The House of the Scorpion

The novel’s themes concern ethical arguments about the potential dangers of scientific advancements, including the making of clones. Taking into consideration society’s perception of Matt, international laws, and Matt’s actual identity and experiences, what is the argument being made for cloning? Is there a nuanced argument about the existence of clones, and if so, what is it?

Matt’s existence is a testament to the age-old argument of nature versus nurture. He is constantly faced with opposing choices in his inherited traits and evil impulses as El Patrón’s clone on one hand, and the influence of those who raised him and love him on the other. Given the trajectory of Matt’s character and development, what argument is being made about this issue? Which is more powerful, nature or nurture? Or do they both equally play a part in a person’s development?

Beyond the complex ethical issues that come with advancements such as cloning, the futuristic setting of the novel examines the impact of uncontrolled scientific innovation on society. With the world’s environments and ecosystems destroyed, has there been any real benefit to such advancements to outweigh the harms? In addition, what message is the author trying to get across with the introduction of the Keepers’ seemingly socialist fundamentals and rules?