Justin “Mr. Alacrán” Alacrán Character Analysis in The House of the Scorpion

Mr. Alacrán is the great grandson of El Patrón, the son of El Viejo, the husband of Felicia, and the father of Benito and Steven. He uses language to dehumanize Matt for being a clone and is openly cruel to him when El Patrón is not present. His treatment of Matt exemplifies the discrimination and dehumanization of clones by society in the novel.

Justin “Mr. Alacrán” Alacrán Character Timeline in The House of the Scorpion

The timeline below shows where the character Justin “Mr. Alacrán” Alacrán 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

...writing branded on his foot which reads “Property of the Alacrán Estate.” Suddenly, Steven’s father, Mr. Alacrán , appears and begins yelling at everyone to get the animal out of the house.... (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. Alacrán for abandoning Matt out on... (full context)

...suffocated as the doctor removes the rest of the glass. When the doctor is done, Mr. Alacrán suggests they take Matt back to Celia’s house. The doctor says they can’t now that... (full context)

Abuse of Power and Corruption Theme Icon

The doctor introduces Matt to Mr. Alacrán , who was the man who threw Matt onto the lawn the first night he... (full context)

...day, he enters one of the other closets. In the next room, the doctor and Mr. Alacrán are imploring Mr. Alacrán’s father to use chemotherapy or get a liver transplant. Mr. Alacrán’s... (full context)

Free Will vs. Predetermination Theme Icon

El Patrón sees Matt and María struggling, and asks if María is Matt’s girlfriend. Mr. Alacrán finds the suggestion disgusting, but El Patrón says it’s fine because Matt is his clone.... (full context)

...María eat their dinner miserably. Matt notices that Felicia keeps looking at MacGregor. El Viejo, Mr. Alacrán ’s father, makes a mess of his dinner. El Patrón marvels to Matt about how... (full context)

El Patrón, Tam Lin, and Mr. Alacrán arrive at the funeral. Mr. Alacrán is the only person there who appears truly sad.... (full context)

At the priest’s invitation, Mr. Alacrán says a few words for El Viejo, his departed father. Then everyone lines up to... (full context)

Tam Lin and Mr. Alacrán enter the room. Matt thinks about the time he first entered the Big House and... (full context)

...is betraying him. Tam Lin hits him and then says that he now works for Mr. Alacrán as a mercenary. He tells Matt that Celia has been turned into an eejit. Matt... (full context)

...much he has changed since he left. Matt mentions Tam Lin and asks her why Mr. Alacrán or Steven have not tried to end the lockdown. Celia takes him to the kitchen,... (full context)

...of the family raises a glass, but Tam Lin warned Daft Donald not to drink. Mr. Alacrán gave a toast to greed, and everyone but Donald drank. Immediately after, they all fell... (full context)