I am legend by Richard Matheson...?

Question

I didn't quite understand the ending, was Ruth a vampire, a survivor, or what?! Why was she taking the pill, and spying on Robert? Also, what is the whole new society about? Who are they?

Answer 1

Ruth was infected although she didn't look like it. She was keeping him at bay because she was infected and he was'nt. She was taking the pills to stop herself becoming a vampire.The new society were the mutants who now made up the entire human race - he was now the mutant/deviant and had to be executed because he had been murdering them (in their eyes- he had been defending himself in HIS eyes). Richard Matheson saw the world continuing on with the mutant humans running it. At least - thats how I read it! A bit dark I thought - I like a bit of hope at the end of a novel!