Body Manipulation

The House of the Scorpion is similar to other novels we have read because people like El Patron, manipulate their bodies to suit their needs.  We’ve seen this in Neuromancer where Molly has blades under her fingernails, enhanced reflexes, and implanted lenses.  Case also gets a new nervous system along with modifications to his liver and pancreas.  He does this so he will be able to jack back into cyberspace.  In Lilith’s Brood, Lilith’s genetics are manipulated as well, like having a better memory and being able to go in and out of rooms so she can work with the Oankali.  In Blindsight, Siri has his brains cut out to stop the seizures he has and his girlfriend offers to remove his bad memories that make him unhappy.

We see El Patron manipulate his body in a similar way in The House of the Scorpion.  Because he is over 100 years old, his body is dying and he has to replace parts of his body like his liver.  He does this by creating clones where he uses their organs to stay alive.  We learn that throughout his lifetime he has had eight clones.  He justifies this by saying that because all his brother and sisters died, he deserves to live.

I think this theme continues to appear in the novels we have read because it focuses on how we classify people as “human.”  There is little physical difference between the people who manipulate their bodies and those who don’t.  Their methods are also questioned: is it ethical to create clones for the sole purpose of using their organs?  For The House of the Scorpion, El Patron and his decision to use clones is portrayed negatively.  I think this is suppose to make us think very critically about our advancing technology and how we go about using it and that just because we can do something, doesn’t necessarily make it right.

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