Monster, a novel by Walter Dean Myers told in the perspective of black youth Steve Harmon in the form of a screenplay, tells of Harmon’s predisposed mien of being a monster during his trial for murder, despite the conviction that he is to be viewed as innocent until proven guilty. The novel defines being monstrous as a demographic; being a young black male from Harlem, something Steve Harmon cannot control. Throughout the text, it is unclear to the reader what Harmons true involvement is in the crime in question, a robbery gone awry that results in the death of store owner, Mr. Nesbitt. However, it is important to understand that Steve Harmons innocence lies in the notion that his involvement goes no further than trying to fit in with his peers, not because he had malice intentions. In this text, Myers shows that gender roles in Harlem in New York City in the 1990’s influence Harmon to want to fit in with his peers.
Myers differentiates Steve’s character from the rest of his peers, to show he has a better character. He establishes a good relationship with his family, and uses his father to establish how important it is for Steve to be a man. When Steve’s father comes to visit him in prison, he states,
When you were first born, I would lie up in the bed thinking about scenes of your life. You playing football. You going off to college. I used to think of you going to Morehouse and doing the same things I did when I was there. I never made the football team, but I though- I dreamed you would. I even thought about getting mad at you for staying out too late- there you were lying on the bed in those disposable diapers- I wanted the real diapers but you mother insisted on the kind you didn’t have to wash, just throw away. I never though of seeing you- you know- seeing you in a place like this. It just never came to me that you’d ever be in any kind of trouble.. (112.)
The following lines are significant because it paints a picture for the reader of a loving father who wants better things for his son and establishes Steve Harmon as having a good family life who was not raised to be a criminal. It also establishes the importance of masculinity, as his father highlights his desire for him to join a football team. Myers highlights this when Mr. Harmon begins to cry for his song, in Steve’s journal, “I’ve never seen my father cry before. He wasn’t crying like I thought a man would cry.” (115.) Gender roles are adopted from early childhood, and behaviors are often learned from parents. Steve’s learned gender roles growing up shape his adolecent behavior, as it causes him to want to fit in with his peers.
Unlike many of his peers, he goes to a good school, Stuyvesant High School. His peers look down upon doing well in school and going to a specialized high school, as it associated with being “uncool” or even “nerdy.” This can be shown when Steve is hanging out with Osvaldo Cruz and Freddy Alou. Freddy turns to Steve and asks, “What school do you go to ?” (80.) Before getting a chance to answer, Osvaldo cuts in saying, “He goes to that faggot school downtown. All they learn there is how to be a faggot.” (80.) Going to a specialized high school, Steve deviates from the average male in 1990’s Harlem, showing he has a better head on his shoulder than his peers. This can be shown when James King, Steve Harmon, Peaches, and Johnny, are sitting on the steps of a front stoop on 141st Street. The four are conversing about how they “need to get paid” (50.), brainstorming ideas on how to do so. The idea of robbery is hinted at by king, as he states, “If I had a crew, I could get paid. All you need is a crew with some heart and a nose for the cash.” (50.) King is insinuating that if he had a ‘crew,’ or a group of loyal followers, together they could rob an establishment. Peaches then suggests robbing a bank, stating, “Banks is where the money is” (51.) to which Johnny interjects,
Naw. Bank money is too serious. The man comes down hard for bank money. You need to find a getover where nobody don’t care- you know what I mean.
You cop from somebody with a green card or an illegal and they don’t even report it. (51.)
These lines are significant because this initial conversation was when the first thoughts behind the crime arose. It is notable that James King first mentioned the motive, money, and that Peaches and Johnny suggested places that would be suitable to rob. Also notable, is Johnny thinking about the consequences of robbing a bank is too dire, and suggesting something less risky and more likely to get away with. When prompted by King on his thoughts, Steve has no input on the subject. King states, “What you got, youngblood?” (51.), to which Steve replies, “I don’t know.” (51.) Although present during the conversation, Steve is there not to plan or suggest a robbery, but because he does not want to feel like an outcast. He wants to feel like he is apart of the group, to fulfill his need to be one of the guys. Osvaldo brings this to light when he states,
You ain’t got the heart to be nothing but a lame. Everybody knows that. You might be hanging out with some people, but when the deal goes down, you wont be around. (82.)
Steve knows that what they are talking about doing is wrong, which explains his lack of input on the topic. Myers uses dialogue, specifically Steve’s lack of, to show the reader that Steve is not a bad seed, but merely is trying to fit in with his peers who have ‘street mentality.’
Myers use of relationships between Steve and the males in his life, his father and his male peers, show how gender roles shape an adolescent’s behavior in 1990’s Harlem.It is important to understand that Steve Harmons innocence lies in the notion that his involvement goes no further than trying to fit in with his peers, not because he had malice intentions.