In the book monster is steve guilty or innocent

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. Steve harmon character analysis in monster litcharts. Steve can sense his fathers disappointment due to his involvement in the crime, despite steves assertion that he is innocent. In monster, by walter dean myers, the reader learns from. Are these feelings of being a monster based on the truth that he did passively signal the allclear to the robbers, and. According to steve in the prologue, when is the best time to cry. At the end of the book steve is proven innocent, and free to go, but i believe that there was not enough information for steve to be proven guilty. In this book a young man named steve harmon had been put in jail because he supposably killed a man that worked in a drug store. Steves narrative ultimately depicts a broken justice system in which injustice is the most likely outcome of a case.

However, steve was able to distance himself from james. Although obrien wants to defend steve and understand who he is as a person, steve senses that obrien does not truly believe he is innocent. James king is found guilty, while steve is found not. Why is the novel titled monster what does the monster symbolize. Guilty or innocent, steve becomes a pawn in the hands of the system, cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. The book is set as if steve is making a screenplay. Even in the middle of the novel steve still thinks he is not guilty and not a bas person but know he has to take responsibility for his actions. In the book monster by walter dean myers, was it clearly. The author, walter dean myers, chose to give steve the verdict of not guilty. Who is steve dickson guilty in the monster essay 1039 words. We have been given pretty much all of the evidence that the jury is considering plus a little more conveyed by his journal writing so if we were on the jury, how would we judge. 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. James king, osvaldo cruz, and freddy alou made up a few of the tough guys steve swapped dialogue with on occasion. Before falling asleep, steve thinks about how much he misses his younger brother, jerry.

Thankfully, steve s lawyer, kathy obrien, is doing her best to make the jury see him as a human. Steve imagines himself writing about the crime, but he doesnt want to have it in his mind anymore than the jurors might want to have the pictures in theirs. Aug 07, 2006 steve s innocence or guilt will be partly determined because of these things. In the book monster written by walter dean meyer, steve harmon, a 16 year old black boy, is by going a trial determining if he will spend his life in jail or not. Nov 09, 2020 in monster, steve is found not guilty. However i am very much interested in what others thought of the book and whether they think steve harmon should be guilty or innocent. But not everyone agrees with steve, least of all sandra petrocelli, the attorney who is prosecuting him for felony murder. He is a generally good kid who got caught up with the wrong crowd. In general its about making yourself a decision if steve is guilty or innocent. In part because he is a young black man, steve feels rushed through the system by people who do not actually care whether he is guilty or innocent, but simply assume his guilt and want a maximum punishment. Instead of rejoicing in his mothers belief in him steve feels guilty.

Monster quotes shmoop javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. Aug 23, 2019 ultimately, steve agreed to participate in the robbery and entered the drug store to carry out the crime, which makes him legally guilty. He is incredibly anxious, and he begins thinking about the past year of his life. Myers book monster provides several examples of effective characters to write about. Monster a family affair summary and analysis gradesaver. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent 123.

I think the ending was effective because it left you wondering whether or not steve is a monster even though he was set free. There are flashbacks, graphic imagery of prison, and the realistic life that someone would most likely be going through while on trial for murder. Obrien tells steve that purely because he is a young black male, half the jury will already assume he is guilty from the moment they see him. The ending also showed his mom being nervous, the guards moving away when steve was proven not guilty and his lawyer obrien not wanting to embrace him. The book is about steve s trial and whether he will be found guilty of felony murder. What does that scene reveal about his emotions and character. Once steve is accused of being an accomplice, his father loses his confidence and trust in his son. Ultimately, steve agreed to participate in the robbery and entered the drug store to carry out the crime, which makes him legally guilty. Is steve harmon innocent or guilty according to the court. In the novel monster, steve harmon was put on trial for murder. Monster, by walter dean myers, is about a 16 year old harlem boy named steve harmon. The novel monster by walter dyan myers is a story about a joung black called.

He grows terrified at the prospect of spending twenty years, minimum, in jail if found guilty. Sometimes i feel like i have walked into the middle of a movie. Apr 03, 2019 written in a unique format with a compelling storyline, monster is guaranteed to engage teen readers. The outcome of the book is when we find out whether they are innocent or guilty. Steve gets tried for murder in a court of law because he supposedly was involved in the burglaryshooting of mr. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean myers. For the first time, steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces prison, where he may spend all the tomorrows of his life. Steve s hangin on the stoop with osvaldo and freddy alou another tough dude. Monster by walter dean myers a fact pattern the rendell center. Nowhere in the novel does steve ask for justice yet he is constantly trying to convince himself and others that he is innocent. If you dont testify, youll just make the tie between you and king stronger in the mind of the jury. The book monster by walter dean myers is a story on the perspective of a sixteen year old steve harmon if he were to make a movie of his experiences.

What does the blanket steve cowers under symbolize to him. In the end, steve is found innocent but the reader is left to wonder if steve is guilty or not. The testimonies during the trial will also affect if steve is guilty or innocent. Obrien asks steve what he knows about osvaldo cruz, the next witness. People could debate whether steve harmon was really innocent or guilty. As kids read the book, they note particular passages that they believe indicate whether or not steve committed the crime. Guilty or not guilty graphic organizer for 4th 8th.

