I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that. The i am legend novel community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Alienation in i am legend one of the main themes of i am legend is alienation, it is hard to imagine someone who is more alienated than robert neville. One of the most influential vampire novels of the 20th century, i am legend regularly appears on the 10 best lists of numerous critical studies of the horror genre. As richard mathesons third novel, it was first marketed as science fiction for although written in 1954, the story takes place in a future 1976. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in i am legend, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. It retains the bleak tone, the cortman adversary and the books central themes. I am legend themes survival at the expense of humanity. June betrays day to the authorities after pretending to be another street rat like him, then she finds out that thomas probably betrayed her and killed her beloved brother metias while blaming it on day gasp. One theme throughout the book is the fear and loathing.
The theme of otherness in i am legend from litcharts the. Every character in the postplague world of i am legend tries to survive by whatever means necessary. For example, the majority of the novel revolves around nevilles experience in. The core themes present in i am legend coincide with concepts familiar to postmodernism. A central theme, as the title suggests, is the nature of legends. One of the themes that seemed prominent throughout all three books were the roles of the female protagonist or antagonist or the male counterpart of it. He is a normal american man, or at least he was until the world changed around him. For those that arent familiar with it, the book is about a couple of retired texas rangers that live on the texasmexico border. Now for a topic thats neither divisive nor prone to eliciting irrational anger and awkward discomfort. Oh boythings are not looking so great for the citizens of the republic of america in legend.
I am legend essay sample sample essays online library. Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville. Though he has lost his fear of the vampires, these are afraid of him and want him dead. It also wouldnt be the first time i am legend has been remade. Mannequins mrs dixon butterflies jordon, matthew, jessica bob marley. Of course, technically, the books protagonist is the not really the last person on earth and therein lies the conflict of this theme. Richard mathesons i am legend is a science fiction adventure and a. The plot of i am legend centers around the survival of a man named.
I am legend is a novel by richard matheson in which robert neville struggles to survive as the sole remaining human in a world overrun by vampires robert neville is the only. The novel i am legend 1954, written by american author richard matheson, was adapted for the movie by screenwriters akiva goldsman and mark protosevich. I am legend, of course, was first and foremost a novel by richard matheson about the last man on earth fighting a vampiric plague. The entire basis of this movie is centered around the completely dehumanized state the humans are left in. Richard mathesons i am legend is a science fiction adventure and a terrifying horror story. Though referred to as the first modern vampire novel, it is as a novel of social theme that i am legend made a lasting impression on the.
Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend. Robert neville is a scientist who is unable to stop the spread of the horrifying virus that is fatal, incurable, and manmade. Discussion of themes and motifs in richard mathesons i am legend. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. Day of the dead starring lori cardille, joe pilato, terry alexander, richard. I believe this movie does have a lot of spiritual themes running through the entire film. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964. But if you have only seen that will smith movie that went 180 degrees on the book s message, the soulcrushing impact of these words will be lost on you.
In order to develop this theme, the author used the literary technique of point of view throughout the story, switching back and forth between day and junes point of view. The story is very much darker and deeper than the will smith film of the same name. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that was influential in the modern development of zombie and vampire literature and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. Day is a criminal on the run for stealing from the republic and making the government look foolish. The book is full of good ideas, every other one of which is immediately dropped and. I am legend is brilliant commentary and society and human relationships and, really, the very definition of humanity. In the end, he confirms that he is the last man of his race, and at his death, he will be a legend, as vampires are now. Richard mathesons 1954 novel i am legend has been adapted to the. Francis lawrences 2007 film i am legend is one of the best examples of a mainstream film that is not afraid to delve into spiritual themes through the combination of a strong storyline and powerful symbols.
Study guide for i am legend novel i am legend novel study guide contains a biography of richard matheson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. The novel version of i am legend is better then the motion picture because the information slowly leaks out about nevilles past, present, and specifics about the vampires. I though the book was effectively i am legend and other short stories by richard matheeson. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. This study guide consists of approximately 45 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of i am legend. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of i am legend by richard matheson. He works with many scifi and fantasy themes in works like steel and what dreams may come. Francis lawrences i am legend is a 2007 sciencefiction thrillerdrama starring will smith as the lone survivor of a devastating virus that has wiped out 90% of the population of humanity. They are a blend of fact and fiction, and if well known, become a part of a cultural heritage. Theres lessons to be learned about mob behavior and respect for minorities. The city turned to a jungle, showing a chaotic vision of the future.
