#1: Relationship Between Matt and Rosa/Dr. Willum

“Hold it down,” the doctor ordered Rosa. “Please, master. It’s a filthy clone, “ the woman objected. “Get moving if you know what’s good for you,” the fierce man growled. (Farmer 27).

From age 0 to 6, Matt has experienced every possible treatment. From Celia; the devoted caregiver, to the brutal disrespect from the young boy Tom. However, the most confusingly atrocious behaviours were given from servant Rosa and Doctor Willum. 

As Steven trudged the blood smothered Matt into the arms of Rosa, her first reaction was to find the boy immediate medical assistant. Without knowing this boy, she had the decency to nurture him and treat him just like any other injured child. Nonetheless, when Rosa was taken back by the shocking news told to her by Dr. Willum, her attitude towards the boy automatically altered. Matt being a clone imposed many unusual behaviours placed upon him from numerous different people. Specifically, Rosa.

Rosa vents all her anger at Matt from her personal life. She believes that Matt is none other than an animal who deserves to live like an animal; thus, the reason for her decision to take away Matt’s basic necessities. However, as much as Rosa hates, disrespects and threatens Matt, she still has a sense of obligation to take care of him; almost a fear. Of what however? That is the question. 

Matt’s reaction to all this brutal treatment is the state of confusion as he does not know why Rosa treats him with such cruelty. Still, he knows that there is something different about him. He’s a clone, something that people obviously don’t want to associate themselves with. However, why? Again, that is a question yet to be answered. 

As Rosa has the responsibility of taking care of the ‘filthy animal’, it seems that she is also isolated and neglected by the other servants within the house. Therefore allowing the readers to make an inference that it’s not only Rosa and Dr. Willum who are disgusted by him, but also the rest of the population that all show an extreme hatred towards clones.

In addition, Rosa not being acknowledged provokes her to treat Matt with even more insolence. In a way, Rosa seems to be a static character who is introduced to represent the behaviour that the majority of the people would use to treat Matt with. Thus, we can assume that Rosa is just an irrelevant character who is a symbol of the future actions towards the boy, Matt.