Themes In The House Of The Scorpion

458 Words1 Page

A great man once said, “Cloning will enable mankind to reach eternal life”, but is this really true? Enter the novel The House of The Scorpion, an exemplary title written by Nancy Farmer that explores a future based on cloning and futuristic technology. The protagonist of the novel, Matteo Alacrán, is the clone of El Petrón, the most powerful drug lord in the world. Throughout the book, Matt faces love, hatred, and injustice that can keep any reader on their heels. The House of The Scorpion follows Matteo through his life, from being “created”, until adulthood. Matteo Alacrán is the clone of the powerful El Petrón, a drug-lord that formed the country Opium. Matt goes through the story facing tremendous oppression, with the only people loving …show more content…

Knowing this, Celia poisons Matteo with cyanide over time to make sure he is unusable for any transplant for El Petrón. Consequently, El Petrón dies, and Matteo is told to run to Aztlán, where he can meet Maria once again. Matteo crosses the border, and is placed with orphans in an inhumane factory in San Luis, Aztlán. With his companions, Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton, Matt escapes the factory and finds the Convent of Santa Clara, where he is soon to be reunited with Maria. Upon entering the convent, he finds Maria as well as her mother. It is only at this point where Matt is informed that once El Petrón died, he was no longer a clone, instead was now a real human being. As a result, Matt would reclaim Opium with the help of the United States and Aztlán to uncorrupt Opium. Though many of his friends as well as enemies were dead upon arrival from drinking poisonous champagne, Matteo is successful in his mission and reclaimed his country. The House of The Scorpion is an excellent novel written by its brilliant author, Nancy Farmer. The book engages its audience on an emotional roller coaster that leaves the reader begging for more. From the complex scientific aspect of cloning in the novel to the drug trade in this futuristic world, readers of this novel are sure to have a sense of satisfaction from The House of The

Show More
Related

  • House Of Leaves Sparknotes

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Novel House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski uses two characters of his own creation to construct the book in its entirety. The first contributor, Zampano, who is the author, who may or may not be trustworthy of the interpretation of The Navidson Record, because he is blind. Early on in his efforts to finish the book he dies under suspicious circumstances. At this point, Danielewski employees another to contribute, Johnny Truant, who composes the introduction and notes for the book. Zampano documents the Navidson Record which is about Will Navidson and his family. Navidson calls his brother Tom and a family friend, Billy Reston, to investigate a hallway that appears out of nowhere between two rooms. Once a labyrinth appears in the house,

    Read More

  • Who is Matteo Alacran?

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    A certain personality trait that defines Matt is his outlasting resilience. He has been thrown into many rough situations since the age of six. Including extremely unfeasible ones, yet he manages to come out on the other side somewhat unharmed every time. His first encounter with isolation gave us a glimpse of his ability to overcome the cruel treatment of Rosa. Kept in practical solitude within sawdust for six months could have done more to Matt than just render him mute. (49) At one point he understands that his tormentors would harm him further if he presented any form of vulnerability.(46) Besides the mentioned he also had to operate while pumped up with arsenic unbeknownst to him. Even though Celia slowly fed him the poison, it benefited him in the end by rendering his heart unstable for transplant. (208) One of the most obvious actions of resilience was the entirety of being in the orphanage, specifically the plankton factory. There he was insulted, outcast, and even physically punished by a whipping via cane. (255)(264) Being the new overlord of Opium has resilience in the job description. Matteo Alacrán is required to have it inherently in him to dismant...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Killing By Andre Dubus

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is one of the major reasons that his death is seemingly unimportant. Additionally, the sequence of events contributes to the neglect of Frank’s character. Seemingly focusing on the actions that take place after Frank’s death. The first scene opens at Frank’s burial, from which readers are transported directly to Matt and his disgust for Richard. The lack of foreground information on either Frank or his death focuses the story on Matt and how he and his wife cope with their loss. Furthermore, the retelling of Frank’s death is very brief and abrupt, implying Matt is more focused on Richard and Mary Ann rather than on his son’s death. The narrator even devotes a whole paragraph, nearly half a page, to Matt describing and admiring Mary Ann, while only dedicating four sentences to describe Frank’s death. Additionally, the fact that Richard acts as the subject in the sentence, “Richard Strout shot Frank in front of the boys,” further suggests that Matt’s emphasis is placed on Strout rather than Frank (Dubus 1180). Without stopping to contemplate why Richard kills Frank, Matt is immediately concerned with the hatred and disgust both he and his wife feel toward Strout, These feelings are evident in his planned and much desired murder. There is a similar pattern of events surrounding Lieutenant

    Read More

  • How Does Cassia Create Suspense In Ally Condie's Matched?

