Is obriens coaching intended to hide steves guilty feelings from the jury. The former is about lacking culpability and the other is about the justice system not having enough evidence to convict. In 1999, in his young adult book monster, walter dean myers introduced readers to a young man named steve harmon. Argumentative essay on monster 1024 words bartleby. Steve struggles to prove his innocence, not only to everyone else, but to himself as well. Twentyfive years to life in prisonthats the sentence facing our main man, steve harmon.
Monster is a young adult drama novel by american author walter dean myers and was published by harpercollins in 1999. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent monster is an example of what patty campbell would call a landmark book. Aug 07, 2006 in the novel monster, written by walter dean myers, we can learn from steve harmons experiences that sometimes the guilt or the innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by the onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. The book is set as if steve is making a screenplay. Steve harmon, the novels protagonistand, at times, its narratoris a sixteenyearold africanamerican student from harlem. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples literature, won the michael l. In monster, by walter dean myers, steve harmon is on trial for felony murder. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as.
The story is told through steves perspective, primarily as a screenplay he has written about the experience. According to obrian are people innocent until proven guilty. Nathnael baraki in the book monster by walter sean myers, the main character is steve harmon. The book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year the book uses a mixture of a thirdperson screenplay and a firstperson. It also shows how innocent steve is being again only 16 years old. Steve is on trial for a being a possible accomplice to a murder. Steve himself recognizes his own progression from believing he is innocent for not having done his part in the caper and understanding that he is complicit in events that lead to the death of an innocent man. In this awardwinning novel, walter dean myers brings us the story of 16yearold steve harmon, on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner in harlem. Opening statement we think that steve harmon is innocent because there is not enough evidence to prove he is guilty, he is very certain and stuck with trying to prove that that he was not there when the crime was committed and finally because. Essay about walter dean myers monster guilty until. Evans testifies that steve was part of the robbery team, acting as a lookout man. In monster, by walter dean myers, the reader learns from steve harmons experiences that sometimes guilt or innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. Although she and steves father try to be upbeat, steve feels that she is mourning him as though he were dead.
Steve himself recognizes his own progression from believing he is innocent for not having done his. He tells the story as if he is recording the events as they happen in real life. The first reason why steve harmon is innocent because steve did not know bobo evans. Steves probable guilt is reinforced by the fact that the state prosecutor labels him a monster in her opening remarks, and this becomes the way that steve sees himself throughout the novel, dehumanizing himself. Says steve is an honest kid talented, bright, outstanding, copassionate vouches for the fact that steve was working on a film. Steve, sixteen and in prison awaiting a murder trial, is an african american teen and.
Are these feelings of being a monster based on the truth that he did passively signal the allclear to the. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder. Thats what prosecutor petrocelli calls him, and he cant help but dwell on it. Examines how steve harmon from walter dean myers book, monster, is guilty of felony murder. While in prison, steve put his time to good use and wrote a play word for word based on his trial. This is undoubtedly due to myers ability to capture the complex character and feelings of steve and reveal the flaws in a criminal justice system which relies on the dehumanization of the accused. It also shows how innocent steve is being again only 16 years.
After his arrest, steves relationship with his father is tense. Steve s greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though its certainly stressful and difficult. The trial continues with wendell bolden on the stand. The story is written in screenplay format, due to steves passion for filmmaking, along. Texts such as these encourage readers to interact with the text and with one another by employing a variety of devices, among them ambiguity campbell 1 because it is told through the eyes of steve. Steve harmon is the main character of the book monster.
According to steves notes on july 7th, what do they talk about in jail. Contrasting with the other three people implicated in the robbery, steve has no criminal history and is a decent and sensitive kid. The character of steve harmon in monster from litcharts. However, i suppose it could be argued that this is not an accurate ruling.
Throughout the trial, steves mother leaves cleaned shirts and underwear for him. Steve harmon is a 16 year old male in jail awaiting trial for felony murder. Why is steve innocent in the book monster by walter dean. Texts such as these encourage readers to interact with the text and with one another by employing a variety of devices, among them ambiguity campbell 1 because it is told through the eyes of steve himself, the plot can be difficult to.
