Analysis Of I Am Legend

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Kathy Davis Patterson supports Matheson’s representation of disinclination through Neville. Patterson states “ As it turns out, there is a drug that controls the bacteria. Ruth and those like her are hybrids, existing at a level between human and vampire...Eventually they will dominate the planet, and there is nothing Neville can do to stop them “ ( Patterson 6). Patterson discusses the drug to make it evident that these new organisms are here to stay. Neville’s pride and love for his society cause him to fight to retain the values he perseived as fair. However, Neville does not acknowledge that he is one, he cannot make up society, and therefore now he is now an outsider in an alien society. Laura Diehl supports both Matheson and Patterson by discussing how Neville’s behavior changes as he changes societies. Diehl states “ under the old science, Neville’s …show more content…

The general perception believed by Neville that humanity only applies to blonde and blue eyed Caucasians is shattered by his encounter with Ruth. Richard Matheson’s representation of Ruth reveals how deeply embedded Neville’s paranoia and racism is since he does not mate interacially. Neville’s ego and his ideologies end up hurting him because he cannot visualize a society where non-whites are equal to him. Matheson demonstrates the violence shown by Neville to demostrate the hypocrisy behind Neville’s violence , since it transformed him into the monster he was initially trying to estinguish. The lack of respect and the close-mindedness shown by Neville created a threat for his new society, consequently causing him to be targeted. The danger Neville faced caused him to realize that he cannot change this society since he was the outsider and the monsters inside it. Robert Neville’s suicide comes as a result of this realization as he cannot cope with being on the bottom of the social

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