ipl-logo

Bad Choices In The Monster By Walter Dean Myers

1036 Words5 Pages

My first impression when I was reading the book is that the environment in which one lives in can influence our decisions. The book describes Steve in general as a good guy from a harsh environment that has molded him poorly. Steve is a 16-year-old from the ghetto, and as one from the ghetto, he believes that surviving on the streets requires working on the side of the gang, not against it. Therefore, as a result, he has lived his young life doing jobs for the gang that has gotten him involved in small crimes, drug usage, and other poor choices. However, Myers' story shows it is clear Steve has made bad choices as a product of his environment and one can argue if Steve is "evil" because he has done these crimes as a result of his environment …show more content…

In fact, during the trial, the prosecuting attorney refers to Steve Harmon and the rest of the individuals allegedly involved in the crime as "monsters." Even though Steve is a relatively shy, kind person who has a positive reputation throughout his school as a talented filmmaker, he is categorized as a "monster" simply because he is on trials. She was always trying to make Steve looked bad as the other individuals allegedly involved in the crime. His depiction by the prosecuting attorney as a "monster" and whose treatment in the criminal justice system is as depraved as the crime of which Steve is accused, could foreshadow a ruined existence. Even though Steve in some way took part in the robbery was not the type of person she wanted the public and the jury to believe he was. He was so dehumanized by the prosecuting attorney that even his own attorney has some doubt about him being innocent. O'Brien had to inform Steve that her job was to differentiate him from the other individuals on trial because the jury already views him as guilty. In this optic, Steve and his attorney struggled to distinguish him as a talented, respected young man in order to win the case. Fortunately, even though Steve was found not guilty by the jury at the end of the trial he turned to hug his attorney, Kathy O'Brien. Instead of hugging Steve, O'Brien distances herself and turns away of from him. This action from her showed that she still was not convinced of his innocence and viewed him as a

Show More
Related

  • Monster By Walter Dean Myers Chapter Summary

    497 Words  | 2 Pages

    The title of the novel Monster, illustrated by Walter Dean Myers, the main character Steve Harmon a 16-year old African-American male. That shows a lot of conflicts that he goes through the novel, the theme of the novel is that this character Steve Harmon goes through rough moment in jail and letting himself down for that. He learns this lesson when Osvaldo was lying in court so, then they thought, the people who defend Steve Harmon, O’Brien thought that everything Osvaldo said was lies. In Page 106 When they ask him if he used to be in a gang, he lies about it says that he wasn't part of no gang then, osvaldo said the information I got right here says that you were a part of a gang call Los Diablos or this

    Read More

  • Essay On Monster By Walter Dean Myers

    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

  • Summary Of Monster By Walter D. Myers

    691 Words  | 3 Pages

    He later says in this testimony that Steve was working on a film project on the day of the robbery. However, there is no video evidence from the day of the robbery. “Petrocelli: What was he doing on the afternoon of December 22nd? Did he show you a film of that day? Sawicki:

    Read More

  • Susan Cox-Powells Murder

    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

  • Examples Of Steve Innocent

    876 Words  | 4 Pages

    This was never fully proven, yet King says “I need to get paid, man. I ain’t got nothing between my butt and the ground but a rag” (Myers 50). Steve responds with “I hear that” (Myers 50). This shows the reader that they both needed money and were willing to do something for money. This proves that if Steve participated in the robbery, he would have been compensated, but he never was.

    Read More

  • Walter Dean Myers's Monster Analysis

    1597 Words  | 7 Pages

    Many authors convey powerful, civil messages through novels. Walter Dean Myers does that through his novel, Monster. Monster is a story about young sixteen-year-old, Steve Harmon, who is on trial for being an accessory in a murder-robbery. The novel is written in a first person “movie style” that encompasses all of his emotions in a scene by scene setting. Myers brings out a theme of racism through multiple scenes in the novel.

    Read More

  • Murder On Sunday Morning Analysis

    511 Words  | 3 Pages

    He went on stand and when asked about where he was, or what he was doing he gave clear answers. Meanwhile, in Monster Steve never stated whether or not he was innocent. When Steve was on stand he answered most questions with “I don’t remember or I don’t know. I found it odd,but the author left Steve’s innocence up to the reader as if they were the jury, taking all the evidence. Brenton’s lawyers also strongly believed he was innocent while Steve’s lawyer didn’t believe he was innocent “I know she (Ms.O’Brien) thinks I’m guilty”-Steve Pg(138).

    Read More

  • Steve Harmon Is Guilty Essay

    806 Words  | 4 Pages

    If you were blamed for a crime you didn’t do, would you let that accusation go and let it tarnish your reputation? Would you let it fly by and have others judge from every angle? No, right? Normally people who get accused of crimes demand justice as they know they did not commit the crime and only justice can give them the freedom they deserve. But let’s look at Steve Harmon, the main character from the book Monster by Walter Dean Myers who was on trial for murder.

    Read More

  • Steve Harmon Is Not Guilty In 'Monster' By Walter Dean Myers

    476 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another thing to consider is that Steve got no profit from this robbery. When asked who else the money went to bobo said: “When we discovered the guy was dead we decided to lay low”. He says later that steve got no money. If he did they could trace it, but he didn’t. Because there was no transaction, there is nothing linking steve to this crime.

    Read More

  • Michael Myers Character Analysis

    174 Words  | 1 Pages

    Michael Myers’, the protagonist of the 1978 movie Halloween, reputation is formed at the age of 6, when he murders his sister on the night of Halloween. While being shifted for a court date, Myers escaped and began killing more people. The notion of hysteria plays a role in the film because everyone is scared of Michael Myers. The fear of him adds to the suspense of when he will appear in front of the characters and the audience.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Positivity In Walter Dean Myers's 'Monster'

    1176 Words  | 5 Pages

    Steve has put on trial for felony murder, a crime in which he insists he did not commit. He has lost all but one of his possessions, his journal. In this journal steve writes about his experience in jail and what happens on trial in the courtroom. He formats it into a movie script, with the occasional notes pages, and titles it Monster. In the book Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, he writes about a young man named Steve, he is a sixteen year old African American who has been put on trial.

    Read More

  • Monster Conflict Essay: Innocence Vs. Guilt

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Steve Harmon In Monster By Walter Dean Myers

    919 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Steve progresses through the trial, he starts getting disappointed about what the people are testifying. We can see this when he says, “I think they are bringing out all of these people and letting them look terrible on the stand and sound terrible and then reminding the jury that they don’t look any different from me and King”(Myers 60). While the trial is going on, Steve sees a couple of witnesses, and immediately falls in disappointment. He starts to make assumptions about bad things that might happen to him before the trial is even halfway. This shows how he is already feeling disappointed that he will lose.

    Read More

  • Steve Harmon's Monster In Walter Dean Myers Monster

    689 Words  | 3 Pages

    The whole jury said he is not guilty. People also said that Steve had done nothing wrong; they believed he had nothing to do with it. However, just because he was found not guilty doesn't mean Steve was innocent. Therefore, Steve was a monster. Steve was a monster because he was friends with bad people.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Monster By Walter Dean Myers's Monster

    1280 Words  | 6 Pages

    Perceptions from others can be cruel. Criminals are often thought of negatively by themselves and are also disrespected by others in society. The novel Monster presents the impressions people have about Steve Harmon, an accused criminal on trial for robbery and murder. Furthermore, the text explains Steve’s views of himself during and after time in prison from first person point-of-view. The novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers highlights the various perceptions that exist about an accused criminal.

    Read More

More about Bad Choices In The Monster By Walter Dean Myers

Open Document