Dr analysis of the classic horror novel, i am legend, by richard matheson. While roberts isolation becomes the core issue of the novel, it would be foolish to forget that subhuman creatures hunt neville on a nightly basis. We see manhattan three years after a deadly virus has killed every healthy human on the island, except one. Marie lus legend is the first in a trilogy of dystopian young adult fiction, and boy does it set the reader up for a thrill ride. A brilliant scientist who raced to discover a cure for. 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. Test your knowledge of macbeth with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. I am legend narrative, representation of race, class and. Three years later, new york city is overgrown and abandoned and the only person that is seemingly alive is robert neville. Afterwards, he drinks heavily and falls into depression. Although there is no direct dialect in the film one of the zombie members shows authority over the others through his actions. In the beginning, hes watching his family from afar they think hes dead and he sees.
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. This was actually the third time it had been made into a movie. That is the main focus of the scene and with out that element then there would be nothing going on. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, this movie follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive. During the invasion of nevilles house the leader stands outside while the rest of the horde rushes in, showing much of higher status. Another important theme of i am legend is the powerboth benevolent and maliciousof science. They are cannibalistic zombies who have an aversion to light. Still, you cant fault i am legend for trying to be different from the typical action thriller. 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. 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 was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. Legend is told from the perspective of two leading characters. After the announcement of a good new, we discover new york in a total mess.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of legend by marie lu. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive while fending off the infected survivors of a devastating vampire plague. Immediately download the i am legend summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching i am legend. Alice krippen develops a natural mutating virus that cures cancer. 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. Differences between i am legend book vs movie page 1. Throughout the book, robert neville studies the science of vampirism. He stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. I am legend is a 1954 postapocalyptic horror novel by american writer richard matheson. In the process, he empowers himself and gives himself a new purpose in life. I am legend contains a surprising amount of psychological insight about grief, loneliness, and depression. This film is actually the third adaptation of richard mathesons novel of the same name from 1954.
The novel was a success and was adapted into the films the last man on earth 1964, the omega man 1971, and i am legend. The film, i am legend is a postapocalyptic science fiction film directed by francis lawrence and starring will smith. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he. Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am legend. 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. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of. Of particular salience in i am legend are the motifs of being isolated, sexually frustrated, and preyed upon. Though he has lost his fear of the vampires, these are afraid of him and want him dead. 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. I am legend is a 2007 american postapocalyptic thriller film based on the 1954 novel of the same name by richard matheson. This is a spoof on will smith of his portrayal of robert neville in the movie i am legend 2007.
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. The opening scene is particularly relevant in the way it creates the dystopian feeling of the movie. January, 1976 i am legend opens with robert neville inspecting his house on a cloudy day. If anyone had any doubts left that will smith could carry a movie, i am legend will banish them forever.
Get the entire i am legend litchart as a printable. I am legend is atypical for the horror genre in that the monsters take a back seat to the psychological horror of the protagonist. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on richard mathesons i am legend. Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into. I am legend key scenes analysis by stuart grenville. The year is 1976one year after a deadly plague sweeps the world, killing virtually all human beings. Camera angles this angle gives a deserted abandoned feeling to the audience again duethethe starts with an establishing shot of to film presence of only one moving car new york city, this shows a lifeless run instead of a crowded avenue.
Dec 14, 2007 i am legend a oneman american metaphor on the surface, the scifi blockbuster is about will smith battling an army of lightphobic zombies. Robert neville is supposedly the only survivor on earth of a pandemic that causes its victims to have vampire. I really liked that one, and i wrongly assumed that since they had used the original title from the book that both movies were based on, that it stayed closer to the original source material. How is the dystopian universe created in i am legend. I am legend a oneman american metaphor on the surface, the scifi blockbuster is about will smith battling an army of lightphobic zombies.
