Title
Monster
Author
Walter Dean Myers
Date Published
1999
Meaning of the Title
It refers on a surface level to the name the prosecutor uses to label
the two young men on trial. On a deeper level, its the label Steve applies
to himself.
Genre
Juvenile Fiction
Setting
Harlem, New York City, present day
Protagonist
Steve Harmon, who is on trial for felony murder
Antagonist
The antagonists include the justice system of our country, the neighborhood
which impacts young men like Steve, the people Steve associates with in
the neighborhood, and Steve himself.
Mood
The mood is mostly one of despair and hopelessness as we watch inmates
work their way through the justice system of this country, a system that
is often one-sided and unfair. There is not even any triumph when Steve,
the main character, is acquitted, because he comes out of it with his
life so changed that he doesnt even know himself.
Point of View
It is written totally from the point of view of Steve Harmon.
Tense
This story is written mostly in the past tense, but stage directions
and the action in the courtroom is in the present tense.
Rising Action
The rising action begins with Steve in jail and beginning his screenplay
in the midst of the horrors of hardened criminals, rapists, and violence.
It continues to the climax, which is the verdict of not guilty.
Exposition
Steve Harmon is arrested for felony murder after he is named as the
lookout in a robbery/murder. He tells the reader through his journal entries
and his screenplay of the trial how he feels at each step of the process.
We see flashbacks of events that show us his connection to the perpetrators
and events in his life that emphasize his regret for decisions he has
made. In the end, he is found not guilty, but he will spend the rest of
his life wondering exactly who he is.
Climax
The climax of the story occurs when Steve is found not guilty.
Outcome
Steve doesnt actually go to jail, but he creates a new prison for
himself when he realizes there is a gap that is widening between himself
and his Dad, and then he spends all his time filming himself to try to
find the look that was on his face when his attorney looked at him for
the last time. Then, he thinks, maybe hell know who he really is.
Major Themes
Introspection; Peer Pressure; Young Black Men in Harlem; Racism and
the Justice System
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Cite this page:
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on Monster".
TheBestNotes.com.
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