Original scientific paper
Pandemic and Change in Richard Matheson’s Novel I Am Legend
Ljubica Matek
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Osijek
Abstract
The paper interprets Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend from the point of view of metahumanism and the inevitable change of both human nature and the world around us due to the effects of a pandemic. The change is signalled by biological mutations which occur due to the infection and which point to the need to re-evaluate the humans' position, role, and self-perception in the new world of metabodies. Because he is unable to view the world outside of his conservative perspective and fails to reconceptualize his own point of view, the protagonist is unable to adapt to the new circumstances. His resistance to change is symbolized by his immunity to the pandemic vampiric disease, but the immunity turns out to be a curse rather than a blessing. The paper views the infection as a means to lead humanity into the era of metahumanism. By emphasizing the relational nature of all living beings, metahumanism questions the traditional conception of the human being as a stable, fixed identity, whereby the abilities to change, adapt and coexist, which the protagonist lacks, turn out to be crucial.
Keywords
I Am Legend; Richard Matheson; change; metabody; metahumanism
Hrčak ID:
267523
URI
Publication date:
16.12.2021.
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