by Michael Allen

Created on: September 18, 2008

"I Am Legend" the movie is based on Richard Matheson's novel of the same name. It is the third movie to be made from the novel and Matheson's writings have modernized the vampire, in today's culture. Themes of transformation, spirituality, and man's struggle with isolation come up throughout "I Am Legend". Also, Carl Jung's concept of the personal unconscious, which is unique to each individual, helps Neville cope with some of the traumas in the story.

This movie could be classified in the action category but its resemblance to other movies like "Cast Away" and "28 Days Later" could place it in other genres like drama or horror. While Tom Hanks struggles to keep his sanity by talking to a volleyball in "Cast Away," Neville (Will Smith) maintains his sanity through his companionship with Sam, his dog, and through other methods with varying success. Neville's use of adult material, television newscasts, and one-sided discussions with mannequins, are all methods the protagonist employs, in order to ward off feelings of loneliness. The comparison between Chuck (Tom Hanks) from "Cast Away" and Neville in "I Am Legend" can be made between throughout, as both main characters struggle to hold onto some semblance of sanity. However, there is a difference in endings where "I Am Legend" is slightly more action based "Cast Away" sticks to more psychological undertones. Both are a joy to watch.

In the first few scenes of "I Am Legend" Neville is seen driving through the streets of New York, while a spiritual symbol appears, in the form of a butterfly, on a poster. The appearance of butterflies in "I Am Legend" occurs over a half dozen times during the course of the movie. Marley (Willow Smith), Will Smith's daughter in real life, uses hand symbols to signify the spirituality of the butterfly. Also, her bedroom is full of drawings of the butterfly and her voice is heard talking of butterflies throughout. During a climactic battle between Neville and a vampire Marley's voice can be heard saying "Remember the butterfly, daddy."

The butterfly is a powerful symbol of change, lightness and transformation. A butterfly changes from egg, to pupa or chrysalis and finally to the butterfly; Neville's character also has a similar transformation, in regards to his spirituality. Neville's purely scientific approach to life begins to change over the course of the movie, as Neville begins to have a more spiritual outlook to life. The butterfly symbol is most prominent near the very end of

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