Meaning Of Focalisation In Richard Matheson's 'I Am Legend'
Arthur T 'Kindt
ETTV 2: Literary Analysis
Wednesday (16:00): Kwinten Van de Walle
The Deeper Meaning of Focalisation in Richard Mathesons 's I Am Legend
Robert Matheson 's novel I am Legend narrates the struggle for life of Robert Neville as he is the only human left in a dangerous world where the rest of humanity has changed into bloodthirsty vampires. The plot of the story may seem quite straightforward, but a re-reading and a deeper analysis of the novel shows Matheson 's wit as writer. In my essay I will discuss how the use of fixed internal focalisation in the novel makes this novel outstanding in the genre of horror and science fiction.
On the level of the superficial the use of the fixed internal focalisation can be explained quite simple. Fixed focalisation means that all the events in the story are perceived through one character, in this case Robert Neville. In the novel the protagonist is portrayed as a lonely, isolated individual who attempts to survive in a threatening world ( Clasen 316 ). The use of fixed internal focalisation on Robert Neville highlights the themes of isolation and loneliness throughout the novel.
On a deeper level the fixed internal focalisation is used to create an atmosphere of empathy towards Robert Neville …show more content…
Robert Neville finally realises that he is the last survivor of a lost society. He always thought he was normal and the vampires were the outcasts. At the end he realises that he is the real outcast and that he has become the embodiment of fear for the new vampire society. Only then he realises that every society makes it own set of moral rules. Robert Neville does not fit in this new society and has to be removed according to the new moral standard of this new society. What is very remarkable about this, is the rational way he accepts this. He does not feel frightened or sad, he just knows that his time has
ETTV 2: Literary Analysis
Wednesday (16:00): Kwinten Van de Walle
The Deeper Meaning of Focalisation in Richard Mathesons 's I Am Legend
Robert Matheson 's novel I am Legend narrates the struggle for life of Robert Neville as he is the only human left in a dangerous world where the rest of humanity has changed into bloodthirsty vampires. The plot of the story may seem quite straightforward, but a re-reading and a deeper analysis of the novel shows Matheson 's wit as writer. In my essay I will discuss how the use of fixed internal focalisation in the novel makes this novel outstanding in the genre of horror and science fiction.
On the level of the superficial the use of the fixed internal focalisation can be explained quite simple. Fixed focalisation means that all the events in the story are perceived through one character, in this case Robert Neville. In the novel the protagonist is portrayed as a lonely, isolated individual who attempts to survive in a threatening world ( Clasen 316 ). The use of fixed internal focalisation on Robert Neville highlights the themes of isolation and loneliness throughout the novel.
On a deeper level the fixed internal focalisation is used to create an atmosphere of empathy towards Robert Neville …show more content…
Robert Neville finally realises that he is the last survivor of a lost society. He always thought he was normal and the vampires were the outcasts. At the end he realises that he is the real outcast and that he has become the embodiment of fear for the new vampire society. Only then he realises that every society makes it own set of moral rules. Robert Neville does not fit in this new society and has to be removed according to the new moral standard of this new society. What is very remarkable about this, is the rational way he accepts this. He does not feel frightened or sad, he just knows that his time has