Walter Dean Myers Monster Sparknotes

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Many people believe monsters aren’t real and are made up by one's imagination. Walter Dean Myers’ novel Monster showcases multiple connotations of a monster. Steve Harmon, a young 16-year-old boy, he was caught up in a court case. He experiences doubt, shame, and horrific fear during his time in court. Most of the spectators in the courtroom view him as malignant, violent, and aggressive. Steve is fighting with himself to figure out whether he is a monster. In Monster, Myers examines his idea of a monster through a court case.

Firstly, Steve is fighting himself to try and find who he truly is. Disappointing, devastating, discriminating, the boy fights for his rights in front of the jury. Steve spends his nights in a cell fighting to keep his sanity. Steve gets everything taken away from him discrediting him as a person the novel says “They take away your shoelaces and belt so you can’t kill youself no matter how bad it is.” Almost every person in the prison …show more content…

The vast audience, loud yet impatient, waits for the judge to start the court session. Steve sits handcuffed to the bench feeling like his freedom is lost. The novel says “Fade in: Courtroom. Steve and King are cuffed to the bench. Court officers, Petrocelli, Stenographer, Judge, Briggs, and O’brien are present.” Steve is surrounded by government officials watching his every move . The judge, a jurist awaiting the sentencing, stares at the two men on trial. Steve can’t help but label himself as what everyone is saying, he thinks he’s a monster. Walter Dean Myers writes “ Cut to: Steve Harmon. Then CU of the pad in front of him. He is writing the word monster over and over again. A white hand takes the pencil from his hand and crosses out all the monsters” Steve's lawyer O’brien does not agree with him being a monster. O’brien has gathered enough evidence to know Steve was at the right place at the wrong