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Theme Paper Imagine that you’re guilty of a crime just because you’re a young black teen living in Harlem New York. How would you feel? Well Steven Harman is, and he is on trial for murder. Monster is the books name written by Walter dean Myers. It’s called Monster because of what the prosecutor, Miss Petrecelli referred to Steve as. A theme found through out this book is prejudice and it is shown through his background, the jail, and the clothes. First things first, the way the jury reviews Stevens case, they review his case by looking at his background.
Stevens’s background is that he lives in the ghetto of Harlem New York, and hangs out with the wrong people such as the other man on trial, James King. As soon as the judge and the jury reviewed Stevens’s case they immediately said “oh it’s just another black teen on trial he’s guilty”. So thinking that he is guilty the judge sent him to jail for the time being of the case. This brings me to my next point. Secondly, my point is the jails. The jail is a big form a prejudice because of the visiting ages and jail admission ages.
The admission age is all ages but the visiting ages are 18 and older. “They didn’t allow kids into the visiting area, which was funny. It was funny because if I wasn’t locked up I wouldn’t be allowed in the visiting area” (Myers, 156). When Stevens little brother came to see him he wasn’t allowed in. So if Steve was out of jail and let’s says his father was in jail for a crime Steve wouldn’t be allowed to see his own father because he was under 18. Third and lastly the jail clothing. The clothing is very prejudice.
For example a traffic cop is directing traffic at night and is wearing an orange jumpsuit so that they would be noticed and not get hit, and you see him wearing that guarantied one of your thoughts would be that, that person is in jail. Well what if everyone wore orange jumpsuits would you think that they are all in jail too? If someone is on trial for murder, such as Steve and James king, and the witness comes in to testify wearing an orange jumpsuit prison outfit and is associated with the people on trial, wouldn’t that give you a slight hint that the people on trial are associated with riminals and possibly are criminals. “Brigs: why is he dressed up in a prison uniform? The prosecution is going to try and connect Mr. Evens with my client Mr. King. With Mr. Evens in prison gear that is prejudices my client. “(Myers, 172) So after reviewing my reasons, prejudice is found though out the book Monster in Stevens’s background, the jail, and the clothing. Just because someone that is colored and is on trial for murder doesn’t mean they are guilty. It means they are innocent until proven guilty.