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Walter Dean Myers Monster Essay

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Why Monster is significant in the novel
Many people are considered monsters in the world. Whether it's for killing someone, commiting a crime, or even the way they act towards other people. The novel Monster demonstrates multiple ways people are monsters. Some people are even falsely accused of being a monster when they aren’t or they could have been framed. The author, Walter Dean Myers, uses the title of his book as a crucial part of the story.

Firstly, many people saw Steve as a monster which contributed a massive part of the title of the story. He was accused of murdering the store owner and robbing the store. Respectful Steve, caring and innocent, would not commit a crime of that nature. He was falsely accused and many people saw him …show more content…

Killing, stealing, and leaving, King escaped the store after the crime. He just murdered someone for no reason except to just make a little bit of cash. Many people see him as a monster for being able to do all of that. In court he also acted like it was not a big deal that he just murdered someone and ruined his family because they have to deal with the loss of a loved one. The text proves this by stating “Mr. Evans, who participated in the robbery, will testify that there was a struggle, which resulted in the gun being discharged and Mr. Nesbitt being killed.” The following proves that he is a monster due to the way he reacts. Also another way is after bobo just killed someone he went and got food. He can be seen as uncaring about the crime due to his reaction. After watching someone die that you killed and going to get food is insensitive. This helped the jury that he can just move on and eat without regretting what he did. He even used the same money that he just stole from the store. To prove the statement above the novel says “who could see a man killed and then go over to a fast-food place and have a nice meal.” This shows that he was able to just kill someone and move on with his life. Many people would see this as someone who is a monster which represents the title of the story

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Innocent Until Proven Guilty Steve Harmon, the young teen and narrator in Monster was on trial for felony murder. This innocent sixteen year old was accused of being an accomplice in the robbery and death of Mr. Nesbitt. His supposed job was to be a look out for the criminals Bobo and King. Prior to them entering Mr. Nesbitts drugstore robbing and killing him in cold blood. Although there are some that doubt his innocence the verdict of Steve’s future was rightfully not guilty.

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Addison Lucas Mrs.A/Mr.G English 10 23 February 2023 Monster Monster is a novel written by Walter Myers,this story is based on Steve Harmon, a teenager who finds himself in a difficult situation as he is on trial for murder. While some people believe that Steve Harmon was not guilty, in reality, he was guilty because he had to be trained by O’Brien, he was at the drugstore during the crime, and he changed his story. The first reason why Steve is guilty is becasue he had to be trained by his defense attorney, Kathy O’brien. ”We’re going to play a little game.

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The truth is really not what one might think. In the novel, Monster by Walter Dean Myers, there is a young man named Steve Harmon is on trial for felony murder and robbery. King and Bobo said that Harmon was the person that went inside to check if there was anyone in there. That was Kings and Bobos truth because they made themselves think that Harmon was part of the robbery. But there was no actual proof because King and Bobo are two criminals and they just might want to lighten their sentences.

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Was Steve Harmon guilty of felony murder? I think it is possible that Steve Harmon is guilty of the crime. But, it is equally possible that he is not. He may of lied but, that doesn't say he did do the crime. some reasons why he could be guilty are that he did know King and Bobo, but he claims they were only acquaintances.

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In the world, minorities are often stereotyped and profiled unfairly. The novel “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers, portrays this by showing how quick people are to judge a young black male. In the book, Steve Harmon, a black sixteen-year-old, is on trial for supposedly participating in the robbery that resulted in the murder of store owner, Mr Nesbitt. Steve is arrested and detained in absolute isolation while having to undergo everyone’s, including his parents’ harsh critiques. Despite being found not guilty, Steve continued to be profiled as a monster and will never be treated as a teenager anymore.

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The story Monster, written by Walter Dean Myers is a first person story written from a boy named Steve Harmon That is facing death penalty at only 16 years old for the murder of Mr.Nesbit. Through Steves writing we learn that each character lacks in ethics and decision making. When making a decision Morals take priority. To Commence, Osvaldo Cruz, A tough guy wannabe shows lack of morals when he lied to the prosecutor Sandra Petrocelli and when he joined the Diablos. Osvaldo showcasing his lying when he was talking to Petrocelli in court, “O'brien: You also said the robbery was a mistake perhaps you can tell us the difference between a lie and a mistake.”

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In his novel Monster, Walter Dean Myers argues that incarceration distorts people's identity through the gradual change of language, visual appearance, and the manner of actions prisoners perform while interned. The novel Monster shows the hardships of being a prisoner through Walter Dean Myers main protagonist Steve. In the story, Steve is being tried for felony murder and he is put in prison from his arrest to the end of his trial. In prison, Steve begins to notice that his identity begins to change in many ways. Walter Dean Myers shows that the identity of Steve in prison is clearly not static.

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Steve is portrayed as a victim of a racist legal system that assumes his guilt based on his race and appearance. I can show this using this quote said by Steve's lawyer, “My job is to make sure the law works for you as well as against you, and to make you a human being in the eyes of the jury. ”(Walter Dean Myers) This quote shows how his lawyer sees how race could play a role in whether or not the jury decides whether or not he is guilty. The prosecutor and police officers involved in the case are all white, and they use racial stereotypes and assumptions to build their case against Steve.

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This is important because he is so confused about his identity that he can not even accept that he is a good person anymore. At the beginning of the book, Steve’s confusion can be shown in his first journal entries. In his journal, he shows that he is confused about himself and doesn’t know what to do about it, and if he doesn’t figure it out soon, it may lead him to prison

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After all, about 12 people(Jury) said he was not guilty which is pretty impressive. Steve was found not guilty by super good lawyers that are good at doing their job. However, it does not mean Steve was truly innocent. Therefore, Steve should be considered a monster. Steve is a monster because he knew about the robbery.

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“The best time to cry it at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help” (Myers 1). Having to clean disgusting floors, “You throw up, you clean it up!” Eating with strangers, sleeping with strangers, going to the bathroom in front of strangers. This is real life, not a movie; this is the real life of being in jail. Steve Harmon, the main character in the novel, Monster, written by Walter Dean Myers, experienced this.

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Then he started doubting himself and kinda blaming himself. This made Steve a monster because he was walking in the store the day the robbery happened knowing that it was that day and

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Steve might have gone into the drugstore then left because he was scared. However, this still means that Steve would be charged with felony murder if he would have admitted it to the jury and they ruled him guilty, he would have gotten a lesser sentence because he was not fully involved. O'Brien also made another point that could make some room for reasonable doubt in her closing statements. After she repeated to the jury the conversation where Mrs. Petrocelli and Mr. Evans talked about what happened after the robbery, she brings up the point “Where was Steve Harmon, the alleged lookout man?”(249). If Steve was really a part of this robbery you would think that he would go with Evans and King after to eat and get his share of the money from the

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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.

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Whereas the real monster throughout the story is no other than Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein displays many of the characteristics any monster would have. He was cruel and manipulative in order to become and valued like God. However, the odds were not in his favor after rejecting the monster the minute he came to life, "A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly

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