In the end, steve is found innocent but the reader is left to wonder if steve is guilty or not. Monster is a young adult drama novel by american author walter dean myers and was published by harpercollins in 1999. Steves outcome of the trial was not guilty with which many would most likely not agree with. Steve is more credible than the criminals who testified against him. Netflix debuts firstlook trailer of monster watch netflix released the trailer for the powerful film adaptation monster a complex and layered look at justice and. Steve harmon, a bright, sensitive 17yearold, stands trial for acting as a. In the same way, bobo evans has no problem destroying the life of an innocent person like steve harmon. He thinks his attorney, kathy obrien, doesnt believe in his innocence, and his father has been aloof. The first reason why steve harmon is innocent because steve did not know bobo evans. The author, walter dean myers, chose to give steve the verdict of not guilty. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as the lookout.
The lists can include personality traits, events, quotes by. 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. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples literature, won the michael l. The book is set as if steve is making a screenplay. It doesnt matter what anyone calls himwe know hes no monster.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. May 24, 2014 steve was not thinking at the time about his actions. If steve is found guilty of felony murder, hes looking at twentyfiv. Steve must grapple with the fact that his fate rests in. This changed steve s life forever, because he would not spend his life in. 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. Who is steve dickson guilty in the monster essay 1039 words. Steve harmon is the main character of the book monster. In the opening of monster by walter dean myers, sixteenyearold steve harmon is on trial for his alleged participation in a murder committed during the commission of a robbery. If steve is found guilty of felony murder, hes looking at twentyfive years to life in prison. But steve and his lawyer declare his innocence and attempt to defy the odds in a. The conversations were all short and pointless, just polite acknowledgments or talk about ball games. Sometimes i feel like i have walked into the middle of a movie. We see the entire trial through his lens almost literally, we learn about his past, and we know whats important to him.
Steve harmon, the novels protagonistand, at times, its narratoris a sixteenyearold africanamerican student from harlem. The prosecution accuses steve of acting as the look out to the crime which left a local business owner dead. If steve is found guilty of felony murder, hes looking at twentyfive years to. Get an answer for in the book monster by walter dean myers, was it clearly stated if steven is guilty or innocent, or do they not say. The lists can include personality traits, events, quotes by characters in the story, etc. He is a generally good kid who got caught up with the wrong crowd. Obrien compares steve s character to the character of the other witnesses who committed crimes. Here, obrien addresses the harsh reality of the american court system. In the book monster by walter dean myers, was it clearly stated if.
Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year. He does not feel he is guilty because he did not commit the crime. His fathers behavior obviously shows the reader that he feels steve was part of the entire crime. In the book monster, steve harmon is charged with these crimes as a student in. Steve is on the brink of losing his ability to selfidentify. It is ambiguous whether he is innocent or guilty of being involved with the crime.
The monster by walter dean myers 1554 words bartleby. Dec 11, 2016 in the novel monster, steve harmon was put on trial for murder. While steve was found not guilty he talks about why he wanted to be tough just like them. Guilty or not guilty graphic organizer is suitable for 4th 8th grade. Examine the evidence with a worksheet based on monster by walter dean myers. The book is about steve s trial and whether he will be found guilty of felony murder. The united states judicial system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. Aug 23, 2019 although steve harmon was acquitted and found not guilty of participating in the robbery and the murder of alguinaldo nesbitt, there is substantial evidence to suggest that he did agree to. It is a story of a young man who wants to act tough and ends up in trouble for this. Steve, himself, is not sure, and without a moral compass to point the way, his. 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. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder. Guilty or not guilty graphic organizer for 4th 8th. Now i know you may be thinking steve is guilty but we all know who shot mr.
A pretrial media blitz, a biased judge, and police that focused only on one suspect, sam sheppard, resulted in a wrongful conviction that would take years to overturn. Share photos and videos, send messages and get updates. There are flashbacks, graphic imagery of prison, and the realistic life that someone would most likely be going through while on trial for murder. Steve is guilty of accessory to murder of agluinado nesbitt. And like shakespeares hamlet, the answer means life or death. 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. However i am very much interested in what others thought of the book and whether they think steve harmon should be guilty or innocent. 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. 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. Netflix drops 1st trailer for monster with jennifer. This changed steves life forever, because he would not spend his life in jail. As kids read the book, they note particular passages that they believe indicate whether or not steve committed the crime. All the needtoknow deets on steve harmon from monster by walter dean myers. 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.
