Throughout the novella “I am Legend” by Richard Matheson, Robert Neville incorporates the role of an anti-hero. For example, on page 38, he states that “he wouldn't put Virginia there. Not if they killed him for it." In this quote, Robert states his opinion on taking his dead wife to a pit where the deceased are burned alive. He refuses, which clearly goes against the regime that has been put into place by society in order to stop the contamination. Another example of Robert’s anti-hero-like attitude can be seen in one of the last scenes of the book, when Robert speaks to Ruth after her betrayal. "I... couldn't he muttered. I almost went several times [...] but I couldn't, I couldn't go." After Ruth’s warning, Robert refuses to leave the safe
