The Life of the Scorpion

Title: “The House Of The Scorpion” Date of Publication/ Publisher: September 30, 2002, Antheneum Books

Summary:

"The House of the Scorpion", written by Nancy Farmer, is a bildungsroman that speaks of a clone named Matt. He is a clone of a powerful Mexican drug lord named Matteo Alacran, however he goes by El Patron. He runs his business on the boarders between Mexico and the United States, known as Atzlan. He convinces ex criminals to work for him for they will be safe and “under he radar” however, he plants a chip into their brains making them “eeijets. Which are servants like zombies who can only manage to do only one specific tasked asked.” At the beginning of the book he is kept isolated in a home and is not allowed to leave and has had no contact with the outside world. His guardian, Celia, is one of the cooks of the Alacran Estate, which is the estate of El Patron. One day while she is gone at work three kids from the estate Tom, Emilia, and Maria come along the house. Shocked in awe of having some type of contact with someone either than Celia he quickly breaks the window, for all the windows and doors are locked, to meet them. However, as he does so he gets many shards of glass into his foot, quickly panics then faints. The kids then take him to the estate and he is given medical attention. As they are removing the glass from his foot they see “Property Of Alacran Estate” Marked on him. Once they quickly realize he is a clone they through him out on the front lawn. The next day later he is kept in a room and taken care of by a harsh nurse who treats him as though he were a dog. He has no place to go and is given food like a dog and even expected to eat like one as well. However, Maria the youngest is the only one who seems to show sympathy and slowly beings to create a friendship with him. (Age 6-7)

Later after a few months go by El Patron arrives at his estate. He takes Matt out of his current position and the nurse is punished for his treatment. Over the years El Patron seemingly takes Matt under his wing. He provides food, shelter, and advice. Matt lives in the Big House with the rest of the Alacrans for about 7 years. He explains many tactics of the drug world for example who you should trust. He even allowed him to become in touch with many hobbies such as playing classical music. However, the 143 years old, drug lord has a near death heart attack. The news gets around that Matt is needed to see him. However, Maria warns him that they have been using him for this moment, to take his heart and to transplant it into the drug lord but to ruin this plan she has been giving Matt small measurements of arsenic. When this is revealed to El patron he is furious and has a fatal heart attack. Mr. Alacran, El Patrons sons, orders one of Matt’s close body guard/friend, Tam Lin, to “dispose” of him. Now having a close relationship with Matt he lets him go and gives him supplies to help survive. (Age 14-16)

As he runs away he reaches a plankton factory that runs on propaganda which main focus is to work more efficiently. However, in reality it was a cruel system that put the young orphans to work terrible jobs. While there he makes friends with “The Lost Boys” known as Ton-Ton, Chacho, and Fidelito. Together they both help one another escape this terrible place they then go to San Luis and find Maria and her mother, Esperanza, who press charges the plankton factory. Matt then goes back to Alacran Estate to find out that all of the Alacrans had died by drinking a poisoned wine that El Patron wanted to be served at his own funeral. Matt being Matteo Alacran decides to take over the estate break down the opium and free all the eejiets and lives his life with “The Lost Boys”, Tam Lin, Maria, and Esperanza. (Age 18-20s)

Quote:

“Always chose your bodyguards from another country…They find it harder to make alliances and to betray you.” (Farmer 378)

Reaction:

In this quote Matt is taking the advice of El Patron. El patron had explained to him that he should be aware on whom to trust and to trust those from another country. However, being the devious drug lord who planned on stealing Matt’s life to sustain his you would expect him to not follow any thing he has been told by this man. Yet, even through all this he goes with this advice and creates his alliances with his new friends, “The Lost Boys”.

The Life of a Prisoner: Fish

Title: Fish: A Boy in a Man’s Prison Date of Publication/ Publisher: August 31, 2007, Da Capo Press

Summary:

The book “Fish” was written by T.J Parsell is a memoir of how despite his young age he is sent to Prison. He and his family were not finically stable, causing him to hold up and armed robbery with a fake gun at a photo mat. Before, he is sent to jail he is sent to a psychologist who speaks to him and introduces the reality of the consequences he may soon be responsible for. The psychologist begins to ask him distraught and vulgar questions about Parsell’s sexually experiences and the experiences he shall face in jail. T.J is bombarded and interrogated with sketchy questions, which quickly begins to change the mood. This is a turning point within the book where T.J begins to realize the harsh decorum of rape within jail.

As, time moves on within the book Parsell’s perspective on prison rape begins to evolve from the beginning to the book. During his questioning he had vowed and explained that he would rather die than to be raped or to follow into the business of exchanging sexual intercourse for protection. However, as time progresses this ideal of trading sex for survival was accepted. Like many others in the society of prison had figured that to stay alive and not be targeted one must have a partner or “supporter”. So, Parsell had begun to provide sexually services for men in exchange for protection. However, he had not done it for pleasure for it was viewed more as a business choice. This shows how violence and pressure had forced him to loss his morals and what he had once fought for, his dignity. Later on within the book, he begins to like the attention that he is receiving in the prison. This no longer becomes a business transaction but a lifestyle. Towards the end of the book, Parsell is separated from his companion due to the fact that they are having sexual relations for personal reasons and not for protection. In the society of prison they do not allow you to be in a relationship. There is a biased if sex is exchanged for protection it is overlooked however if you are a “queer” or “faggot” then it must come to a stop.

Quote: “Getting rid of these baby attitudes, like how many the world is and how everybody is always hurting you. A lot of you guys use that stuff ad an excuse for your behavior-like it’s OK to act any way you want” (Parsell 90%).

Reaction: This quote explains the reality of prison that things will not go the way you want it. Not only this however, it reveals how that there is no moral justice within prison also. They, allow sexual business exchanges however can not tolerate relationships. This was in a way tough love from Ms. Bain. She had spoke the truth excuse will not get you anywhere in society, for the world is a harsh place especially when life is lived in prison.