Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The House of the Scorpion, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Free Will vs. Predetermination
Scientific Ethics and Abuse
Language, Law, and Dehumanization
Abuse of Power and Corruption
Summary
Analysis
Matt wakes up at dawn freezing. He calls for Chacho to follow his voice out of the pit, but Chacho does not answer. Matt shouts and begs, but Chacho still does not say anything and Matt can’t locate him among the bones. Helpless, Matt cries. He knows he cannot stay by the pit because Jorge will come back for him, but he also cannot abandon his friend. He decides to stay with Chacho, telling him more stories from his childhood because that is all he can do.
Matt is faced with yet another moral dilemma, where he must choose between protecting himself and saving another. Matt chooses to stay with Chacho, even though the situation appears hopeless, showing how much Matt has developed as a moral character despite his relationship to the immoral El Patrón.
Themes
When the sun rises, Matt is able to see a bit of Chacho’s uniform. He hears a machine rumbling toward him and turns to see Ton-Ton’s shrimp harvester—Ton-Ton and Fidelito have arrived to help Matt and Chacho. Matt cries because he worries Chacho has already died. Ton-Ton uses the harvester to move the bones away from where Chacho is buried. They find Chacho still breathing, but his eyes are closed, and he is not moving.
Both Ton-Ton and Fidelito prove their loyalty as friends and their bravery in the face of injustice by coming to rescue Matt and Chacho. They prove that, like Matt, they can choose to exercise their free will to do what is right even though their circumstances are unjust and oppressive.
Themes
Ton-Ton carefully moves the rest of the bones away and uses the harvester to gently lift Chacho from the pit. He says Chacho is in shock and gives him some of the Keepers’ special electrolyte soda to drink. Chacho regains consciousness. Ton-Ton gives Matt some soda, too, and Matt feels like it is the best thing he has ever tasted. Ton-Ton announces they are going to San Luis to find his grandmother. Fidelito says it was his idea to go. Ton-Ton says they will travel to the city in the shrimp harvester.
Ton-Ton’s decision to go see his grandmother shows how friendship, as shown by Fidelito’s convincing of him to go, has reaffirmed his humanity and identity after both were stolen by the oppressive society of the Keepers. Ton-Ton has chosen to use the tools the Keepers gave him, namely the shrimp harvester, to help others, reinforcing his ability to take control of the circumstances that others have forced upon him.
Themes
The boys all climb into the shrimp harvester, which moves very slowly across the rough terrain. Ton-Ton orders them to exit the harvester when they arrive at the fence. Chacho still cannot stand, so Matt and Fidelito help him out. Matt worries about the Keepers but Fidelito tells him all the Lost Boys helped lock the Keepers in the living quarters. Ton-Ton uses the shrimp harvester to break apart the fence.
The Keepers brought about their own downfall by excessively punishing Matt and Chacho to the point where the Lost Boys were outraged enough to rebel. This shows how oppressive regimes are unsustainable and will ultimately be brought down by their own corrupt actions.
Themes
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Matt asks if Chacho is alright, and Chacho says he cannot breathe properly because the bones crushed his chest. Matt promises him they will find a doctor immediately once they get to San Luis. Ton-Ton drives the shrimp harvester through the new hole in the fence and they all climb back into the machine. The harvester moves faster now. Ton-Ton gives them more soda to drink and lots of the Keepers’ fancy food.
Matt selflessly promises to find Chacho a doctor before going to find María, showing the power of friendship on his moral character. Ton-Ton uses the Keepers’ machinery and supplies in order to help the other’s escape, further emphasizing how the Keepers’ cruelty ultimately brought on their own downfall.
Themes
Matt worries about the Keepers coming after them, but Ton-Ton says he drugged all the Keepers with their own laudanum. Flaco plans on waiting till the supply hovercraft comes to the plankton factory and then he will fly to the Keepers’ Headquarters for help. Ton-Ton does not trust the Headquarters, though. Night falls and the boys must stop because the harvester runs on solar energy.
Ton-Ton’s use of the Keepers own laudanum to overthrow them shows how a regime can be brought down by its own corruption, since the Keepers abused laudanum in the first place. However, the Keepers’ entire regime may be difficult to overthrow, as shown by Ton-Ton’s distrust of the Headquarters.
Themes
Matt worries Chacho will not survive until morning. Ton-Ton reminisces about how, after Jorge saved him from Farm Patrol, Ton-Ton let Jorge treat him like he was stupid. Matt empathizes with him by saying that he too used to trust someone who hurt him. Ton-Ton suggests Matt and Fidelito walk to San Luis now, and send a doctor back to save Chacho. Ton-Ton gives them supplies and warns them about the dangers of crossing the Colorado River.
Matt’s empathy with Ton-Ton having a connection to his abuser suggests that Matt is beginning to forgive himself for feeling connected to El Patrón. This represents an important shift in Matt’s character as he begins to accept the circumstances which are beyond his control.
Themes
