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  • Essay / The challenge of survival in "The Road" and "I Am a Legend"

    When we explore the challenges and difficulties of survival, we can easily make a series of comparisons between the design of the post-apocalyptic worlds of Francis Lawrence and Cormac McCarthy in I Am Legend and The Road, respectively. Both storylines involve the main character as one of the few people left in this world, and each protagonist would do anything to protect their companions. While Lawrence's film and McCarthy's novel create internal conflicts within the main character, I Am Legend's protagonist Robert must also deal with zombies, while The Man deals with his conflict with the world that surrounds it. This difference is highlighted in the construction of each of the characters, with Lawrence's survivor being strong and well prepared for any threat. McCarthy chooses to present The Man in a weak and dying state, with minimal supplies to share between him and his son. This contrast, however, is also representative of the difference in setting between the two stories, with Robert Neville fortifying himself in an abundantly supplied New York City, and The Man and his son wandering along long stretches of barren highway. The final main contrast exists in each storyteller's interpretation of the meaning of a gun, with Lawrence using a gun to kill; Meanwhile, for McCarthy, the gun is a symbol of hope. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayLawrence first characterizes Robert Neville with a mise-en-scene using an aerial shot of his car driving through the city, directly following a series of establishing shots showing the abandoned cityscape. As the audience watches him speed through the abandoned cityscape, the sound of the powerful engine fades away. Finally, the audience sees a medium shot of him in the car, allowing the audience to see him as a man hardened for survival, complete with jeans and combat boots. , leather jacket and assault rifle at his side. Lawrence's treatment makes viewers believe that Robert is a well-equipped man. This portrayal gives the audience the initial impression that he is a strong, admirable, and supposedly unbreakable character. Lawrence's use of staging, particularly costumes and props, conveys this message to the audience. The audience sees the well-worn leather jacket and the strong, bright, clear, natural lighting. Such visuals are associated with the bright red muscle car, contrasting sharply with the sadness of the city. Shots are regularly taken from a low angle when Robert is in the frame, giving the feeling of power and control that emanates from him. Shots are also generally still and steady, either placed statically on Robert or following his car as he glides it through the streets. Highlighting once again the supposed control and determination that Lawrence believes are necessary to meet the challenges of survival. Alternatively, McCarthy develops a protagonist portrayed as weak, sick, and ultimately on the verge of death; creating the dark and depressed theme that resonates throughout the novel. The first hints come from footage presented as a bloody cough of The Man, who was carrying a huge load and pushing the cart up the side of a mountain so his own son could see the edge of the beach. As a result, the reader feels great sympathy for The Man, who is obviously not equipped to meet the challenges of survival as effectively as Robert. I Am Legend features shots of New York, which is normally a bustling and highly populated city. covered with.