The House of the Scorpion

by

Nancy Farmer

Tom is the illegitimate son of Mr. MacGregor and Felicia. He has red hair and blue eyes like his father. He is cruel and vicious, attempting to kill animals and tormenting Matt and María as children. However, he also acts polite and friendly when it suits him. El Patrón hates him but keeps him in the family because the old man never lets anyone leave him. El Patrón has arranged a marriage between Tom and María, and María hopes she can change Tom’s evil ways. Thus, Tom is a rival to Matt both for María’s affection and for the approval of the family. Tom’s characterization shows how even a morally bankrupt human can hold a higher standing in society than a clone like Matt.

Tom Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

The The House of the Scorpion quotes below are all either spoken by Tom or refer to Tom. 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 5 Quotes

Celia said the Virgin loved all kind and gentle things. She wouldn’t approve of throwing a rotten orange in Tom’s face, even if he deserved it. If She looked inside Matt, She would see the bad thoughts about Rosa and the doctor and be sad.

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Celia, Tom, Rosa, Willum / The Doctor
Related Symbols: El Virgin
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“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 11 Quotes

The senator didn’t know that María had kissed Matt on several occasions, just as she kissed Furball and anything else that pleased her. Matt knew this was different, though. He was humiliating her. If it had been Tom asking for the kiss, no one would have cared. People would have thought it cute for a boy to flirt with his novia.

Matt wasn’t a boy. He was a beast.

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, María Mendoza, Tom, Senator Mendoza
Page Number: 110
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:
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The House of the Scorpion PDF

Tom Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

The The House of the Scorpion quotes below are all either spoken by Tom or refer to Tom. 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 5 Quotes

Celia said the Virgin loved all kind and gentle things. She wouldn’t approve of throwing a rotten orange in Tom’s face, even if he deserved it. If She looked inside Matt, She would see the bad thoughts about Rosa and the doctor and be sad.

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Celia, Tom, Rosa, Willum / The Doctor
Related Symbols: El Virgin
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“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 11 Quotes

The senator didn’t know that María had kissed Matt on several occasions, just as she kissed Furball and anything else that pleased her. Matt knew this was different, though. He was humiliating her. If it had been Tom asking for the kiss, no one would have cared. People would have thought it cute for a boy to flirt with his novia.

Matt wasn’t a boy. He was a beast.

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, María Mendoza, Tom, Senator Mendoza
Page Number: 110
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: