Matteo Alacrán (otherwise known as Matt), is a clone of the rich and powerful drug lord El Patrón who rules the country of opium. Opium is a vast country stretching from the southern border of the United States of America to the border of Aztlán. Although Matt is blessed with great intelligence and musical abilities, he is treated by most people he meets as worse than a ragged, flea-bitten dog. The motivation for this is that unlike Matt, all clones are supposed to be stupid. Using a clone is only intended to be harvested for organs. This treatment affects Matt as he grows; he has difficulty deciding whether he is truly human or beast. Yet, despite this internal conflict, Matt shows that he is capable of human emotions and desire, thus proving that he is human. In chapters two and three of the book, Matt vehemently demonstrates his desire to make friends and his curiosity about a major event. When Steven and Emilia consider leaving Maria behind because she refuses to leave, Matt breaks the window so he can save María. Steven and Emilia rush back. Matt hastily introduces himself: “My name is Matt. I live here. Do you want to play? (Farmer 18), but does not get the reaction he wanted. Matt then decides, impulsively, to jump out the window to get to know them better. However, he steps on the broken window and is seriously injured. This leads to Matt's revelation as a clone later at the Alacrán estate. Matt also displays his ability to love and care for others. At the beginning of the book, he calls Celia "Mamá" and is immediately chastised for it. Celia’s reason is as follows: “…you were only lent to me, mi vida” (Farmer 12). Nevertheless, Matt continues to love Celia as if she were his mother. Another person... middle of paper ......t comes to believe in herself and Tam Lin's words. Matt is an ever-evolving character who begins to contemplate his existence and humanity at a young age. Throughout his trials and tests, Matt begins to develop the attitude necessary to face difficulties. By the time Matt returns from Aztlán, he has reached adulthood and accepted that even though he and El Patrón share the same genes, it is up to him to decide his destiny. As Winston Churchill said: “History will be kind to me because I intend to write it.” » (“Winston Churchill Quotes.”) An individual's destiny is determined by their actions and not by their genetic makeup. Works Cited Farmer, Nancy. The House of Scorpio. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004. “Winston Churchill Quotes.” Famous quotes and quotations on BrainyQuote. Internet. Jul 14.. 2010. .