House Of The Scorpion Analysis

“But underneath Matt felt a hollowness” (Farmer 84). Throughout the book, The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer, the main character, Matt, longs for acceptance and craves something that is not there. Matt does not feel accepted at the Alacrán estate because of his identity, but later accepts who is as a individual. Matt later escapes the Alacrán estate due to dangerous conditions, and later on, the Plankton Factory/Boneyard as well. Matt is insecure, therefore, creating many conflicts within himself and others as well. These insecurities are the result of Matt not feeling accepted in society, and Matt not accepting himself as well. Each decision that a person makes shows their character, and impacts the circumstances later in life. Both

man conflict with his teacher. In the beginning of the book when Matt receives a teacher, he finally gets fed up with her enough that he, “grabbed Teacher’s carefully arranged apples and hurled them every which way” (Farmer 73). This conflict changes Matt 's character and gives him hope as Matt says, “And then the children would like him and they wouldn 't run away” (74). This implies that Matt feels the need to be accepted by others. This man vs. man conflict has changed Matt by causing him to speak, and to be proud of himself. This also signifies a character change, for Matt is standing up for himself, and proud of what he has done. This, nonetheless, gives Matt hope which is scarce in his life. This also shows that Matt values others opinions,therefore, showing a need for acceptance This is shown when Matt says that Celia would be so proud of him. Overall, while Matt is having a man vs. man conflict, he craves acceptance, for Matt believes that it would resolve his internal

Matt does not feel accepted into society because of his background, therefore, creating a man vs. society conflict. Matt is doubting himself, and giving into society at the beginning of chapter nine saying, “It didn 't matter that Matt had excellent grades and good manners. They were both animals and thus unimportant” (85). At the end of chapter nine, Matt 's outlook on his situation changes when the narrator says, “He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and than everyone would love him and forget that he was a clone” (91). Since this is the first time that Matt is recognizing himself as a animal rather than a clone, this signals a character shift. Matt also wants to learn to feel accepted not only by society, but as a individual as well. Towards the end of the chapter, Matt tries to resolve his conflict with the estate by creating goals and exceeding in his education which is also Matt trying to find his identity, but feel accepted as well. Summarizing, as Matt is doubting himself, he is setting goals and is trying feel accepted at the estate as a person rather than a