Changes in Mr. Harmon’s Ambitions for His Older Son ("Monster" by Walter Dean Myers)

In the book, “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon was a 16 year old boy on trial for murder. He was visited by his father Mr. Harmon. During his visit, Mr. Harmon told Steve that he had many ambitions for Steve though these goals had changed while Steve was put on trial for murder. Eventually, Steve was found innocent and Mr. Harmon wanted very different things for his son. In other words, he had certain ambitions or things he wanted for Steve that changed over time.

  Firstly, Mr. Harmon had certain plans for his son before he went to court. From the first time Mr. Harmon held Steve, he had already imagined Steve’s future. Mr. Harmon wanted Steve to follow in his footsteps because when he visited Steve, Mr. Harmon said, “I used to think of you going to Morehouse and doing the same things I did.” (Monster, pages 111, 112) Morehouse is the college Mr. Harmon went to. He never made the football team, but he dreamt Steve would. Parents always want their children to have a better life than they did, as Mr. Harmon wanted for Steve. It’s doubted that Mr. Harmon actually expected this from Steve, it wouldn’t have been realistic. At that time, he didn’t know what Steve liked and wanted for himself. All he had for the base of his dream for his son must have been what he had dreamed of when he was younger. Mr. Harmon just expected Steve to be a happy, nice child like any other parent would want for their child. No one would have imagined Steve in jail and definitely not his father. Mr. Harmon even imagined lecturing Steve for staying out late. These ambitions changed when Steve went on trial for murder.

  Secondly, while Steve was on trial, Mt. Harmon’s ambitions for Steve changed a lot. All he wanted was for Steve to be found innocent and for him not to go to jail.   He just wanted Steve at home. When Mr. Harmon visited Steve, he said, “I even thought about getting mad at you for staying out too late.” (Monster, page 112) That was the only kind of trouble...