In the world today, there are people who make questionable decisions. In the fiction book of Monster by Walker Dean Myers; a young black American teen on trial for murder. Steve was the lookout for the robbery but was not responsible for the murder of Mr.Nesbitt death. In the begging Steve admits to being at the store, at the time the robbery took place. This alone goes to show that Steve did take place or at least was there when the robbery took place. On page 140 Steve said ” I walked into a drugstore to look for some mints, and then I walked out. “ This proves that Steve was at the store, and was the lookout in the robbery. Throughout the conversation between Peaches, King, Johnny, And Steve. They talked robbing places that
He recognized all three of the suspects. He asked the Security Officer Bo Foot to watch them. When a few minutes passed, he heard someone yell as one of the suspects bumped into Bo Foot. He said to him that they stole the merchandise. The second witness, Bo Foot, a security officer the store, was told by Tonell to keep an eye on the three people who walked into the store.
Throughout the book Steve shows signs of being scared. for example, when he is mopping the floor with his other inmates Steve starts feeling nausea looking at the rest of his inmates wearing the same suit he is wearing and doing the same activity as him. Steve’s biggest conflict in the story is himself. He starts feeling his self doubt
Since he is already viewed upon as guilty of felony murder by others, Steve and O’Brien must distance themselves from King. If they do not, Steve will appear as if he has a close relationship with James King therefore making it look even more clear that Steve took part in the robbery and thus not benefiting Steve’s cause. Earlier in the story, from the text, the reader can clearly identify this problem of distance between Steve and King. Therefore, O’Brien tells Steve that he needs to find a way to minimize the relationship between him and King as much as possible. Steve recalls this from his notes as he writes: “Miss O’Brien was mad today.
He admits on camera that there was a sexual relationship between him and Susan. Steve wrote songs about her, would try and record her, or take pictures of her, and said he was very aroused by her presence. He would save personal items used by Susan and take things of hers that could be considered revolting. Although, it was recorded that Susan had no interest in him and wanted him to stop. Steve was eventually investigated and convicted of child pornography.
In 1982, he was named "National League Rookie of the Year"(SteveSaxSpeaks, 2014). Steve was a key element in the team's winning two World Series on the defensive side. He later played for the New York Yankees from 1989 to 1991 and went to play for the Chicago White Sox and Oakland A’s. Also during his career, he was a higher-up in the Players Association. He spoke out that the major league players should not assist anyone who was a replacement player during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and that such players should be denied pensions by the union.
Nobody made this known to the authorities. A lot of people knew it could have been another suspect but nobody wanted to say anything. They wanted Steven to go to jail. If the innocence project was available back then I believe it would
Many authors convey powerful, civil messages through novels. Walter Dean Myers does that through his novel, Monster. Monster is a story about young sixteen-year-old, Steve Harmon, who is on trial for being an accessory in a murder-robbery. The novel is written in a first person “movie style” that encompasses all of his emotions in a scene by scene setting. Myers brings out a theme of racism through multiple scenes in the novel.
In fact, during the trial, the prosecuting attorney refers to Steve Harmon and the rest of the individuals allegedly involved in the crime as "monsters." Even though Steve is a relatively shy, kind person who has a positive reputation throughout his school as a talented filmmaker, he is categorized as a "monster" simply because he is on trials. She was always trying to make Steve looked bad as the other individuals allegedly involved in the crime. His depiction by the prosecuting attorney as a "monster" and whose treatment in the criminal justice system is as depraved as the crime of which Steve is accused, could foreshadow a ruined existence. Even though Steve in some way took part in the robbery was not the type of person she wanted the public and the jury to believe he was.
Steve Harmons actions depicted his characteristics and we can, therefore, conclude that Steve Harmon is a liar as he lied under oath. Steve was also a guilt-ridden man ashamed of his actions. People who disagree may claim that Steve was undoubtedly innocent as Lorelle Henry, a witness, declared that there were only 2 people, proven to be James King and Bobo Evans, inside the store who eventually murdered Mr.Nesbitt. This may be a strong argument because it shows that Steve was not in the drugstore and could be really innocent. On the contrary, however, Steve’s job was just supposed to be a lookout and ensure that the drugstore was clear of cops or anyone inside.
To give to you the testimony of a woman who has no reason to lie and is saying he wasn’t there. And finally to prove he had absolutely no connection to the crime at all. First of, all of the people who testify against steve are all criminals with heavy jail time to do. The only way out for them is to accuse someone else and put them in jail instead. Bobo, when confronted with this, says: “What you saying?
Steve is a nice respected black man; however, to show his gang, he is worthy he takes part in a bank robbery. Having a simple job of being the lookout, all goes wrong when the clerk pulls a gun and fights for his store. Steves partner James King fights for the gun when is discharged on the clerk himself ending his life. Steve must go on trial for murder even though he never touched the gun. Kathy O’Brien, Steve 's layer, states that their definitions of winning may be different as if Steve’s definition of winning is the death penalty not taking place(13).
His wording shows that he doesn’t know who he is and therefore believes he is a Monster as Ms. Petrocelli calls him. He accepts people’s judgments as his self-truth. Even though, he, himself, accepts the worst he still wants people to perceive him as a good person, especially his mom. Steve’s mom’s words cut deeper in him because his mom believes he didn’t do it while he knows he did. 5 days into the trial, his mother comes by and talks to him hoping to make him feel better, “I could still feel Mama’s pain.
“Don 't be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you. "~ Lewis Howes. In the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers, we are introduced to Steve Harmon, a sixteen-year-old dark-skinned boy who is the narrator of the book.
According to deathpenaltyinfo.org “Black people are about 7 ½ times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder in the U.S. than are whites.” It also states how “Black people were overrepresented in every category of the 1,167 wrongful murder convictions in the Registry’s database.” The critical literacy novel Monster, by Walter Dean Myers takes place in The Manhattan Detention Center, when 16 year old Steve Harmon went on trial for convicted murder, after being spotted in the drugstore moments before the tragedy happened. “The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help.” This is basically saying when the right time to cry is so you don't get beat up for being “weak.”
Perceptions from others can be cruel. Criminals are often thought of negatively by themselves and are also disrespected by others in society. The novel Monster presents the impressions people have about Steve Harmon, an accused criminal on trial for robbery and murder. Furthermore, the text explains Steve’s views of himself during and after time in prison from first person point-of-view. The novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers highlights the various perceptions that exist about an accused criminal.