Innocent until proven guilty
Is Steve the monster? In the realistic fiction novel of Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Myers shares his fiction story about a young teenager, Steve who writes a script about his journey in the Manhattan Detention Center while in trial for a felony murder case. Steve Harmon was a 16-year-old teenager that has a strong passion for filming. James King, another main character is the antagonist. James King was a gang member of the Diablos and was part of the crime with the clerk, Alguinaldo Nesbitt. Steve never thought in his life that he would end up behind bars. On the first day of Steve’s trial, Steve told Kathy O’Brien, Steve’s lawyer, that he is “scared” and also is concerned if “[they were] going to win” (13-15). As a student of Mr. Sawicki, the film club mentor always knew Steve as talented and compassionate about his love for filming. Steve is stressed and disliked the detention center and “could hardly think”, so he used writing plays to cope (45). Since the prosecutor Petrocelli called Steve a monster, that is all that Steve thinks of as himself. Steve fears that his parents will no longer see him as the good son they used to know.
…show more content…
Some of these themes are lies and deceit, betrayal, fear and justice. One of the major themes in Monster is racial prejudice. Steve Harmon has been accused of acting as a lookout during a homicide Sandra Petrocelli attempts to associate Steve, the African American male to the other criminals. Steve details his experience as on trial through his melancholy journals. Not only does Myers show us how Steve is being deteriorated mentally, he is also showing us physically. Myers effectively explains Steve’s way to cope and to accept what reality he is in as his emotions fill with doubt. Myer addresses this topic since this is an issue in today’s