One of the primary themes of i am legend is alienation, and it is hard to imagine someone who is more literally alienated than robert neville. Dec, 2007 the opening scenes of i am legend have special effects so good that they just about compensate for some later special effects that are dicey. In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. A discussion of important themes running throughout i am legend. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse. I am legend isnt particularly long either, hardly even novel length. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film. For example, the majority of the novel revolves around nevilles experience in isolation and his resulting behavior. In legend the republic of america has a great deal of power over its citizens, and boy does the republic like to abuse that power. By analyzing three adaptations of the same book, its clear that the most faithful, and strongest, adaptation is the last man on earth. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film inquiry.
I am legend was a major influence in horror and brought a whole new thematic concept to apocalyptic literature. He is an absolutely normal american man, or at least he was until the world changed around him. Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. It is not made clear on the front of the book, or anywhere that this is a collection of short stories, not a novel. In an alternate ending of i am legend, some themes and the storys. It retains the bleak tone, the cortman adversary and the book s central themes. In legend, there is actually a great deal of backstabbing that goes on.
The first says, man, its just a badass vampire book. After the announcement of a good new, we discover new york in a total mess. The movie took all the intelligence out and just made it about the action. That book was first adapted into the film the last man on earth starring vincent price and then again as the omega man starring charlton heston. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and mathesons writings have modernized the vampire, in todays culture. In richard mathesons i am legend, robert neville is the last living man on earth, having somehow managed to survive an incurable virus that has mutated every last man, woman, and child in the world into bloodthirsty and vampirelike creatures who prowl and ravage the abandoned ruins of civilization at night. So i just finished i am legend by richard matheson. This study guide for richard mathesons i am legend offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. This quote is a metaphor and robert in this quote is saying he is a legend but doesnt want people to think of him as a legend. Symbolism in i am legend i have put you down in groups from memory apologies if i got these wrong. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up throughout i am legend.
Legends are often based on real persons or events, but enlarged through retelling to achieve mythic proportions. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of. Dystopian film i am legend by daniel thomedos santos on.
I am legend study guide contains a biography of director francis lawrence, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Another dominant theme in i am legend is loneliness. Dystopian film i am legend by daniel thomedos santos on prezi. In the dystopian novel legend by marie lu, the author develops the theme of how nothing is as it seems. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. Legend is told from the perspective of two leading characters. Taking on such themes as mankinds need for companionship, the fight for survival, and the existence of god, it at least succeeds in making us. There are two camps when it comes to discussing the issue of race in mathesons book. Read the text in white and copy the text in yellow. Sometimes you can get through an entire book and not realize what the author meant.
Hes a legend, but for the wrong reasonsin line with richard mathesons. But if you have only seen that will smith movie that went 180 degrees on the books message, the soulcrushing impact of. Throughout the novel we slowly learn that the republics citizens are pretty much vulnerable to whatever crazy idea the government comes up with next. One of the themes that seemed prominent throughout all three books were the roles of the female protagonist or antagonist or the male counterpart of. I am legend themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. In part 3, chapter 20 robert neville silently laments. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a. However, this is a good basic list that you can build from. I dont want to say anymore because its better to just read it and let the story unfold.
Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of vampirism. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. Living alone in new york city, robert neville smith, a former lieutenant and us army virologist, tasks himself with finding a cure to the plague. The themes importance to the world is that one can never give up keep fighting and striving and good things will come.
This study guide consists of approximately 45 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your. Several humanistic and emotional themes in this book blend the horror genre with traditional fiction. As the only survivor of the plague of 1975, robert neville is the last human being on earth. It transforms every living human into a vampire, except one. Richard mathesons 1954 novel i am legend blends science fiction and horror into a pulp classic. Mar 24, 2015 i am legend themes meanings and ideas.
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