A brilliant scientist who raced to discover a cure for the manmade virus as humanity. I remember enjoying the movie the omega man with charlton heston when i was young. Plot summary for i am legend 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. A virus was created using the measles in order to cure cancer. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned, the infrastructure is beginning to collapse. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography. 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. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and mans struggle with isolation come up throughout i am legend. I am legend summary in this novel, the protagonist, robert neville, is seemingly the only survivor of a plague that has converted the rest of humanity to vampires. Dec 14, 2007 enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. I am legend the movie is based on richard mathesons novel of the same name. The movie i am legend directed by francis lawrence is dystopian movie.
All these books, he thought, the residue of a planets intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing. The i am legend community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. After their deaths, the worlds human beings rise from the grave and become vampires. I am legend study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. I am legend is a dystopian story very loosely based upon a book of the same name. January 1976 chapter one on those cloudy days, robert neville was never sure when sunset came, and sometimes they were in the streets before he could get back. I am legend focuses on lieutenant colonel robert neville will smith, a doctor fighting a virus that has seemingly wiped out all of the human race except him. During the day, neville hunts and gathers among the ghost town. The city turned to a jungle, showing a chaotic vision of the future. After a quick quip from harley, deadshot says, hey flag, this dude better cure cancer after all this shit.
I am legend film analysis essay 1227 words bartleby. The novels main character, robert neville, is the last human being left on eartheveryone else has been turned into a vampire. 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. I am legend summary 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. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of i am legend by richard matheson.
Author richard mathesons 1954 horror and science fiction novel, i am. The best study guide to i am legend on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. In this scene the most important and focused on element is the zombies trying to get in the house. Adapted from acclaimed author richard mathesons influential novelette of the same name, constantine director francis lawrences i am legend follows the last man on earth as he struggles to survive while fending off the infected survivors of a devastating vampiric plague. I am legend summary from litcharts the creators of. The camera focuses most on this by cutting to shots of the zombies getting closer. The area is being cleaned up before an evening shoot of the movie. I promised a friend i would say hello to you today. 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. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare.
There are stretches when he literally talks to himself, and hes able to hold the audiences gaze throughout. I am legend archive, sur the austin chronicle, 14 decembre 2007. Aug 04, 2016 i remember enjoying the movie the omega man with charlton heston when i was young. It was influential in the development of the zombievampire genre and in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease. But npr movie critic bob mondello says that the film. Day is a criminal on the run for stealing from the republic and making the government look foolish. Whether is it has something to do with aliens or the world ending.
If he had been more analytical, he might have calculated the approximate time of their arrival. 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. Richard mathesons i am legend has been made into several movies, including the recent will smith movie, and the. Roberts mission is to destroy the others before they can infect him. Lu was an art director for a video game company before turning to writing, and her attention to crisp, futuristic settings and cold military villains hearkens back to video game imagery. The streets are overgrown with weeds, cars are abandoned. Hes virtually alone in this scifi thriller, with a dog albeit a talented one as his only foil. Day, a renegade from the streets, and june, an elite student at drake university and the republics shining prodigy. I am legend quotes check out these i am legend quotes and the end of the world seems an interesting place, thanks to will smiths character. The first time was in 1964 with the last man on earth featuring vincent price, and then in 1971 with the omega man with charlton heston. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and mathesons writings have modernized the vampire, in todays culture. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i am legend near you. Check out these i am legend quotes and the end of the world seems an interesting place, thanks to will smiths character. A concise biography of richard matheson plus historical and literary context for i am legend.
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. Legend is a 2011 young adult novel by chineseamerican author marie lu. 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 think. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. I am legend dystopian movies always have a big change in the society. I am legend summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Robert is trying to find a cure to the plague which.
Robert is trying to find a cure to the plague which originally was supposed to be the cure for cancer. I am legend themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. 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. We depend on other people not just for re production and survival, but for psychological and. Neville narrowly manages to return to his house alive.
197 333 705 974 1071 991 731 1157 1063 675 1431 223 1165 297 1563 1470 507 1244 1383 278 1491 1500 1204 1454 1119 1093 1162 1127 608 138 1266 802 257 813 450