Character Analysis Of Steve Harmon In Monster By Walter Dean Myers

“I'm a monster. I'm a monster. I'm a monster”. This is one of the many things Steve Harmon had written in his screenplay of his trial. Steve is the main character in Walter Dean Myers’ book Monster. Steve faces a trial where he might charged with the murder of Aguinaldo Nesbitt. He is on trial next to his supposed acquaintance James King and the Prosecution’s attorney Sandra Petrocelli. The book composed in a third person screenplay of Steve’s experiences during the trial. In Monster Walter Dean Myers uses the appearances of Steve, Osvaldo, and the case itself to prove the theme that not everything is as it seems.

On December 22 Alguinaldo Nesbitt, was murdered when Bobo Evans and James King were trying to rob his drugstore. Steve Harmon allegedly went into the drugstore to check for cops. We the jury have decided that Mr. Harmon is in fact not guilty of felony murder Mr. Nesbitt. Many testimonies stated that Steve Harmon didn’t participate in this crime.

First off, his alibi was just working on a school film project. Steve was alone so either way he did not have a way to back up his alibi, so who would trust that. It all started at the courtroom with the trial to determine Steve’s innocents. Steve was asked a few questions, as were James King, Bobo, and more to get their side of what happened that night the 22nd of December.Petrocelli: “Now Mr.Evans, do you know the people who are seated at these two tables, Mr. Steven Harmon and Mr. James King?”, Bobo “Yeah I know them.” (174)Petrocelli was trying to prove that Steve was guilty and she even tried to lead him but, then she got objected and had to rephrase or ask another question. Steve still had trouble answering questions and beforehand O’Brien was basically teaching him the answers to the questions. Therefore, Steve was

Monster Essay A substantial of people in today's society have been pressured into doing bad things with their friends. In the book, Monster, Steve Harmon was a victim of peer pressure. Many people every day are in the same position Steve was in.

In today’s society, there a lot of young men put in bad situations. In the book Monster there are several young men who has committed a crime. Steve Harmon are one of those young men who is facing life in prison on trial due to a robbery and led to a shooting. Steve was not responsible for Mr. Nesbitt’s death, because he said wasn’t there. Also, he didn’t give a signal and he didn’t kill Mr. Nesbitt.

Monster is an example of what Patty Campbell would call a “landmark book.” 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 decipher. It is ambiguous whether he is innocent or guilty of being involved with the crime. Steve learned to make things unpredictable from his film teacher Mr. Sawicki who teaches him, “If you make your film predictable, they’ll make up their minds about it long before it’s over” (19). Steve took his teacher’s advice and made this film script entirely unpredictable,

A key factor in the case of Walter McMillian was that he was an African American man who at one point was respected by his community. However, an extramarital affair with a white woman is what crossed the line. Affairs were not out of the norm in the Monroeville community, but given the fact that McMillian was black dramatically changed what was perceived as socially acceptable behavior. The significant questioning of McMillian’s character came into play when a young woman, Ronda Morrison was murdered. The profound change in the community’s view toward McMillian was an incentive to point to him as the mastermind behind the murder. The police were unable to produce any viable suspects which led to pressure from the community to find and convict a killer – even if the person accused was innocent. The interrogation tactics used during the questioning of suspects and witnesses produced false allegations. Tactics such as intimidation and bargaining. These practices encompassed covert operations that allowed the law enforcement – police, district attorneys, judges – to navigate the case. Several people were instrumental in concocting the false story placing McMillian at the center of the crime. After his initial lie, Ralph Myers’s was pushed by police to produce additional information which although false, was used by police to arrest McMillian. As the story gained traction in the town,

In this article, “Who Killed the Jeff Davis 8”, Ethan Brown, the author, attempted to solve the murder case and prove the police authorities to being wrong and being responsible for the murders of the town. The main problem of this article is determining who is responsible for the murders of those eight women everyone’s contradicting stories. In an attempt to figure out what really happened Brown includes factual evidence from interviews and shocking statistics to inform the reader of what’s going on in the article. By providing such information, Brown indulges the audience into the full experience of solving the murder case.