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    Upon his departure though, she and the rest of the town discover that he's not being sent to a good job, but instead to fight a war against rebels in the Outer Provinces, a death sentence. The townsfolk are given a special red pill to forget what they just learned, but Cassia only pretends to take hers, instead smashing it in the dirt. She wants to remember Ky, even if it hurts, and she's determined to find him.

    Read More

  • Analysis: Fuku Or Carless Planning

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    The secret police pick him up and treated him rather nicely. Once they arrive at Fortaleza San Luis thing change dramatically. Yunior insinuates that he will be tortured for the next nine years. They take all his belongings and punch him in the face for asking questions. He is then thrown into a cell as the policeman tells the other prisoner Abelard is a homosexual and communist. The other prisoners take all his cloths and leave him naked and restricted to a small area near the feces covered toilet. This is a further insult to him as a man in Dominican culture.

    Read More

  • House of the Spirits, Major Motifs

    1508 Words  | 4 Pages

    him. He tries to go back to raping peasants, but he can’t lift them up

    Read More

  • Never Let Me Go Vs Frankenstein

    220 Words  | 1 Pages

    At first sight, there may not seem to be any similarities between the contemporary novel Never Let Me Go and the time-worn classic Frankenstein; but while Mary Shelly chooses to highlight the consequences of impetuous action in a harrowing tale about a hideous monster, Kazuo Ishiguro exemplifies the same principles in a heart wrenching tale about human clones. As a result of advancing societies, there is a common drive to create the “next best thing” whether it be monsters or clones; but the issue with this does not lie in the fact that scientists are pushing harder; but, that often there is little to no forethought regarding the consequences of creating a living thing, especially if it is created to be as human-like as possible. And, to worsen

    Read More

  • The Princess And The Goblin Literary Analysis

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Princess and the Goblin, the author uses many literary devices to bring his writing to life and to illustrate specific moments in the story.

    Read More

  • El Patrón's Opium: A Tale of Control and Power

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Matt and María, who have by this time realized they love each other, attempt to flee in the ensuing chaos but are betrayed by Steven and Emilia. María is taken back to the convent where she studies, and Matt is taken to the Big House's hospital, where El Patrón at last confirms that Matt was created only for the purpose of organ donation to keep El Patrón alive. At that moment, Celia reveals that she has been giving Matt carefully measured doses of [[arsenic]], which, though not large enough to kill Matt, would certainly be fatal to one as frail as El Patrón; El Patrón becomes so enraged that he has another heart attack that is fatal at last. Mr. Alacrán orders Tam Lin to dispose of Matt; Tam Lin pretends to comply, and ties him to a horse and rides away apparently to dispose of him. But instead, he gives Matt supplies and sets him on a path to Aztlán.

    Read More

  • House Of The Scorpion Thesis

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    The book “The House of the Scorpion” was written by Nancy Farmer which was a very good book that all middle schoolers and up should read.

    Read More

  • Creating Life by Cloning is Immoral

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    The idea of creating life has intrigued people since the beginning of time. Mary Shelly in her novel Frankenstein brought this idea to life. In this novel, Victor Frankenstein created life by using advanced science and spare body parts. The idea of creating life is a current controversy. Technology now allows for the cloning of sheep. Certainly, the ability to clone humans cannot be far away. It is necessary to place restrictions on cloning research and to ban humans cloning because human cloning is immoral. Furthermore, the expectations placed on a cloned creature by society would be unbearable for the creature, and would lead to its psychological demise.

    Read More

  • Escape

    498 Words  | 1 Pages

    It is Matt's responsibility to protect and safely get her out of Dorado.Plot Summary1. The spy leader breaks out of a maximum-security prison.2. After you escape you hide in a barn and meet Milma the resistance leader, her bodyguard Matt and a computer specialist named Haven.3. You are waiting at the small runway for your escape plane and there is no plane in sight.4. You decide to go back to town because it was too risky of being caught.

    Read More

  • Matt And El Patron's Character In The House Of The Scorpion

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, Matt and El Patron's experiences and backgrounds differ dramatically. El Patron is an unloved orphan, who, through careful manipulations and deceit, became one of the most powerful men alive. Everybody at the Alacrán estate treats Matt like he is less than human, a disgusting animal. María treats him kindly most of the time, but as if he were

    Read More

  • The Effects of Human Cloning on Medicine

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    Seidel, Jr., George E. "Cloning." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. source 19

    Read More

  • Cloning is the New Trend of the Century

    404 Words  | 1 Pages

    Cloning creates several controversial issues in society. A major issue associated with cloning is the exponential increase in population each year. By 2024, the projected population of eleven billion, triples the world population today. Scientists already estimate that in 2024 production output by humans must triple in order to provide for eleven billion people and this figure does not include the faction of cloned individuals (Bohart 1). Cloning will increase the population immensely, but this is not the only issue cloning creates in society.

    Read More

More about Themes In The House Of The Scorpion

Open Document