Analysis

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Walter Dean Myers was a prolific writer whose work was intended for children and young adults. He wrote well over one hundred books, many of which, including Monster, were inspired or influenced by his own tough childhood and adolescence in Harlem. Myers has said that, though he read voraciously as a child, there was always something missing from his experience of literature. In his last piece of published writing, a New York Times article that appeared a few months before his death in 2014, Myers wrote that he came to realize that he was a Black teenager in a white-dominated world, adding:

"Books did not become my enemies. They were more like friends with whom I no longer felt comfortable. I stopped reading. I stopped going to school. On my 17th birthday, I joined the Army."

It was James Baldwin’s story “Sonny’s Blues” that Myers said gave him the permission he felt he needed to start writing about his own experiences. He did not particularly love the story, but it was set in Harlem and featured Black characters and situations with which he could identify. He met Baldwin once, and both men agreed that it had been necessary for them to leave Harlem in order to write about it.

The influence of “Sonny’s Blues” can be seen in Monster, but where Baldwin’s story ends on a note of qualified optimism, or at least the possibility of redemption, Monster is a much darker narrative, with a conclusion that reinforces society’s perception of Steve as a monster, even as he is acquitted. Steve, like Sonny, is an artist. He aspires to make films, and the reader is constantly reminded of his talent in this area by his clever recasting of the inartistic brutality that surrounds him into something structured and elegant. In this, he shows more intelligence than the court officials, some of whom, like the Judge, are highly educated but who succumb to boredom rather than reimagining what is around them.

As Mr. Sawicki, Steve’s film teacher, reminds both the court and the novel’s readers, Steve likes to make optimistic, uplifting films that portray his neighborhood in a positive light. When Sandra Petrocelli argues in cross-examination that Mr. Sawicki only knows Steve as a student, suggesting that his knowledge is limited to the way Steve behaves at school, Sawicki disagrees. He knows Steve as a filmmaker; because the films Steve makes are about the place where he lives, it follows that Mr. Sawicki knows something of Steve’s background and aspirations as well.

Steve is a composite character, based partly on Myers himself when he was a boy and partly on other boys he knew. He is not an altogether angelic Dickensian figure like Oliver Twist, completely removed from the atmosphere in which he has grown up. He may even be guilty of peripheral involvement in the drugstore robbery, though this is deliberately left ambiguous. However, it is clear throughout the story that Steve is as decent and honest as anyone who grows up in his circumstances possibly could be—and much better than society has any right to expect.

It is this dichotomy between Steve and his environment that makes the title so bitterly ironic. Steve’s surroundings are monstrous. The unjust legal system in which he becomes embroiled is monstrous. The casual violence and cruelty of the detention center are monstrous. There is every reason to expect Steve to be a monster, and he comes to think of himself as one. But, in fact, his humanity and his commitment to making the world a better place make him the moral center of the book. By the time Mr. Sawicki comes to testify as a character witness, readers’ appreciation of Steve’s character means that the process which takes place in court is effectively reversed in reading the book. Readers recognize that Mr. Sawicki is a good person because he understands Steve. In turn, Steve respects him, making Steve the witness to Mr. Sawicki’s character in the eyes of readers.

Certain film directors approach their task like painters, guiding the eyes of the audience around the screen to influence their perception. Steve, for all his innocence, is a skillful director of just this sort, directing readers’ attention toward a broken system and the flawed individuals within it. However, the author himself acts as another director working at a higher narrative level. Myers often seems entirely identified with Steve’s point of view, but the author diverges sharply when it comes to Steve’s feelings of monstrousness and unworthiness, taking readers with him. While Steve’s films are optimistic, Monster ends on a frustrated note of provisional triumph. What ought to be a celebration is turned sour by Steve’s realization that he still appears a monster to many, including the lawyer who has defended him.

Paradoxically, it is by feeling like a monster in this situation that Steve demonstrates finally and definitively that he is not one. A hardened criminal like James King would not care about others’ perceptions of him. King would be delighted to be deemed not guilty—and quite indifferent to what his lawyer thought. Steve, however, is wounded by O’Brien’s failure to acknowledge him as human. This sensitivity may ossify into resentment as Steve grows older, or it may inform his artistic sensibility, perhaps in turn serving to redeem him and his world. In this sense at least, the conclusion of the book is more reminiscent of the “cup of trembling” in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” than it first appears to be.

Expert Q&A

What are three types of figurative language in Walter Dean Myers' Monster?

In Walter Dean Myers' Monster, three types of figurative language used are imagery, metaphor, and irony. Imagery paints vivid pictures for the reader, such as the description of a grim, gray corridor. Metaphor is used when Steve writes his life as a film script, symbolizing the unreal and strange turn his life has taken. Irony is used to highlight the contrast between court officials' casual banter and their serious courtroom demeanor. The title "Monster" serves as an idiom, metaphor, or hyperbole, depending on one's perspective of Steve.

What is the overall mood of the novel Monster?

The overall mood of Monster is anxious and somber. Told from Steve's perspective, the narrative evokes feelings of fear, worry, and suspense as readers share his uncertainty about his fate. The serious nature of the crime and Steve's isolation contribute to a sad and lonely atmosphere, intensifying the tension throughout the story.

What are some examples of irony in Walter Dean Myers' novel Monster?

Irony in Walter Dean Myers' novel is evident through characters and situations. Steve's lawyer, O'Brien, seems supportive, but her avoidance after his acquittal reveals her true feelings, highlighting irony. Mayor Giuliani's statement about equal protection contrasts with Steve's trial experience, showcasing systemic hypocrisy. Students are told to respect the judicial process, yet the trial's reality contradicts this. Bolden's claim of wanting to improve contrasts with his motive for a reduced sentence, further exemplifying irony.

What literary devices are used in Monster?

In Monster, Walter Dean Myers uses various literary devices to highlight themes of violence and dehumanization. Steve employs a screenplay format and flashbacks to depict ongoing violence in his neighborhood. Allusions, such as to Star Wars, convey his shock. Adages and imagery illustrate his legal struggles and isolation, while similes express his fears. Irony highlights the absurdity of his predicament as a young prisoner.

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