Destiny: Determined By Actions, Not Genetics

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Matteo Alacrán (otherwise known as Matt), is a clone of the wealthy and powerful drug lord El Patrón who rules the land of Opium. Opium is a vast country that lies from the southern border of the United States of America to the edge of Aztlán. Even though Matt is blessed with high intelligence and musical abilities, he is treated by most people he meets as being worse than even a ragged flea-bitten dog. The motivation for this is that unlike Matt, all clones are supposed to be mindless. A clone’s use is only to be harvested for organs. This treatment affects Matt as he grows older; he struggles between deciding whether he is truly human or beast. Yet despite this internal conflict, Matt shows he is capable of emotions and human desire, therefore proving he is human.

In chapter two and three of the book, Matt vehemently demonstrates his longing to make friends and his curiosity in namely one major event. When Steven and Emilia plan on leaving Maria behind because she refuses to leave, Matt shatters the window so he can save María. Steven and Emilia rush back. Matt hastily introduces himself: “My name is Matt. I live here. Do you want to play?” (Farmer 18), but does not get the reaction he wanted. Matt then decides, impulsively, to jump out of the window so he can get to know them better. However, he steps on the broken glass and is seriously injured. This leads to the revelation of Matt as a clone later at the Alacrán estate.

Matt also displays his ability to love and care for others. Early on in the book he calls Celia “Mamá” and is immediately rebuked for doing so. Celia’s reason being that: “…you were only loaned to me, mi vida” (Farmer 12). Nevertheless, Matt continues to love Celia like she was his mother. Another person ...

... middle of paper ...

...t comes to believe in himself and the words of Tam Lin.

Matt is an ever-changing character that begins contempating his existence and humanity at an early age. Throughout his trials and tests, Matt begins developing the attitude to face hardship. By the time Matt has returned from Aztlán, he has reached manhood and accepted that even though he and El Patrón may share the same genes, it is up to him to decide his destiny. As Winston Churchill once said “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” ("Winston Churchill Quotes.") An individual’s destiny is determined by their actions, not their genetic makeup.

Works Cited

Farmer, Nancy. The House of the Scorpion. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004.

"Winston Churchill Quotes." Famous Quotes and Quotations at BrainyQuote. Web. 14 Jul. 2010. .

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