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How bad Prison System is , Rehabilitation

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#1

A young man, incarcerated for the first time, details his terror in prison. He mentions the strategic time to cry—when another inmate is attacked, so his vulnerability remains hidden. Confronted by violence, such as an inmate being assaulted during breakfast, he struggles to adjust, feeling like he's in a surreal, black and white movie. To cope, he chooses to create his own narrative by writing a screenplay titled "Monster," inspired by the prosecutor's label for him. This journal entry provides insight into his fears, loneliness, and efforts to comprehend his situation without revealing his name or specific reason for imprisonment.

#2

In his second journal entry, Steve reveals his intense hatred for prison, expressing how focusing on his movie is the only thing preserving his sanity, despite the challenge of thinking about it. He details the violent atmosphere of prison, where inmates contemplate harm and craft weapons from toothbrushes. His notes conclude with the word “HATE” repeated emphatically, underscoring his internal struggle and suggesting that the prison environment could push him towards the monstrous identity he fears.

#3

In Journal Entry #3, Steve reflects on prison’s dehumanizing practices, such as removing personal items to prevent suicide, noting that forcing inmates to live might be part of their punishment. In the courtroom, Steve feels detached, but reality sinks in once he’s back in his cell. His lawyer warns him of the prosecutor’s strategy using Bolden’s testimony. Steve perceives the prosecutor’s intent as portraying all defendants, including him, as menacing. He recalls a positive memory of Jerry, contrasting the criminal image. After sharing his screenplay, an inmate plans to tattoo “monster” on his forehead upon release, making Steve feel he already bears that label. Steve recalls a preacher’s visit, which was interrupted by Lynch, a fellow inmate. The interruption makes Steve question his self-perception of goodness amid the corrupt environment. He ends with a dream of being voiceless in court and describes his physical discomfort in jail. This entry delves into Steve’s eroding self-image, feeling of powerlessness, and the punishment of simply existing among fellow inmates.

#4

In Journal Entry #4, Steve confronts his fear that his lawyer, Kathy O’Brien, doesn’t truly understand or care about him. An emotional episode with a fellow inmate, Acie, makes Steve confront the grim reality of possibly facing a life sentence. He ruminates about his family, especially his mother, and the man he’s accused of killing, Mr. Nesbitt. Despite asserting his inherent goodness, there’s a palpable undertone of self-doubt. He’s struck by the mundane lives of others as he hears about them. A tense encounter with James King, once an intimidating figure, ends in Steve realizing that the daily terrors of detention have overshadowed any fear he once had for King. Lastly, witnessing school kids in the courtroom makes him reflect on his own drastic life shift. This entry captures Steve’s evolving emotions, his grappling with identity and the harrowing changes he’s undergone since his incarceration.

#5

In Journal Entry #5, Steve is deeply affected by witnessing his father’s emotional breakdown, something he’s never seen before. Instead of empathy, Steve defensively questions his actions, lamenting, “What did I do?” He’s consumed by the fear that his father, much like his attorney, sees him as indistinguishable from the other criminals on trial. This entry reveals a more self-centered facet of Steve and subtly hints at his presence in the drugstore during the crime, while also emphasizing his father’s disheartened reaction, suggesting his belief in Steve’s involvement.

#6

Page 83

In Journal Entry #6, Steve reflects on Prosecutor Petrocelli’s strategic move to showcase the crime scene photos before the weekend break, ensuring the images linger in the jury’s minds. He grapples with his own memories and emotions surrounding the crime, especially when pondering Mr. Nesbitt’s last moments. A particularly intense moment of reflection nearly overcomes him with nausea while cleaning the detention center. Recollecting his lawyer’s aim to distinguish him from the likes of Bobo, Osvaldo, and King, Steve acknowledges his prior desire to emulate their toughness. This entry delves deep into Steve’s internal conflict, with subtle hints about his possible involvement in the crime, leading readers to question his guilt or innocence.

#7

In Journal Entry #7, O’Brien cautions Steve about what he notes in his journal, given its potential use by the prosecutor. Steve’s conversation with O’Brien leads him to believe she thinks he’s guilty, especially when he openly professes his innocence. Learning of Sunset’s conviction intensifies Steve’s fears about the time he might serve. He maintains he merely entered the drugstore and left without wrongdoing, drawing a parallel to Ernie, a man caught in a jewelry store but insisting he’s innocent. Steve hints Ernie might be deceiving himself. Steve’s mother visits him, bringing a Bible and marking a passage for hope. Her conviction in his innocence deeply moves Steve, but internally he grapples with doubts about himself. This entry is laden with ironies, notably Steve’s reflections on Ernie’s self-deception and the implications of race in his trial.

