Manliness is Not Original

Richard Matheson uses vampire myth and lore to create a story about manliness and sexuality which has inspired a new genre. Robert Neville consistently shows a calm, cool, collected demeanor in the face of blood-thirsty vampires.  Surely both men and women find his attitude both impressive and attractive.  His consistent jocular and satirical thoughts about the vampires he faces make his character increasingly attractive. Matheson makes lonely alcoholism desirable.  Neville maintains his commitment to his family even in their death. He maintains this commitment even with woman vampires tempting him.  Women want him and men want to be him. This clear focus on manliness is not original to vampire stories. And, neither is the relationship that Robert develops with Ruth.  It seems that Matheson simply took the character of Abraham Van Helsing and made him the last human on Earth. Even with characters such as Ruth and a deathly ending, Matheson has created a legendary character in Robert Neville by playing off of previous vampire literature, and in turn he has inspired an another genre.