The Scorpion Symbol in The Familiar: El Alacrán’s Meaning and Role
What the Scorpion Literally Is
In Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar, the scorpion appears as a physical creature—a shiny black arachnid with a curved tail—and as a heraldic emblem called El Alacrán (Spanish for “the scorpion”). The emblem is used as a personal seal by Guillén Santángel, who stamps his correspondence with the image of a scorpion. The animal itself is a real, venomous species: Luzia identifies it as “the deadlier variety” rather than the nearly harmless yellow scorpion (Chapter 25). The scorpion is also the name given to Santángel’s hidden chamber beneath Víctor de Paredes’s house, where he recovers after being shot with arrows (Chapter 49).
Where the Scorpion Reappears
The scorpion recurs at several key moments:
| Occurrence | Chapter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emblem on Santángel’s seal | 25 (referred to earlier in the story) | Luzia recognizes the symbol from reading his letters. |
| Nickname used by servants | 14 | Águeda calls Santángel “El Alacrán” and warns Luzia never to look him in the eye. |
| Taunt by Garavito | 13 | The trapper stabs Santángel and jeers, “Don Víctor’s scorpion doesn’t have much of a sting!” |
| Scorpion hidden in Luzia’s hairbrush | 25 | An assassination attempt; Santángel captures the creature and explains its meaning. |
| Santángel releases the scorpion | 28 | He takes it to a rocky crag and sets it free, saying, “You are not where you belong.” |
| The “scorpion’s den” beneath Víctor’s house | 49 | Santángel’s recovery chamber; the space is named after his emblem. |
How the Symbol’s Meaning Changes
The scorpion’s significance shifts across the novel, reflecting Santángel’s evolving relationship with Luzia and his own identity.
1. A Mark of Shame
The emblem was not Santángel’s choice. Isidro de Paredes, an earlier head of the family, gave him the name El Alacrán as “a little joke … a warning to others of my true nature” (Chapter 25). Originally it was meant to demean Santángel, branding him as venomous and dangerous so that others would fear him and keep their distance. This fits the historical use of imprese (personal symbols) to convey a reputation.
2. A Tool of Control
Servants and rivals spread superstition about “El Alacrán” to reinforce Santángel’s terrifying aura. Águeda claims he steals souls and made a bargain with the devil (Chapter 14). The nickname helps Víctor de Paredes maintain control: a feared servant is a controllable one. Santángel admits he cultivates fear because “their fear makes my life easier” (Chapter 25). The scorpion thus becomes a weapon of psychological intimidation.
3. A Promise of Protection
When a real scorpion nearly stings Luzia, Santángel catches it gently and speaks to it softly in an unknown language (“Nen chu mem senuwak”). He then places it in a jar rather than killing it. This moment reverses the expected danger: the scorpion is not a threat from Santángel but a trap set by a rival. His ability to handle the creature without being stung proves that he and the scorpion “understand each other.” Later, he sets the scorpion free, showing mercy even to a venomous being. The symbol now represents Santángel’s capacity for loyalty and protection—he chooses when to use his sting.
4. A Shared Identity Between Luzia and Santángel
After the scorpion attack, Santángel says, “Now we know each other.” Luzia reaffirms her identity as “the woman who ate the pomegranate,” and Santángel acknowledges that fewer lies will pass between them. The scorpion becomes a bridge: it nearly kills Luzia, but in surviving it, she gains insight into Santángel’s nature. By the end, when Luzia revives Santángel each morning (Chapter 55), she effectively takes on the scorpion’s role—choosing when to offer death or rebirth. The emblem stops being solely Santángel’s and becomes part of their shared story.
Connections to Characters and Themes
- Santángel: The scorpion is his truest outward symbol. Like the animal, he lives a long life, chooses his battles, and carries poison that can kill or be controlled. His moral arc moves from using fear as a shield to offering trust to Luzia.
- Luzia: Her confrontation with the scorpion forces her to face her own hidden power. She realizes the emblem on Santángel’s seal was a warning she had ignored. The incident teaches her to read danger more carefully—she later uses deception to escape prison (Chapter 48).
- Víctor de Paredes: The De Paredes family imposed the scorpion name to humiliate Santángel, but Víctor also benefits from Santángel’s lethal reputation. The “scorpion’s den” beneath his house literalizes his ownership of Santángel.
- Theme of Hidden Identity and Heritage: The scorpion hides in plain sight, just as Luzia conceals her literacy and Jewish ancestry. Santángel’s emblem masks his true vulnerability—he is a familiar, bound to serve.
- Theme of The Cost of Power and Magic: The scorpion’s venom represents the price of magical gifts. Santángel’s curse allows him to heal from wounds, but it also traps him in endless servitude. Luzia’s milagritos attract deadly attention.
- Theme of Freedom and Servitude: Santángel is a caged scorpion under Víctor. His act of freeing the live scorpion prefigures his own eventual liberation through Luzia’s illusion.
Study Questions with Answers
1. Why does Santángel choose not to kill the scorpion that almost stung Luzia?
Santángel spares the scorpion because he identifies with it—both are creatures who do not belong where they are placed. He later releases the scorpion onto a rocky crag, saying “You are not where you belong.” This parallels his own desire to escape the De Paredes household and his fate as a familiar. By showing mercy to the animal, he demonstrates that he can control his own deadly nature, choosing when to strike and when to show restraint.
2. How does Luzia’s understanding of the scorpion symbol change between Chapter 14 and Chapter 25?
In Chapter 14, Luzia hears servants call Santángel “El Alacrán” and dismisses it as superstition, associating the scorpion with devilry and soul-stealing. By Chapter 25, after a real scorpion is planted in her room, she sees the emblem on Santángel’s seal and immediately suspects he set the trap. When Santángel captures the scorpion without being stung and explains that the emblem was imposed on him as an insult, Luzia realizes the symbol is not purely evil—it represents a survival mechanism and a weapon Santángel has learned to manage.
3. What role does the scorpion’s den play in Santángel’s recovery, and what does it reveal about his relationship with Víctor?
The scorpion’s den beneath Víctor’s house is where Santángel retreats to heal after being shot (Chapter 49). In that space, Santángel rages at his helplessness and contemplates ending his own life by “severing his luck.” The den is literally underground, reinforcing Santángel’s status as a kept creature—hidden away when wounded, useful only when fit to serve. It underscores that Víctor views Santángel as a resource, not a person, and that Santángel’s physical invulnerability comes at the price of total captivity.
4. In what way does the scorpion symbolize both death and rebirth in the novel’s conclusion?
Throughout the story, the scorpion is linked to poison and death—the attempt on Luzia’s life, Santángel’s violence, Garavito’s taunt about the “sting.” But in the final chapter (55), Luzia resurrects Santángel each morning after he burns to ash at dawn. This cycle echoes the scorpion’s ability to survive extreme conditions. Santángel lives “long lives” and chooses his moments. Luzia, by becoming the agent of his daily rebirth, takes on the scorpion’s protective aspect: she decides when death gives way to life. The symbol thus transforms from a mark of shame into a badge of endurance and mutual trust.