#8

In Journal Entry #8, Steve describes a surreal Sunday in the detention center. Despite receiving extra food at breakfast due to fewer inmates attending, he remains guarded, refraining from returning a worker’s smile. Even a church service isn’t free from conflict, with a fight erupting and the guards’ indifference to it underscoring the normalized violence. External realities like a baseball game on TV seem alien to him. When his family visits, the emotional weight is palpable, with his mother’s demeanor suggesting she’s grieving him as if he were already gone. Steve’s coping mechanism is to retreat into the screenplay he’s writing, longing for a reality different from his bleak surroundings, especially as he anticipates key prosecution witnesses testifying soon. This entry highlights Steve’s detachment from normalcy and his yearning for escape.

#9

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https://www.yonkerspublicschools.org/cms/lib/NY01814060/Centricity/Domain/1643/Monster%20by%20Myers%20Walter%20Dean%20Complete%20Novel.pdf

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Brief Chapter Wise Summary                                                          

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Brief Chapter Wise Summary                                                          

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1. Introduction:
• Steve is in jail awaiting his trial for being an accomplice in a murder.
• Introduces the crime: a robbery gone wrong resulting in a man’s death.
2. Trial Begins:
• The trial starts, introducing the main players: the prosecution, the defense, and the witnesses.
• Steve starts to feel dehumanized, like he’s just a “monster” to everyone.
3. Flashbacks & Testimonies:
• As the trial goes on, there are flashbacks to Steve’s life before the crime.
• Witnesses provide different perspectives on the crime.
4. Steve’s Role:
• The prosecution alleges that Steve acted as the lookout during the robbery.
• Steve’s lawyer argues for his innocence.
5. Inner Turmoil:
• Through diary entries, Steve grapples with his own identity and the idea that others see him as a monster.
6. More Testimonies:
• Various people give their testimonies, complicating the narrative. The truth becomes blurrier.
7. The Verdict:
• The jury finds Steve not guilty, but he struggles with the aftermath of the trial and the trauma of jail.
• The book closes with Steve’s introspection on identity, the justice system, and society’s perceptions.

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https://appaudiobooks.com/monster-audiobook/

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1. Language & Prose:
• “Monster”: The language in “Monster” is contemporary and relatively straightforward, reflecting the voice of a young protagonist. The dialogue and narrative are more aligned with modern everyday language, making it potentially easier for today’s students to understand.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: Harper Lee’s novel, while written in clear prose, uses a language indicative of the 1930s American South. Some phrases, words, or idioms might be unfamiliar to today’s readers, potentially posing a slight challenge.
2. Structure & Format:
• “Monster”: The book employs a unique structure, blending a screenplay format with first-person diary entries. This fragmented style might be novel to some readers, but it breaks down events into digestible pieces.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: The novel follows a more traditional narrative structure, recounting the events through the eyes of Scout Finch as she grows up. It’s linear and chronological, which can be more familiar and thus easier for some readers to follow.
3. Themes & Content:
• “Monster”: The story delves deep into the criminal justice system, racial bias, and personal identity. The themes are heavy but are presented in a way that resonates with a younger audience, as the protagonist himself is a teenager.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: The novel tackles racism, moral growth, and the loss of innocence. While Scout is young, the narrative sometimes delves into complex societal issues and requires readers to understand the historical and cultural context of the American South during the Depression era.
4. Length & Depth:
• “Monster”: It’s a relatively shorter novel, and while it dives deep into Steve’s psyche and the courtroom drama, its length might make it more accessible for quicker classroom studies.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: This is a longer novel with a rich tapestry of characters, events, and subplots. The depth and breadth of the narrative require a more extended commitment to fully understand and appreciate.

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“My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite

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1. “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers:
• Format and Structure: The combination of screenplay and diary entries presents the story in a fragmented manner, making it easier for readers to digest in smaller sections.
• Relatability: Given that it’s written for a young adult audience, the themes and characters are crafted in a way that’s intended to be relatable to younger readers.
• Language: The language used in “Monster” is contemporary and straightforward. There isn’t a lot of dated or complex vocabulary that might be found in older classics or more literary works.
• Length: It’s a relatively short novel, so it doesn’t require as long a commitment as some of the longer works on your list.
2. “My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite:
• Narrative Style: The book is written in short, concise chapters that quickly move the plot forward. This pacing can be engaging for readers and keeps the story from feeling dense.
• Contemporary Themes: The book touches on modern issues like social media, beauty standards, and family dynamics in a way that might be more familiar and relatable to contemporary readers.
• Language: Just like “Monster”, the language in “My Sister, the Serial Killer” is contemporary. Braithwaite’s prose is clear and to the point, making it accessible.
• Cultural Insight: While the book offers insights into Nigerian culture, it does so in a way that’s accessible to those unfamiliar with it. This can make for both an engaging and educational read.