking Dexedrine pills as well as smoking marijuana and drinking beer. Not quite high enough, he resorted to taking mescaline and speed pills, thus beginning the drug trip that forms the heart of the piece.

Thompson had tripped out on acid before, but the mescaline experience was new to him and very intense, resulting in such emotional states...