The House of the Scorpion

by

Nancy Farmer

Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán Character Analysis

El Patrón is the patriarch of the Alacrán family and the leader of the country of Opium. At the beginning of the novel, he is over 140 years old, and has created a clone, Matt, with the intention of extending his own life by harvesting Matt’s organs for himself. He is a corrupt and cruel leader, who expects everyone in his empire, from the enslaved immigrants known as eejits to his own family members, to serve him. Everyone who lives on his estate, including Matt’s caretakers Celia and Tam Lin, fear him and therefore avoid speaking badly of him. He is affectionate and generous toward his clone, Matt, out of vanity, because he vicariously enjoys watching his genetic copy enjoy all the privileges he never had during his poor childhood in Mexico. His possessiveness and cruelty present an immoral example for Matt to struggle against as Matt matures and must choose between good and evil. El Patrón is in weak health for much of the novel, due to his advanced age, and eventually dies of a heart attack after Matt is unable to provide a donor heart. After he dies, however, he poisons his entire family so Opium cannot continue after his death, showing how far he will stretch his power in order to maintain his possessions even in death.

Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

The The House of the Scorpion quotes below are all either spoken by Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán or refer to Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Free Will vs. Predetermination Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

“Don’t fix that one,” said Lisa, hastily catching his arm. “It’s a Matteo Alacrán. They’re always left intact.”

Have I done you a favor? thought Eduardo as he watched the baby turn its head toward the bustling nurses in their starched, white uniforms. Will you thank me for it later?

Related Characters: Lisa (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Eduardo
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“You can speak now, mi vida,” said Celia, but Matt wasn’t ready to go that far.

Mi vida. I like that,” the old man said with a chuckle. “I like it so much, in fact, it’s what I’ll call him. Can he talk?”

“I think he’s in shock. […] He’s very intelligent, mi patron.

“Of course. He’s my clone.”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker), Celia (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán
Page Number: 57
Explanation and Analysis:

“Matt is to be treated with respect, just as though I were here in his place. He is to be educated, well fed, and entertained. He is not to be mistreated.” El Patrón looked directly at Tom, who flushed red. “Anyone—anyone—who harms Matt will be dealt with severely. Do I make myself clear?”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Tom
Page Number: 62-63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

“I’ll tell you this: El Patrón has his good side and his bad side. […] When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other. He grew large and green until he shadowed over the whole forest, but most of his branches are twisted.”

Related Characters: Tam Lin (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

“El Patrón thinks a person belongs to him the same way a house or car or status does,” she said. “He wouldn’t let that person go any more than he’d throw away money. It’s why he wouldn’t allow Felicia to escape. It’s why he keeps everyone under his control so he can call them back in an instant.”

Related Characters: Celia (speaker), Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Tom
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

It couldn’t be! Matt pressed his hands against his temples to keep the idea inside. If he didn’t think it, it wouldn’t be real.

But it slipped through his fingers anyway. MacGregor had created a clone so he could have transplants when he needed them. The thing in the hospital had every reason to howl! And what was the source of El Patrón’s fetal implants?

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Mr. MacGregor, MacGregor’s Clone
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

“There were eight of us,” the old man cried. “We should all have grown up, but I was the only survivor. I am meant to have those lives! I am meant to have justice!”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker)
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis:
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Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

The The House of the Scorpion quotes below are all either spoken by Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán or refer to Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Free Will vs. Predetermination Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

“Don’t fix that one,” said Lisa, hastily catching his arm. “It’s a Matteo Alacrán. They’re always left intact.”

Have I done you a favor? thought Eduardo as he watched the baby turn its head toward the bustling nurses in their starched, white uniforms. Will you thank me for it later?

Related Characters: Lisa (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Eduardo
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“You can speak now, mi vida,” said Celia, but Matt wasn’t ready to go that far.

Mi vida. I like that,” the old man said with a chuckle. “I like it so much, in fact, it’s what I’ll call him. Can he talk?”

“I think he’s in shock. […] He’s very intelligent, mi patron.

“Of course. He’s my clone.”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker), Celia (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán
Page Number: 57
Explanation and Analysis:

“Matt is to be treated with respect, just as though I were here in his place. He is to be educated, well fed, and entertained. He is not to be mistreated.” El Patrón looked directly at Tom, who flushed red. “Anyone—anyone—who harms Matt will be dealt with severely. Do I make myself clear?”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Tom
Page Number: 62-63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

“I’ll tell you this: El Patrón has his good side and his bad side. […] When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other. He grew large and green until he shadowed over the whole forest, but most of his branches are twisted.”

Related Characters: Tam Lin (speaker), Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

“El Patrón thinks a person belongs to him the same way a house or car or status does,” she said. “He wouldn’t let that person go any more than he’d throw away money. It’s why he wouldn’t allow Felicia to escape. It’s why he keeps everyone under his control so he can call them back in an instant.”

Related Characters: Celia (speaker), Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Tom
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

It couldn’t be! Matt pressed his hands against his temples to keep the idea inside. If he didn’t think it, it wouldn’t be real.

But it slipped through his fingers anyway. MacGregor had created a clone so he could have transplants when he needed them. The thing in the hospital had every reason to howl! And what was the source of El Patrón’s fetal implants?

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán, Mr. MacGregor, MacGregor’s Clone
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

“There were eight of us,” the old man cried. “We should all have grown up, but I was the only survivor. I am meant to have those lives! I am meant to have justice!”

Related Characters: Matteo “El Patrón” Alacrán (speaker)
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis: