The House of the Scorpions is a novel with constantly changing settings. By piecing together bits and parts however, we are able to tell that the novel is set in the future. Farmer does not just settle there; she takes this futuristic setting even further and elaborates on things that she predicts will exist years from now.
One of the main focuses are clones. This is a topic that garners many different opinions. Are clones humans? Do they have feelings? What else can they do for us besides give us organs? In the world that Farmer has created in her novel, approximately a century from now, clones do exist and are accepted. Keep in mind, they are tolerated only because they are able to provide new organs. Otherwise, they are scorned upon and given no respect. Farmer explores what happens when one clone, Matt, who is an intelligent young boy with curiosities and different perspective that cause him to get into many interesting situations. What would happen if in a few decades when clones exist, one clone rebels and differs from the rest?
Farmer also predicts that Nigeria is going to be very successful. “Benito, Steven’s older brother, had married the daughter of the Nigerian president because Nigeria was one of the richest countries in the world.” Farmer (204). Whether or not she has a logical reason for this, there is no way to know. Currently, Nigeria has a very inefficient economy and is only at 116 on the world rank. To say that Nigeria will be one of the richest countries is arguably, an overstatement. Of course, this is in the future and anything is possible.
Another idea is illegal immigration. This is an issue that currently exists and seems to continue the future. One character that directly experienced this is Celia. However, in The House of the Scorpion, Farmer has found a method to control illegal immigrants; the Farm Patrol. Just like in the present, illegal immigrants, or Illegals as they are called in the novel, risk their lives and spend money to try and cross the border from Mexico to America, and vice versa. It seems like illegal immigration is an issue that will not be resolved anytime soon and continue to rage on for many decades. I have further expanded on this in my third blog post.
Besides those three topics, Farmer also briefly delves into the topic of higher technology, such as more advanced weapons (107) and hovercrafts (218). All of the ideas that Farmer has explored in her novel are very realistic and could potentially exist in our future. Not only that, but there was just enough expansion on each topic to give readers a sufficient understanding. Farmer has done a great job of blending them all together into one unique novel that keeps readers interested.
Sources:
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/nigeria
One of the main focuses are clones. This is a topic that garners many different opinions. Are clones humans? Do they have feelings? What else can they do for us besides give us organs? In the world that Farmer has created in her novel, approximately a century from now, clones do exist and are accepted. Keep in mind, they are tolerated only because they are able to provide new organs. Otherwise, they are scorned upon and given no respect. Farmer explores what happens when one clone, Matt, who is an intelligent young boy with curiosities and different perspective that cause him to get into many interesting situations. What would happen if in a few decades when clones exist, one clone rebels and differs from the rest?
Farmer also predicts that Nigeria is going to be very successful. “Benito, Steven’s older brother, had married the daughter of the Nigerian president because Nigeria was one of the richest countries in the world.” Farmer (204). Whether or not she has a logical reason for this, there is no way to know. Currently, Nigeria has a very inefficient economy and is only at 116 on the world rank. To say that Nigeria will be one of the richest countries is arguably, an overstatement. Of course, this is in the future and anything is possible.
Another idea is illegal immigration. This is an issue that currently exists and seems to continue the future. One character that directly experienced this is Celia. However, in The House of the Scorpion, Farmer has found a method to control illegal immigrants; the Farm Patrol. Just like in the present, illegal immigrants, or Illegals as they are called in the novel, risk their lives and spend money to try and cross the border from Mexico to America, and vice versa. It seems like illegal immigration is an issue that will not be resolved anytime soon and continue to rage on for many decades. I have further expanded on this in my third blog post.
Besides those three topics, Farmer also briefly delves into the topic of higher technology, such as more advanced weapons (107) and hovercrafts (218). All of the ideas that Farmer has explored in her novel are very realistic and could potentially exist in our future. Not only that, but there was just enough expansion on each topic to give readers a sufficient understanding. Farmer has done a great job of blending them all together into one unique novel that keeps readers interested.
Sources:
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/nigeria
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