"One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do," crooned Harry Nilsson, and in Monster Steve feels the weight of those lyrics' meaning over and over again. Steve is alone all the time—as he sits in his jail cell, as he watches kids and jurors turn away from him, as he tries (in vain) to befriend his lawyer, and as he waves to his brother from a prison window… to name a few instances. It's hard to be alone, and it's scary, too. Then again, maybe it's better to be alone than hanging with thugs like James and Bobo. Steve learns this the hard way, and Myers tells his story so (hopefully) you won't have to.
Questions About Isolation
- Who is more alone, Steve or James King? Why?
- Is it more important to have friends or to have self-respect?
- How has Steve's isolation changed from the beginning to the end of the novel? At which point do you think he feels most isolated?
- Can someone be surrounded by friends and family and still feel isolated? How does that happen?
Chew on This
Despite the verdict of not guilty, Steve feels isolated at the end of the trial because he no longer understands himself.
Steve's isolation is a direct result of trying to fit in with the neighborhood gangsters.