Previous
Ruth
Ben Cortman is Robert Neville’s friend and neighbor and, after he becomes infected with the vampire germ, one of Neville’s most dangerous enemies. Every night, Cortman stands outside Neville’s house, shouting for him to come outside. Over the course of the novel, Cortman becomes more than just Neville’s enemy: he becomes Neville’s reason for living. As Neville becomes more comfortable in his role as a vampire-killer, he begins to enjoy hunting for Cortman during the day—indeed, he doesn’t know how he’d spend his time if he ever managed to catch Cortman. In the end, then, Cortman symbolizes the strange symbiosis between vampires and human beings—one of the novel’s most important themes.
Ben Cortman Quotes in I Am Legend
The I Am Legend quotes below are all either spoken by Ben Cortman or refer to Ben Cortman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8
Quotes
Oliver Hardy always coming back for more, no matter what happened. Ripped by bullets, punctured by knives, flattened by cars, smashed under collapsing chimneys and boats, submerged in water, flung through pipes. And always returning, patient and bruised. That was who Ben Cortman was—a hideously malignant Oliver Hardy buffeted and long-suffering.
My God, it was hilarious!
He couldn't stop laughing because it was more than laughter; it was release.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15
Quotes
As he strolled, Neville wondered again what he'd do if he found Cortman. True, his plan had always been the same: immediate disposal. But that was on the surface. He knew it wouldn't be that easy. Oh, it wasn't that he felt anything toward Cortman. It wasn't even that Cortman represented a part of the past. The past was dead and he knew it and accepted it.
No, it wasn't either of those things. What it probably was, Neville decided, was that he didn't want to cut off a recreational activity.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire I Am Legend LitChart as a printable PDF.
Ben Cortman Quotes in I Am Legend
The I Am Legend quotes below are all either spoken by Ben Cortman or refer to Ben Cortman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8
Quotes
Oliver Hardy always coming back for more, no matter what happened. Ripped by bullets, punctured by knives, flattened by cars, smashed under collapsing chimneys and boats, submerged in water, flung through pipes. And always returning, patient and bruised. That was who Ben Cortman was—a hideously malignant Oliver Hardy buffeted and long-suffering.
My God, it was hilarious!
He couldn't stop laughing because it was more than laughter; it was release.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15
Quotes
As he strolled, Neville wondered again what he'd do if he found Cortman. True, his plan had always been the same: immediate disposal. But that was on the surface. He knew it wouldn't be that easy. Oh, it wasn't that he felt anything toward Cortman. It wasn't even that Cortman represented a part of the past. The past was dead and he knew it and accepted it.
No, it wasn't either of those things. What it probably was, Neville decided, was that he didn't want to cut off a recreational activity.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
