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Monster By Steve Harman Sparknotes

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like in a prison holding cell and fighting in court? In the book Monster by Walter Dean Mayers, Steve Harman must fight in court to plead not guilty during a murder case. He needs to fight for his life. “I’m fighting in court… to prove that I’m not a monster, that I’m a human being who made a mistake but deserves a second chance.” (Dean Myers pg 35) During the trial, some juries said he looked like trouble and a waste of time. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in trouble for who I am rather than what I did. They look and see a monster, calling me a waste of time.” The juries do not take young people seriously, especially with 16 year old African Americans. This shows that Steve had a disadvantage in his case. Steve was in a tough situation. If you were in his place and his state of mind, what would you do to cope? …show more content…

He was upset to be on trial, worried about his future, as well as excited to see what would happen. “I’m not a monster. I’m just a kid, Steve Harmon and I’m in a lot of trouble.” (Dean Myers pg 53) When he was first on trial, he felt lost, confused, and unsure about what would happen to him. However, when he won the case he felt relieved and happy. While the court case was happening, Steve wrote a movie about his experiences. He made sure to write down everything that happened. He does not only write about what is happening around him, but also what he is thinking about and feels in that moment. “I feel like crying but nothing comes out of me.” (Dean Myers pg 37) This book reminds me of something similar. People end up in jail every day for many things they do, like robbery and murder. Some jail sentences can be longer than others, but it is better to stay out of jail altogether. Monster teachers us through Steve’s character development and conflicts that events like this happen to real

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