M. Dhandapani1* & S. Boopathi2
1PhD Research Scholar, Department of English, Periyar University. *Corrresponding author.
2Assistant Professor, Department of English, Periyar University.
Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.21g
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Abstract
Nancy Farmer’s novel The House of the Scorpion deals with complex ethical dilemmas stemming from scientific advancements, particularly in cloning. The story unfolds in a dystopian society where clones are treated as subhuman entities. They are raised solely for the purpose of being harvested for their organs. This societal structure starkly contrasts the ethical and moral dilemmas associated with cloning. The paper highlights the stark contrast between the protected bodies of the ruling class and the exploited bodies of the clones and eejits, exposing the evils of totalitarianism and the misuse of technology. This analysis employs the ethical concepts organized in the book, The Ethics of Human Cloning, to explore the ethical dimensions surrounding human cloning. The study is targeted at stressing the necessity for implementing stringent ethical guidelines.
Keywords: Autonomy, biotechnology, ethics, The House of the Scorpion, human cloning.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding: No funding was received for this research. Article History: Received: 29 February 2024. Revised: 17 June 2024. Accepted: 18 June 2024. First published: 20 June 2024. Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s. License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India Citation: Dhandapani, M. & Boopathi, S. (2024). Unravelling the Ethical Enigma of Human Cloning in Nancy Farmer’s The House of the Scorpion. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.21g |