Steve is holding a basketball and stands within earshot of the two. Steve harmon character analysis in monster litcharts. 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. 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. Examines how steve harmon from walter dean myers book, monster, is guilty of felony murder. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent monster is an example of what patty campbell would call a landmark book. Connect with friends, family and other people you know. Why do you think hed wear a suit and tie to his trial instead of his orange jumper. He admits that he is not a bad person which shows that he has grown through the past weeks. Sawicki who teaches him, if you make your film predictable, theyll make up their minds about it long before its over 19. He writes in his diary to pass the time, chronicling his observations and anxieties while imprisoned. Evans testifies that steve was part of the robbery team, acting as a lookout man.
However, he is innocent because the states witnesses cant be trusted, there. Steve must grapple with the fact that his fate rests in the hands of strangers. He refers to the other robbery participants as acquaintances whom he hardly talked with at all. Whether or not steve is innocent is the big hook in this story. Nowhere in the novel does steve ask for justice yet he is constantly trying to convince himself and others that he is innocent. Yes he was there but he was not a part of the crime. Reflecting is a theme in this book because steve starts to reflect his actions in his notebook. Although steve harmon was acquitted and found not guilty of participating in the robbery and the murder of alguinaldo nesbitt, there is substantial evidence to suggest that he did agree to. Monster is about a 16 year old boy named steve harmon, and how he had to go on a trial for felony murder. He claims he is innocent and didnt participate in the robbery. 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 diary format to tell. From his humble beginnings as a circus clown to his career as a star of the monster hit jackass, comedian, author, and allaround lunatic, steve o has done it all and then some. 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. 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.
Essay about walter dean myers monster guilty until. So why are we accusing steve of being a part of the crime. Apr 07, 2018 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. In the innocent column, write things you have learned about steve harmon that suggest he is innocent. Jul 28, 2019 a harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that steve served as the lookout. Why is steve innocent in the book monster by walter dean. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean myers. Buy a cheap copy of monster book by walter dean myers. Had he been in the drugstore on the day of the murder. The monster quotes below are all either spoken by kathy obrien or refer to kathy obrien. 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. Monster study guide packet livingston public schools. Although steve harmon was acquitted and found not guilty of participating in the robbery and t.
Steve learned to make things unpredictable from his film teacher mr. In what was supposed to be just a robbery turned into the murdering of nesbitt, the murder with which steve was allegedly the look out for the whole thing. Although steve wants to believe that the court will see him as innocent until proven guilty, obrien explains that this statement is nothing more than an idealistic adage. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent. Examine the evidence with a instructional activity based on monster by walter dean myers. 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. In the guilty column, list things that lead you to believe he may be guilty of participating in the robbery. Steve is certainly not guilty of murder or of any complicity in in the killing of mr.
Myers book monster provides several examples of effective characters to write about. Should steve harmon, who is 16, and on trial for felony murder be released from prison. Apr 03, 2019 written in a unique format with a compelling storyline, monster is guaranteed to engage teen readers. Netflix drops 1st trailer for monster with jennifer hudson. There are two women discussing the murder at the drugstore. I believe that steve harmon is innocent because he didnt know bobo evans, the store wasnt clear, and there was no signal. Monster then delves into the psychological realm as steve tries to decide if he is innocent or if he is, in fact, a monster. In this quote, steve is in a frenzy and talking to his lawyer, mrs. In the novel monster, steve harmon was put on trial for murder. 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. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as.
People could debate whether steve harmon was really innocent or guilty. Steve harmon is a 16 year old boy who was charged with accomplise to murder. There is not a large amount of scientific evidence in the case against steve. Kathy obrien character analysis in monster litcharts. 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. Instead of rejoicing in his mothers belief in him steve feels guilty.
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