Steve is on the brink of losing his ability to selfidentify. He fights his worst battles in his head, as he tries to figure out if hes truly a monster. Is steve an accomplice to murder or an innocent kid. Monster book report in monster, by walter dean myers, the reader learns from steve harmons experiences that sometimes guilt or innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon. Apr 27, 2009 the book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. He thinks his attorney, kathy obrien, doesnt believe in his innocence, and his father has been aloof. Steve can sense his fathers disappointment due to his involvement in the crime, despite steve s assertion that he is innocent.
Betty trevino i believe the reason obrien looks away from him is because she is recognizing the difference between innocence and being found not guilty. Even though a small chapter, this journal entry really shows how life in the prison can turn a man into the monster that steve is beginning to believe he is. There is not a large amount of scientific evidence in the case against steve harmon, so the jury. Printz award, monster was also recognized as a coretta scott king award honor book and national book award finalist.
Written as a play, by the determined main character, steve harmon, writes an amazing play. I believe that steve harmon is innocent because he didnt know bobo evans, the store wasnt clear, and there was no signal. Whether or not steve is innocent might be an entirely different set of conditions. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean myers. Just writing in his journal isnt cutting it, so he begins chronicling his experience in screenplay form as well. Monster by walter dean myers monster is the story about a 16 year old black boy named steve harmon from harlem. Steve says he is, but the older prisoner that somebody has to be locked up and it might as well be steve. The book monster by walter dean myers relates to my life and others today because in the book steve conformed to societys expectations and was a sheep to his acquaintances, which relates to me a fair while ago, because not to long ago i followed my friends and did what they did even though sometimes it wasnt the right thing to do. There is not a large amount of scientific evidence in the case against steve. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent. To be innocent means that steve did nothing wrong and was a victim of circumstance. Another prisoner asks the older one to suppose that steve is innocent.
Steve harmon character analysis steve harmon character. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year. Steve is guilty of accessory to murder of agluinado nesbitt. The main conflict of walter dean myers book, monster, is about a teen accused of murder trying to clear his name in both the legal and social settings. Steve is a 16yearold black kid from harlem charged with felony murder for his involvement in a botched robbery that ended in mr. Monster then delves into the psychological realm as steve tries to decide if he is innocent or if he is, in fact, a monster. Monster is about a 16 year old boy named steve harmon, and how he had to go on a trial for felony murder. In spite of his potential guilt, steves youth and minimal involvement he was passively roped into it by king suggest.
This book falls under the theme of stories that expose limits. Monster argumentative essay the united states judicial system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. Steve is pretty freaked out, in need of a way to deal with both the trial and the nastiness surrounding him in prison. He is now beginning to realize that the case is a matter of his life and death and he might actually end up on death row. In the next scene, obrien answers steves question about how the trial is going by telling him that nothing is happening that points to steves being innocent. Sixteenyearold steve harmon is sitting on the edge of a medal cot, head in hands. Steves greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though its certainly stressful and difficult. Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon on. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. Once steve is accused of being an accomplice, his father loses his confidence and trust in his son. In the novel monster, written by walter dean myers, we can learn from steve harmons experiences that sometimes the guilt or the innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by the onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. He writes in his diary to pass the time, chronicling his observations and anxieties while imprisoned. In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in his mind and to the jury his part in the murder. Steve is wrongfully arrested, and spends time in jail awaiting his verdict, which he is found innocent for after a long trial.
Jennifer kendall is an english teacher, librarian, and writer specializing in young adult and childrens literature. It also shows the amount of misery and dispare he must be feeling as hes in there. Are these feelings of being a monster based on the truth that he did passively signal the allclear to the robbers, and thereby he has blood on his hands. For the best answers, search on this site in the novel monster, written by walter dean myers, we can learn from steve harmons experiences that sometimes the guilt or the innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by the onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. Steve harmon guilty or innocent monster by walter dean myers. Was steve guilty or innocent in the book monster answers. Monster book by walter dean myers free essay example. Steve is on trial for allegedly being the lookout in a serious crime that involved robbery and murder. Steve harmon is the narrator and protagonist of the story.
He claims he is innocent and didnt participate in the robbery. The story is told through steves perspective, primarily as a screenplay he has written about the experience at the outset, steves trial is just beginning. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as the lookout. In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in. Steve addresses his fraught relationship with his father. The story is written in screenplay format, due to steve s passion for filmmaking, along with steve s. She tells him that she knows he is innocent, regardless of what happens. He is also very talented to write and perform such a. Just writing in his journal isnt cutting it, so he. Steve can sense his fathers disappointment due to his involvement in the crime, despite steves assertion that he is innocent.
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