Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, wrote an awakening story about how society has emerged to where it is against the law to possess any form of literature, thanks to books promoting questions that lead to war and rebellion, therefore the government is trying to prevent knowledge of the past.
Many films are intentionally based off the theme of this novel, such as I am Legend, which the main character, Dr. Robert Nevill encounter the same situations and obstacles that Montag also encounters with in the novelFahrenheit 451. There are many similarities within the characters of the book and the film.
Dr. Robert Nevill and Montag relate in many ways such as how both people are striving to bring hope to the future. Next, Marley in the film could be Clarisse because they both taught Robert and Montag what to do. The government or society in general could be presented as Captain Beatty, who is Montag’s boss, because they are the actual reason the society has become serious and in dire need of help. Samantha, the dog that belonged to Marley, who is also known as Sam, could be compared to the hound dog because they were both friendly to the characters, but consequently turned against Robert and Montag. Lastly, Anna, who comes in the last few scenes of I am Legend,played a significant part of the story and she is resembled by Faber in the novel, because they both always knew what to do and were presented with kind of a heavenly feel to both the film and the text.
Even more so then characters, there are many metaphorical similarities throughout I am Legend, and Fahrenheit 451. For example, in the closing credits of the motion picture, Anna verbalizes “light up the darkness”, which can interpreted as how the hobos in the novel were trying to give people light into the past by the hobos knowledge and memorization of exceptional literature pieces, and how Dr. Robert Nevill wouldn’t give up on fighting for a better future. That simple quote teaches people to never give up for what you believe in, even if you have to take risk to accomplish it. It always teaches us that intelligence and faith can cure people of what their mind is programmed to do and say.
