Its influence over major writers of today and continued recognition proves that it deserves to be credited by scholars, as well as included in modern anthologies of. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film inquiry. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a. The 2007 film was partially based on the 1971 film as well as the original source. But unlike most works of horror, i am legend is not a blackandwhite tale of us versus them. Even though families like junes get to live in fancy homes with really overthetop clothes she has a dress with diamonds stitched onto it, most people are living in relative misery and poverty. The rest of the book is a collection of short horror stories and not very good ones either. Richard mathesons horror novel i am legend, penned in 1954, is largely considered a pioneer novel for gothic literature in america.
Or perhaps the film simply doesnt have the same nuances as the richard matheson book on which its based. I am legend was released on december 14, 2007, in the united states and canada, and opened to the largest ever box office not adjusted for inflation for a nonchristmas film released in the u. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the. This study guide for richard mathesons i am legend offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Comparing dracula, and i am legend by richard matheson bartleby. Though he has lost his fear of the vampires, these are afraid of him and want him dead. I suppose i ought to have read this book in 1965, when id have been old enough sixteen thereabouts to appreciate its covert unease about the cold war and american fears of communism. After the announcement of a good new, we discover new york in a total mess.
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. Read the text in white and copy the text in yellow. The plot of i am legend centers around the survival of a man named. While the first fear is a highly contextdependent one, the second two generalize across cultures and times. We depend on other people not just for re production and survival, but for psychological and emotional growth.
Robert neville will smith is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and manmade in this post. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. Robert neville will smith is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable and manmade. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up throughout i am legend. 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. Theme in legend by marie in the dystopian novel legend by marie lu, the author develops the theme of how nothing is as it seems. 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.
True, not everyone has celebrated this book, and criticisms were often pointed back in the early days afters its initial publication. I am legend is very short, not novel length, only 159 pages long, out of the 312 pages in the book. Every character in the postplague world of i am legend tries to survive by whatever means necessary. Directed by francis lawrence, the film stars will smith as us army virologist robert neville set in new york city after a virus, which was originally created to cure cancer, has wiped out most of mankind, leaving neville as the last human in new york, other than. Discussion of themes and motifs in richard mathesons i am legend. Sometimes you can get through an entire book and not realize what the author meant.
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. How is the dystopian universe created in i am legend. Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. Theres lessons to be learned about mob behavior and respect for minorities. Set in 1977, the omega man depicts the story of robert neville the same character used in both the original book and i am legend living in a. The opening scene is particularly relevant in the way it creates the dystopian feeling of the movie. It retains the bleak tone, the cortman adversary and the book s central themes. I am legend themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Of particular salience in i am legend are the motifs of being isolated, sexually frustrated, and preyed upon.
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. 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. The film, i am legend, is the third based on richard mathesons 1954 classic of. It retains the bleak tone, the cortman adversary and the books central themes. Throughout the novel we slowly learn that the republics citizens are pretty much vulnerable to whatever crazy idea the government comes up with next. I am legend is brilliant commentary and society and human relationships and, really, the very definition of humanity. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson that. 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. Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend.
I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. This version of i am legend is the third movie adaptation of mathesons novel. The successes and failures in adapting i am legend film. 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.
Dystopian film i am legend by daniel thomedos santos on. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Dystopian film i am legend by daniel thomedos santos on prezi. Jul 18, 2009 main theme composer james newthon howard. 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. Robert neville is a scientist who is unable to stop the spread of the horrifying virus that is fatal, incurable, and manmade. However, this is a good basic list that you can build from. The entire basis of this movie is centered around the completely dehumanized state the humans are left in. 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. Insofar as i am legend is a window into his psyche, he was afraid of nuclear war, of predation, of being all alone in a dangerous world. Richard mathesons i am legend has been made into several movies, including the recent will smith movie, and the. After a virus kills most of the earths population and turn the rest into animalistic bloodthirsty creatures called darkseekers, robert himself is the only one he knows to be immune and have survived.
Oh boythings are not looking so great for the citizens of the republic of america in legend. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in new york city struggles valiantly to find a cure in this postapocalyptic action thriller. The frequently snarky damon knight claimed that the plot limps and that all. Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. 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. The theme of otherness in i am legend from litcharts the.
Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of. 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. 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. A discussion of important themes running throughout i am legend. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and mathesons writings have modernized the vampire, in todays culture. Symbolism in i am legend i have put you down in groups from memory apologies if i got these wrong. Of course, technically, the books protagonist is the not really the last person on earth and therein lies the conflict of this theme.
Comparing dracula, and i am legend by richard matheson. Bram stoker s dracula and richard matheson s i am legend 2160 words 9 pages. By analyzing three adaptations of the same book, its clear that the most faithful, and strongest, adaptation is the last man on earth. The film has been criticized for diverging from mathesons novel, especially in its portrayal of a specifically christian theme. Mar 24, 2015 i am legend themes meanings and ideas. Like the book of job, i am legend studies the questions, can he find a reason to continue. 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. 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 the movie is based on richard mathesons novel of the same name. Darkseekers are vampires in the 2007 film adaption, i am legend. I was relieved to find that the dog didnt actually have a recurring role in the book version of i am legend, and once we did meet it, its purpose was to further demonstrate nevilles isolation. In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. I am legend piano theme my name is robert neville duration. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a cloudy day.
In bram stokers dracula and richard mathesons i am legend, the mythical horror creatures, the vampires, have many differences in their mythical abilities, functionality and origin. Its influence over major writers of today and continued recognition proves that it deserves to be credited by scholars, as well as included in modern anthologies of american literature. Mannequins mrs dixon butterflies jordon, matthew, jessica bob marley. While those infected with kv who survive it develop primal behaviour upon succumbing to the virus and becoming a darkseeker, they do retain enough of their higher intelligence to build and copy complex traps they have previously seen.
Otherness richard mathesons i am legend is a science fiction adventure and a terrifying horror story. 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 movie took all the intelligence out and just made it about the action. The city turned to a jungle, showing a chaotic vision of the future. Richard mathesons i am legend is a science fiction adventure and a terrifying horror story. The story stops annoyingly suddenly, as if the rest of it has been missed off. A central theme, as the title suggests, is the nature of legends. Among living things, survival is a fundamental instinct. The two earlier films are the last man on earth 1964 and the omega man 1971. 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. 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. The book is full of good ideas, every other one of which is immediately dropped and. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up. The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am.