Well lets look at the book page 147 to 148 steve s mother says and i quote no matter what anybody says, i know youre innocent and i love you very much. If steve is found guilty of felony murder, hes looking at twentyfive years to life in prison. Kathy obrien character analysis in monster litcharts. Steve is on the brink of losing his ability to selfidentify. Is obriens coaching intended to hide steve s guilty feelings from the jury. His neighborhood was an honesttogoodness thugathon. Now if you would like to read the book i would cover your ears. Instead of giving a straight up answer, though, we get another flashback. Note his reference to walking in a drugstore and looking around 115, his reaction when he overhears the women talking about the crime 117120, his shock when he hears the report on tv 120121, and his stupor after hearing of bobos arrest 123. In walter dean myers novel monster, steve harmon is on trial for his alleged role in a robbery that ultimately led to the carryout owners death. Steve addresses his fraught relationship with his father. Even though he didnt pull the trigger, steve is still responsible for nesbitts death. She is the defense attorney and she is to prove to the jury the steve is innocent.

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 the other people on trial were using him to get a shorter sentence. 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. Monster is about a 16 year old boy named steve harmon, and how he had to go on a trial for felony murder. In the guilty column, list things that lead you to believe he may be guilty of participating in the robbery. Examine the evidence with a instructional activity based on monster by walter dean myers. However, in steve harmons case, the accountability is placed on steve and his defense fighting to prove his. Examines how steve harmon from walter dean myers book, monster, is guilty of felony murder. According to osvaldo cruzs testimony on page 99, steve was just a look out for the crime and didnt participate in the robbery or the murder. Monster the case against james king summary and analysis. Readers are invested in learning about the crime, the evidence, the testimony, and the other teens involved in order to find out if steve is innocent or guilty. Steve harmon is the narrator and protagonist of the story.

Steve harmon, the novels protagonistand, at times, its narratoris a sixteenyearold africanamerican student from harlem. Get answers to your monster questions like is steve harmon innocent or guilty. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent monster is an example of what patty campbell would call a landmark book. Monster then delves into the psychological realm as steve tries to decide if he is innocent or if he is, in fact, a monster. Moster, by walter dean myers, is a novel written in a screenplay and journal by the main character, steve harmon.

Steve is guilty of accessory to murder of agluinado nesbitt. Richard bobo is another boy who planned the robbery. What evidence does obrien use to argue that steve harmon is not guilty. In a court system based on the premise that all men are innocent until proven guilty, people are quick to assume the worst about each defendant before the trial begins. It is a story of a young man who wants to act tough and ends up in trouble for this. Obrien suggests to steve that in the eyes of the jury he really isnt innocent until proven guilty. In the book monster, steve harmon is charged with these crimes as a student in. Describe steve s nightmarefantasy sequence about death row.

Instead of innocent until proven guilty, for a young black man on trial, its more like guilty until proven innocent. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as. Steve s outcome of the trial was not guilty with which many would most likely not agree with. Whether or not steve is innocent is the big hook in this story. Steve is wrongfully arrested, and spends time in jail awaiting his verdict, which he is found innocent for after a. 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 decipher. In a journal entry, steve writes that his defense case will start the following day.

Monster by walter dean myers book report sample pdf. For the first time, steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces. He writes in his diary to pass the time, chronicling his observations and anxieties while imprisoned. What we do know is that many people think steve is guilty. Briggs, miss obrien, and petrocelli finally make their closing statements, before the jury decides on a verdict. Monster discussion questions the question of guilt or innocence. Who is steve dickson guilty in the monster essay 1039. The best quotes from monster by walter dean myers organized by theme, including book location and character with an explanation to help you understand. Once again, steve expresses his suicidal ideations. The cell also shows his involvment and how seriou his crime was. In monster, by walter dean myers, steve harmon is on trial for felony murder. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent. He does not feel he is guilty because he did not commit the crime. Steve harmon is a 16 year old boy who was charged with accomplise to murder.

Nesbit, the convenience store clerk on december 22. He thinks his attorney, kathy obrien, doesnt believe in his innocence, and his father has been aloof. When she was called to the stand petrocelli questioned her about what she had witnessed. The story of steve s arrest, imprisonment, and court case suggests that absurdity, malpractice, and general apathy are pervasive in the justice system. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as the lookout. In the novel monster, the jury finds james king guilty of felony murder, but the narrator and protagonist, steve harmon, not guilty. Monster study guide contains a biography of walter dean myers. The first reason why steve harmon is innocent because steve did not know bobo evans. Steve may have made some poor decisions in the last 16 years, but hes not a monster.

Steve is certainly not guilty of murder or of any complicity in in the killing of mr. Why do you think hed wear a suit and tie to his trial instead of his orange jumper. What did miss obrien see that caused her to look away from steve after his trial. Monster study guide packet livingston public schools. Steves outcome of the trial was not guilty with which many would most likely not agree with. And like shakespeares hamlet, the answer means life or death.

I believe that steve harmon is innocent because he didnt know bobo evans, the store wasnt clear, and there was no signal. Is steve an accomplice to murder or an innocent kid. Steve harmons experiences that sometimes guilt or innocence of a person. Monster argumentative essay the united states judicial system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. Although steves actual guilt or innocence is never explicitly revealed, his inner. He continually tries to convince himself of his innocence, and seems to have no faith that if he tells the truth he will be found innocent. And the way you spend the rest of your youth might well depend on how much the jury believes you.

Ill call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. Argumentative essay on monster 1024 words bartleby. He admits that he is not a bad person which shows that he has grown through the past weeks. His attorney, kathy obrien, believes that steve is innocent, but also believes. Analysis of walter dean myerss monster 2116 words cram. Apr 21, 1999 i give monster a rate of 5 stars because this book is such an amazing book. Guilty or not guilty graphic organizer is suitable for 4th 8th grade. Steve made a poor decision and it caused the murder of an innocent man.