Emilia Mendoza Character Analysis in The House of the Scorpion

Emilia is the eldest daughter of Senator Mendoza and Esperanza and the older sister of María. She is the childhood friend and later wife of Steven. Unlike her younger sister, she is not horrified by the dehumanization of eejits and clones, and sides with the Alacrán family in all matters.

Emilia Mendoza Character Timeline in The House of the Scorpion

The timeline below shows where the character Emilia Mendoza appears in The House of the Scorpion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Language, Law, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

...tries to open the front door. Matt is suddenly afraid. The children, a boy and a girl , look inside the window and see Matt. (full context)

Abuse of Power and Corruption Theme Icon

...boy recognizes the photograph in the house as Celia, his family’s cook. The boy and the girl debate whether or not to tell the boy’s family that their servant has a child... (full context)

...womanizer, and Steven, who is 13 and kinder than his brother. Steven spends time with Emilia, a family friend. Matt realizes Steven and Emilia are the children he saw earlier. Celia... (full context)

...Virgin of Guadalupe. She goes to bed, while Matt practices how he’ll invite Steven and Emilia to play with him when they come again tomorrow. (full context)

The next morning, Celia leaves for work and Matt waits for the children. Steven and Emilia arrive with Emilia’s little sister, María. María excitedly asks Matt if he wants to play.... (full context)

Free Will vs. Predetermination Theme Icon

Steven and Emilia begin to walk away, leaving María behind. Matt fears for María being left out alone... (full context)

Matt wakes up to Steven and Emilia carrying him through the poppy fields, with María running behind them. Matt screams because he... (full context)

...the starry night sky. He prays for Celia to come get him. He realizes Steven, Emilia, and María are watching him. Steven explains to Emilia that Matt, whom he addresses now... (full context)

María asks what a clone is, and Emilia answers, “a bad animal.” Mr. Alacrán and the doctor come outside. The doctor scolds Mr.... (full context)

...does so when María and Celia persuade him to do so. The servants, Steven, and Emilia all turn away from him when they see him. Matt also doesn’t like to see... (full context)

Without visits from María, Matt’s days pass by with uninterrupted boredom. María and her sister, Emilia, now live and go to school in a convent. Matt wonders if María misses him... (full context)

...El Viejo’s body looks like an emaciated bird. Celia cries. Matt sees Benito, Steven, and Emilia. MacGregor arrives, looking much younger than when Matt saw him before. Matt wishes he could... (full context)

...empire El Patrón has built. But he cannot go without seeing María at Steven and Emilia’s upcoming wedding. (full context)

In preparation for Steven and Emilia’s wedding, the mansion is filled with flowers, ice sculptures, and new decor. Matt knows he... (full context)

...at the estate. Matt thinks that though Steven ignores him, at least neither he nor Emilia has ever mistreated him. Matt hides and watches the rest of the wedding guests arrive.... (full context)

Emilia arrives surrounded by eejit flower girls. None of the guests notice María leaving the room... (full context)

María has to leave before Emilia notices she is missing. She will not be able to see Matt tomorrow during the... (full context)

...also recognizes that Benito is hopelessly stupid, and Tom is still evil. Matt watches as Emilia and Steven say their vows. Suddenly, one of bodyguards begins shouting about El Patrón. Matt... (full context)

Emilia comes to the hovercraft to say goodbye to María. She brings Steven and a pair... (full context)

...motion sickness. Matt remembers the last time he was in a hovercraft, with Steven and Emilia. He wonders how they are doing now, as Steven will be crown prince of Opium... (full context)