ipl-logo

Monster By Walter Dean Myers Analysis

564 Words3 Pages

Guilty! Most defense attorney believe in the principle that says,’ better 10 guilty go free than even one possibly innocent person being convicted’. In the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon is a 16 year old boy from Harlem, New York that was accused of being a look out for a robbery. This robbery resulted in the killing of the of the owner, Mr.Nesbitt, and became a felony murder. Steve is put on trial that could result in 25 years to life in prison if he was guilty. He gets the verdict of not guilty since there is room for reasonable doubt, and is released from jail. Steve is definitely guilty since the jury was not able to read his journal and think his thoughts. First of all, Steve questions himself about whether he is innocent or a monster. When Steve was talking to one of his inmates, “He said when he gets out, he will have the word Monster tattooed on his forehead. I feel like I already have it tattooed on mine” (61). This shows that Steve already thinks of himself as a monster from what he had done. His mom believed that he was innocent, “It was [him] who wasn’t sure. It was [him] who lay on the cot wondering if [he] was fooling [himself]” (148). In order for someone to believe in you, you …show more content…

“When I don’t like the answers, I’ll turn it upside down. You figure out what’s wrong with the answer you gave me” (218). Steve and O’Brien had went over what he was going to say prior to the court session, but if he was innocent there would be nothing to worry about. Steve also had flashbacks that the jury doesn’t know about, including where he talks to King about needing money and wanting to rob a bank (50). The jury has no idea that the conversation had happened so they did not have enough information to deliver a verdict of guilty. The jury was not able to get all the information, but if the did, Steve would definitely be

Show More
Related
318 Words | 2 Pages

And was just at the wrong place on a wrong day. Steve never agreed to be the lookout in the robbery. Steve never agreed to take part in the robbery. On page 140 steve said he went in the store to look around for some mints and left. He never gave any signals and no one saw him in the store.

Read More
3265 Words | 14 Pages

Steve Harmon is a kid who is on trial for being a part of a robbery and murder. He lives in Harlem; New York and he is also only 16 years old. In the novel, Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon was a monster because he lied and he doubts himself. Steve was a monster because he lied to the jury and said that he wasn’t in the store that day. Steve is in jail waiting on his trial for robbery and murder.

Read More
785 Words | 4 Pages

Steven said that he was not guilty and he dropped her not harmed. He also said that he just happened to look back while he stopped on a bridge riding his bike and he saw that Lynne entered into a grey car. Some witnesses testified that Steven really did all those things. They also said that they saw Steven normal on the school grounds.

Read More
874 Words | 4 Pages

Being on trial can be terrifying. However, being on trial for felony murder would be even worse and the weight on your shoulders would be prodigious. In the book Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon, a sixteen-year-old black boy, is on trial for felony murder in the city of Harlem, New York. Steve is most likely innocent but in the grand scheme of things, that is not how it looks to be for Steve. It looks as if Steve will be spending his whole life behind bars.

Read More
356 Words | 2 Pages

Just because they are guilty doesn't mean they can't be a Monster. In the book Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon, a 16 year old, is on trial for felony murder. Based on the evidence given, Steve Harmon is not guilty as shown through testimonies, journals and flashbacks. During Steve's trial, Lorelle Henry, the librarian, testifies and proves Steve Harmons innocence. She testified that King was in Nesbitts Drug Store

Read More
877 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
806 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
163 Words | 1 Pages

In the play Twelve Angry Men there was a man prosecuted with the stabbing his father at the chest. 12 Jurors had to decide if the boy was guilty or not, I would say he is not guilty for two main reasons. First a quote in the book stated “I think it’s logical to say that she was not wearing her eye glasses to bed, and I don’t think she put them on to casually look out the window” (page 61). This quote shows that the witness from the plaintiff could not have seen the crime happen without her glasses on. My last reasoning on why I think the boys not guilty is because Juror 5 said “ who’s ever used a switch blade befor would never stab the knife downward” (page 56).

Read More
747 Words | 3 Pages

He fills in an X and hands the pencil to NO. 12.” (12 Angry Men). He thinks the only pieces of evidence are the witnesses because they said they saw the killing even though there was flaws within their testimony. After further investigation, he agrees the boy is not guilty. Then, juror number three persuades number twelve

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

The movie begins in the humid jury room by taking a vote to see whether or not the boy is guilty: eleven guilties and one not guilty. At this point Mr. Davis (the only not guilty vote) could have easily switched his vote and sentenced the boy to death, however he did not. This is where some men get aggravated. This film shows the many ways the men try to persuade one another to change their vote through the characters of Mr. Davis (Juror 8), Juror 4, and Mr. McCardle (Juror 9).

Read More
1002 Words | 5 Pages

Steve’s judgment of his actions is similar to a pendulum swinging. Although Steve believes within himself that he is innocent, of the important people around him, make him insecure as to the degree of his innocence and turn to others for confirmation. Steve Harmon, the defendant, is faced with an internal conflict that questions his self-identity and his character in relation to the crime.

Read More
488 Words | 2 Pages

One piece of evidence that proves the boy’s innocence is the uncommon kind of knife. The testimony said that it was one of a kind knife, while juror number eight brought the exact same one in a local pawn shop proving that the knife wasn’t that rare. In addition to the not uncommon knife, we also have

Read More
919 Words | 4 Pages

Before the trial, Steve is already scared of what the outcome is and how he might spend his whole life in jail and starts doubting his chances of being found not guilty. During the trial, Steve starts hearing the things the prosecutor is saying and sees the people who are testifying against him, which is already not putting him in a good state of mind, and this combines with him seeing his father who looks very scared of Steve, and this all gives Steve disappointment. After the trial, Steve is found not guilty and gets to return home and we next hear from him five months later where we see his father had left him and that Steve doesn’t even know who he is, which shows that he feels damaged. With all of this in mind, we can see that Steve, a dark-skinned, sixteen-year-old boy, has gone through a change from being afraid to feeling lost with himself through doubt, disappointment, and damage. Image how other people feel in

Read More
1139 Words | 5 Pages

No. 8: Yes, I do… [sighing and shaking head slowly] It was hard and some of the jurors were just hard headed, we were starting to think that we were a hung jury but in the end, we came to a unanimous conclusion that the boy is not guilty. Interviewer: One last thing, do you have any problems or opinions with today’s jury system?

Read More
915 Words | 4 Pages

His prejudice is clear when he says that “I’ve lived among ‘em all my life. You can’t believe a word they say” when speaking about the boy (16). Juror Ten’s prejudice causes him to disregard all of the facts that are presented to him by Juror Eight that can prove that the accused is not guilty. Juror 10 allows his prejudice to blind him of the truth. That is until he is called out by his fellow jurors.

Read More

More about Monster By Walter Dean Myers Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document