I Am Legend

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1954

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Part 2, Chapters 6-10

Part 2, Chapters 11-14

Part 3, Chapters 15-19

Part 4, Chapters 20-21

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Symbols & Motifs

Vampires

As a creature of legend, the vampire in I Am Legend has several symbolic meanings. Firstly, female vampires (infected and Undead) are highly sexualized, which coincides with the vampire’s often sexualized nature in other works such as Dracula; their beauty belies their inherent danger (such being the case for Ruth, despite Robert Neville’s lack of attraction to her). Secondly, the vampire is a symbol for ostracized groups who are often victims of violence by a majority (perhaps reflected in Neville’s growing sympathy for the Undead). Finally, the vampire symbolizes the influence of legend, expectation, and fear in the absence of science. After all, the infected and Undead are heavily influenced by expectations of vampiric behavior (i.e., their thirst for blood and weaknesses to garlic, mirrors, crosses, and moving water).

The Dog

At Neville’s lowest point, he again considers suicide to escape his dangerous, lonely life. The stray dog he discovers on his lawn symbolizes his hope for a future that includes companionship, as well as his need to protect and care for another being. Rather than exacerbating Neville’s depression, the dog’s death reinforces his sense of hope that other humans may have survived the contagion (89). Neville’s hope results in him wanting to care for Ruth, despite his initial cruelty and doubts about her sincerity. This transfer of care perhaps speaks to his thoughts on femininity and women as a whole (i.e., women providing domestic comfort and needing to be protected), which is to be expected of a character written to reflect 1950s America.

Alcoholism

Neville’s primary coping mechanism after the rise of the Undead is alcoholism, a symbol for his depression and loneliness. He drinks heaviest after suffering a setback, whether it be his painful remembrance of the past or a snag in his scientific studies. His alcoholism is barely managed throughout the novel, reflective of how his depression and loneliness never truly go away. In a way, Neville’s need for drink is reflected in the infected and Undead’s thirst for blood—both being framed as psychological means of survival.