In society there are people who commit crimes or someone could just be the lookout. In the book Monster Steve has been accused of being the lookout for a robbery and murder of Mr. Nesbitt. Steve then goes to trial and fights for his life. Steve was not the lookout for the robbery nor was he responsible for Mr. Nesbitt’s death.

First Steve and Mrs.Petrocelli said “ I don’t remember seeing him play ball” “you having trouble remembering what you’ve seen.” (Myers 226). Steve is using a tactic which he said he doesn’t remember something and nobody can disprove that because it’s his memory. Then in the jail inmate number two states “Nah! truth is something you gave up when you were out there on the street. Now you are talking survival” (Myers 226). This demonstrates my theme because the criminal is saying nobody will tell the truth, they will just look for ways to lie to get out of trouble. Steve is a very smart person as he is only saying the bare minimum as to not say any facts to show that he is guilty. The truth is gone all you have left now is

goes in to critique Walter Dean Myers´ book, Monster. Spencer B. has kept his critique to a positive attitude, meaning he is only saying positive things about the book. This is a great book and a well rounded critique because it keeps within the age group of the kids the book is intended for. Especially for kids in their pre teens and even for teenagers. The situations are so real in this book, Myers does not hide anything which shows when he writes “Aint no use putting the blanket over your head man, You can’t cut this out, this is the real deal” (32). This quote is from when Steve, the protagonist, is locked in jail for a crime that he was not a part of. It shows that he is in a real situation that he can not just pull out of. Later on Steve is goes in to say , “What did I do? I walked into a drugstore to look for some mints and then walked out. What was wrong with that? I didn’t kill Mr. Nesbitt” (Myers 40). Now this quote is important because it goes on to show that Steve is innocent but the people do not believe him. Pre teens will relate to this situation, not that they have been involved in a murder of course, but in a situation of being wrongfully accused and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Myers describes Steve's hard life in his jail cell when he writes, “They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can’t kill yourself...” (35). This line of the book will shape young minds as they are growing and show them how to innocent people can be done wrong. The critique that Spencer B. wrote about Monster is spot

Monster by Sanyika Shakur yields a firsthand insight on gang warfare, prison, and redemption. “There are no gang experts except participants (xiii)” says Kody Scott aka. Monster. Monster vicariously explains the roots of the epidemic of South Central Los Angeles between the Crips and the Bloods that the world eventually witnessed on April 29, 1992. As readers we learn to not necessarily give gangs grace but do achieve a better understanding of their disposition to their distinct perception in life.

After reading “the Innocent Man” by Pamela Colloff’s who write a long journalism about Michael Morton, who was found guilty for murdering his wife Christine was sentenced for fifteen years in prison. Later founding that Michael was Innocent after reinvestigating his case, capturing DNA testing and finding new evidence was able to help prove his innocence. The theme of this essay a widow husband who seek to fight for his freedom in prison and staying connected with his son. Michal son Eric gave him a reason to have hope that they would one day reunite and his son would know for himself that he did murder his wife. The point of view of this essay although a man is falsely accuse for a crime he did not commit he is self-determined to fight.

Today we are discussing whether if Steve Harmon should be held guilty or not guilty. I, the defender, says that he is not. We’ve all experienced being accused of doing something we didn’t actually do but Steve’s situation is just more extreme than most of ours. It’s not everyday when we get told a friend is being accused of felony murder. I will be using O’brien’s closing statement along with other quotes to prove to you, that Steve Harmon is not guilty.

The Trial has an immediate ability to engage the emotions of the reader because the protagonist, Josef K., is an everyman.  Not especially ambitious, Josef K. is an ordinary man, a successful bank clerk whose everyday