Walter Dean Myers Monster Research Paper

Tailyn Marion

Mrs. Juhas

6/7th hour

2/10/23

Are You a Monster? Victor Hugo once said, “Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.” Steve was on trial for murder. Steve kept doubting himself a lot while he was in his jail cell. He didn’t know whether he was guilty or innocent, he also was lying while it was his testimony. In the novel, Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon was a monster because he lied and because he knew about the robbery.

Steve was a monster because he lied. Steve was talking in a flashback. The book said, “‘Usually I see him in the playground. Maybe he’d say something like “Those guys can’t play ball,” stuff like that.’” (Myers 226). So when Steve gave his testimony he started lying saying things like how

Him being found not guilty was a good thing because all 12 people in the jury agreed that he didn’t do anything wrong. The jury decided that he didn’t deserve a punishment because he didn’t commit a crime during the robbery, so they said he isn’t guilty.However, just because Steve was found not guilty doesn’t mean he was innocent. Therefore, Steve was a monster.Steve was a monster because he always doubts himself. Steve was in his cell writing in his journal.The book said, “We lie to ourselves here. Maybe we are here because we lie to ourselves.” (Myers 203).This shows he is a monster because he is doubting himself the whole time throughout his journal. The quote was basically saying how Steve thinks that he is lying to the court which he is but he doubts himself for lying, and he is saying how maybe people are in jail because they lie to people to court or even to themselves. There is more evidence of him being a monster because in the book when it was time for him to do his testimony he lied in the courtroom and could’ve been found guilty if they would’ve checked his journal. There is also evidence of him doubting himself as well throughout his journal in his jail cell, because basically he doesn’t know if he is guilty or