Steve Harmon's Guilt In Walter Dean Meyers Monster

Walter Dean Meyers’ Monster is a realistic fiction novel following Steve Harmon, a sixteen year-old student on trial for felony murder, navigate his way through one of the most challenging, nerve-wrecking experiences of his life. The novel focuses on time spent at Steve’s trials as well as moments in jail, while it also takes the reader back to moments of his childhood. Written in the point of view of Steve himself, the book is written as a journal and not only focuses on the events which are taking place in Steve’s life, but the role it is playing on him emotionally. As one studies the book, there is one question that sticks in the reader’s mind: Is Steve Harmon truly innocent? As the book continues, actions of Steve and those of others strongly suggest that Steve has done something wrong. To start off, several of Steve’s lines catch himself in a lie about his innocence. In Steve’s journal entry, he states, “I thought about writing about what happened in the drugstore, but I’d rather not have it in my mind” (Meyers 128). Steve not wanting to think about the drugstore crime suggests there is a level of guilt he is feeling. “I don’t know exactly when the robbery happened, but I know I wasn’t in the drugstore that day” (Meyers 229). While giving his testimony, Steve makes it very clear to the jury he was not in the drugstore on the day of the crime. His indecisiveness of his involvement in the crime proves Steve has committed the crime. “‘I’m not guilty,’ I said to her. ‘You should have said, ‘I didn’t do it,’ she said” (Meyers 138). Miss O’Brien, Steve’s defense attorney, seems to feel there
There is more evidence suggesting of Steve’s misconduct then of his innocence. Testimonies of other convicted criminals, Steve’s own thoughts and words, and his lawyer show strongly suggesting signs of Steve’s wrongdoing. Though he might not have been convicted, Steve Harmon is truly guilty of felony