in monster why the attorney refused to hurt steve

by Kathleen Kuvalis 9 min read

How does Steve feel about himself in Monster?

Why is Steve not guilty in Monster? We know Steve Harmon is innocent because there’s no proof he was in the drugstore that day, he knew better then to mess up his future and to trust people he barely knew and finally that the guys on trial were using him so they could get a shorter sentence.

Why doesn’t Steve believe he is guilty of murder?

Although O’Brien wants to defend Steve and understand who he is as a person, Steve senses that O’Brien does not truly believe he is innocent. Before Steve gives his own testimony, she coaches him on how to distance himself from King as much as possible and falsely deny that he was in the drugstore on the day Mr. Nesbitt was killed. O’Brien’s doubt about Steve’s actual innocence is …

What happens to Steve’s father after the trial?

Despite the prosecutor Petrocelli ’s aggressive prosecution and active dehumanization of Steve, through the efforts of Steve’s defense attorney Kathy O’Brien, the jury finds Steve not guilty. However, when he tries to hug O’Brien, she turns stiffly away, suggesting that she does not truly believe in his innocence and leaving Steve feeling like a monster.

Does O'Brien think that Steve is guilty?

Steve has been found not guilty. He reaches to hug his lawyer, the woman who showed the world that he is not a monster. But Kathy O’Brien refuses to return his hug. She may have convinced the jury that Steve was human, but she couldn’t convince herself. Steve didn’t think he was a monster, but now he’s not so sure.

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Is Steve innocent or guilty in Monster?

Is Steve Innocent Or Guilty In Monster? In Monster, Steve was found not guilty on all counts against him in a court of law. In this sense, he is most definitely innocent. However, some viewers might be tempted to believe that he was actually guilty because he chose to enter the store as William demanded.May 12, 2021

Did Steve Harmon commit the crime in Monster?

Although Steve's actual guilt or innocence is never explicitly revealed, his inner narrative and framing of events suggests that he did participate in the robbery in a minimal way, simply walking into the drugstore and back out of it to check for cops, and leaving before King and Bobo Evans went in to commit the actual ...

Why did the prosecutor call Steve a monster?

Sandra Petrocelli (the prosecuting attorney) Steve isn't a person to Sandra. He is what she calls him: a monster. In her words, monsters are "people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others" (2.80).

Why did O'Brien not hug Steve?

O'Brien's doubt about Steve's actual innocence is confirmed when, after they win the case and Steve is found not guilty, she stiffly refuses his attempt to hug her in gratitude and happiness, suggesting that even though she defended his innocence and genuinely did her best to understand him, she does not regard him ...

Why is Steve innocent in Monster?

During a robbery of a drug store, the owner was shot and killed, and Harmon is under suspicion. However, he is innocent because the state's witnesses can't be trusted, there was no proof he was there, and he never completed his supposed task. All of this proves that Steve Harmon is innocent.

Why does Steve lie in court?

Sometimes, the attorneys mislead by minimizing or omitting facts, but other times they outright lie. For instance, O'Brien coaches Steve to testify that he was nowhere near the store on the day of the robbery (even though Steve admits that he was) in order to minimize his association with Bobo or King.

Why does the tough guy hit Tony and not Steve?

Steve tells Tony to run, and the tough guy punches Tony. We can infer that Steve does not take responsibility for his actions. Steve lets Tony get the punishment for something that he did.

Who was Steve Harmon's lawyer?

Kathy O'BrienKathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, informs him on what will happen during the trial.

Who is James King's lawyer?

attorney Asa BriggsKing's attorney Asa Briggs knows that if King is allowed to testify in court, he will immediately incriminate himself, and thus King speaks very little throughout the story.

What does Steve say truth is?

What does Steve say the truth is? Truth is Truth, it's what you know to be right.

What three things does Steve say prisoners focus on while they are imprisoned?

The three things Steve states prisoners focus on in prison are sex, hurting people, and what they're in for.

What does Kathy O'Brien discuss with Steve about winning the case?

What does Kathy O'Brien discuss with Steve about "winning" the case? For her a "win" is not death penalty. O'Brien tells Steve she needs to make the just see him a certain way. ... She needs to make the jury feel that Steve is not guilty.

What does Steve's mother ask him to read?

Steve’s mother brings him a Bible and asks him to read Psalm 28:7 aloud. He does so, although he doesn’t feel like rejoicing or singing praises. Steve wonders if, when the guards searched the Bible, they found anything like grace, salvation or compassion.

Is Steve a monster?

Steve may have made some poor decisions in the last 16 years, but he’s not a monster. At least he doesn’t think he is. But not everyone agrees with Steve, least of all Sandra Petrocelli, the attorney who is prosecuting him for felony murder. Thankfully, Steve’s lawyer, Kathy O’Brien, is doing her best to make the jury see him as a human being.

Kathy O'Brien (the defense attorney)

In Steve's screenplay, Kathy is "the defense attorney with doubts" (2.16). She's "all business as she talks to Steve" (2.32), and sees no need to believe her clients, or even to believe in them—her job is only to prove their innocence to a jury.

Sandra Petrocelli (the prosecuting attorney)

Steve isn't a person to Sandra. He is what she calls him: a monster. In her words, monsters are "people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others" (2.80).

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