Steve Harmon is the protagonist of the novel "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers. The story is told from Steve's perspective and follows his trial and eventual imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.
Steve is a 16-year-old African American high school student who is charged with felony murder and armed robbery. He is accused of being an accomplice in a convenience store robbery in which the store clerk was killed. Steve is portrayed as a sensitive and intelligent young man who loves writing and making movies. He struggles to come to terms with the fact that he is being treated as a monster by the criminal justice system and the media.
Throughout the novel, Steve grapples with feelings of fear, isolation, and guilt as he tries to understand his role in the crime and clear his name. He is aided by his lawyer, Mr. Khaled, and his family, who support him and help him to stay strong.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Steve maintains his innocence and is determined to prove it. He spends his time in jail reflecting on the events leading up to the robbery and trying to piece together what really happened. As the trial progresses, Steve begins to see that the justice system is not always fair and that people can be wrongly accused and convicted.
As the novel comes to a close, Steve is found guilty and sentenced to prison. However, he remains hopeful that he will one day be able to clear his name and return to society as a free man.
Through Steve's story, Myers explores themes of race, justice, and the complexities of the criminal justice system. "Monster" serves as a powerful reminder that everyone is deserving of a fair trial and the opportunity to prove their innocence, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Monster Ending, Explained
The exact truth is that he was scared, as most teenagers would be, and he had no idea what William was up to. Harmon dreamed about him growing up and playing college football, attending Morehouse university just like his father did. The jurors are then instructed to enter the jury room to begin their deliberations. I'll start by saying that Steve Harmon is not a bad person. In uncertain times, Myers found himself turning to the streets for comfort. Retrieved May 7, 2021. He is still confused as to Miss O'Brien's demeanor at the end of the trial, wondering whether she saw some real Steve or a "monster.
Monster (Myers novel)
Mulholland Collapse Of The San Francis Dam 167 Words 1 Pages Since he didn 't want to cause anymore trouble than there already was, he decided to accept the blame and carry it on his shoulders all alone. In this respect, Steve's real opinion of himself becomes quite complex. His subsequent trial serves as the main plot device in the film. How Does Steve Prove His Innocence in Court? He says that King pointed out Steve as their lookout and that, after Steve left the drugstore, he and King began fighting with Mr. In this statement, the prosecutor expresses his belief that it is not morally correct to hang a murderer who has had such a traumatic past without testing for any sign of mental illness or Analysis Of Monster By Walter Dean Myers's Monster 1280 Words 6 Pages Perceptions from others can be cruel. Having realized that the impression he makes is more important than telling the truth which so many other witnesses have not done , he says that he did not go into the drugstore on the day in question.
How is Steve Harmon in Monster affected by his mistake?
As the trial progresses over the course of two weeks, the prosecution, under the direction of Sandra Petrocelli, presents a parade of witnesses who detail the crime and its aftermath. His Mama declares, "No matter what anybody says, I know you're innocent, and I love you very much" 123. He eventually breaks down and consequently tells the truth. Monster Summary Monster by Walter Dean Myers is a 1999 novel about Steve Harmon, a sixteen-year-old boy on trial for his alleged complicity in a robbery-turned-murder. A witness sees this, and the police later claim that this was his way of signaling King and Bobo. During his time in jail and throughout the trial, however, he is shown to be struggling against racism and stereotypes and suffers a major identity crisis.
Monster Ending Explained (In Detail)
At Stuyvesant, Steve is a part of the film club and has a wonderful relationship with the teacher who runs it, Leroy Sawicki Tim Blake Nelson. On page 140, he starts to question what the word "guilty" actually means. After the trial, Steve himself tries to resolve these questions by continuing to make movies. We think Steve lifts his hand unconsciously to get a sense of the light, just as he has done countless times before. Monster begins with Steve being booked and subjected to an array of dehumanizing practices by police and the district attorney's office.
