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Walter Dean Myers' novel Monster is about a sixteen-year-old African American male named Steve, a teenager who may or may not be guilty of being an accomplice to a homicide, but whose depiction by the prosecuting attorney as subhuman (as, in a word, a "monster") and whose treatment in the criminal justice system is as depraved as the crime of which Steve is accused, could foreshadow a ruined existence with more than one victim. Steve, however, is a perceptive and creative young man whose depiction of his own journey through the criminal justice system lends Myers' novel a unique perspective into a system that has swallowed thousands of such individuals. If Monster has a theme, then, it is the dehumanizing nature of that justice system, its propensity for casting too-wide a net in its zeal at punishing minority youths, and the seemingly arbitrary way in which individuals condemned to the live on the wrong side of the tracks can find themselves pulled into the labyrinth that is the criminal justice system. In structuring his novel, Myers not only establishes as his protagonist a young man with a gift for documenting his observations, but employs the "Rashomon" technique of describing the same event from myriad perspectives, with Steve's constituting the most important one. Additionally, the author's use of screenplay format to illuminate his protagonist's promising future as a writer lends this novel an added element of poignancy. 

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What is the major theme of the novel Monster?

The major theme of Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, is the dissolution of racial prejudice. In the novel, the prosecution, led by Sandra Petrocelli, attempts to associate the African American Steve Harmon with confessed criminals and convicted felons, such as Osvaldo Cruz and Salvatore Zinzi. Steve's Lawyer, Kathy O'Brien, suggests this when she asserts how most of the jurors thought Steve was guilty the second they saw him: "You're young, you're Black, and you're on trial. What else do they need to know?" (79). Steve remarks on this again when he writes in his journal, "Miss O'Brien said things were going bad for us because she was afraid that they jury wouldn't see a difference between me and all the bad guys taking the stand" (116).

O'Brien combats this prejudice by placing Steve on the stand and encouraging him to express his character, ideas, and version of events. In this moment, he dissolves the criminal identity forced upon him by his race and establishes his individual genuine identity: Steve the student filmmaker, who only wished to make a film about his neighborhood over the holidays (231). This identity challenges the jurors' preconceptions of him and ultimately convinces them to deem him innocent. The very form of the book itself reproduces this conflict between preconception and perception. The story is relayed via both prose and screenplay; the screenplay relays an unmediated, objective version of events while Steve's prose involves his biased interpretation of events. The book thereby advocates for us to forgo our prejudices and instead attempt to view people objectively, like a camera does: without preconceptions or prejudice.

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What is the theme of the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers?

The prominent theme of the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers examines how the criminal justice system dehumanizes the accused and arbitrarily sentences young minorities. Throughout the novel, Myers characterizes the prosecutor, judge, and attorneys as unattached participants who are not concerned with correctly bringing to justice those truly guilty of committing crimes. The prosecutor and attorneys simply seek personal gain from winning their cases, while the defendants are essentially helpless. The prosecutor also describes Steve Harmon as a "monster," which adversely affects Steve's perception of himself. Throughout the novel, Steve struggles with his identity and becomes sick when he realizes he looks similar to the other criminals in jail. Various inmates also elaborate on how truth is insignificant during a trial and sentencing is rather arbitrary. Steve feels hopeless throughout the novel and fears being lost in the system. Myers illuminates the impersonal reality of the criminal justice system and how it negatively affects and victimizes young minorities.

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What is an important theme in the novel Monster?

An important theme that Walter Dean Myers explores throughout the novel Monster concerns identity and perception. The protagonist, Steve Harmon, is viewed as a "monster" by the prosecutor while he is on trial for the robbery and murder of Aguinaldo Nesbitt. This label seriously damages Steve's self-esteem, and he begins to question his own identity. He also fears that he will not be able to distinguish himself from the other minorities who are on trial. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's attorney, informs him that it is her job to make him appear different in the eyes of the jury from the other defendants. While Steve is on trial, he questions his morals and struggles with his conscience. He wonders if he is fooling himself and obsesses over being called a "monster." Although Steve is found not guilty, he continues to struggle with his identity and makes films that help him discover his true self.

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