The General In His Labyrinth Analysis

In his dense and powerful historical novel, Gabriel Garcia Marquez portrays a different side of Bolivar’s image, the side most of us share, the human side. The book brings light to the flesh-and-bone man, deeply flawed, vulnerable, slightly obsessed and weak Bolivar, as well as to the great politician, philosopher, strategist and revolutionary historical figure - the general. Both, combining through the prism of Columbian author’s talent and precision to details, create a remarkable portrait of General Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolivar. Marquez introduces readers to the leader’s last years of life, those fourteen days of Bolivar’s last journey which he spends recalling the powerful memories, scenes of his past glory and gets lost in the labyrinth of his dreams of unification. The General in His Labyrinth, ironically, begins as the Simon

The trigger was a French invasion of Spain. Napoleon Bonaparte, overthrew the Bourbon dynasty Spanish king, sending him to exile, and appointed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as a new king of Spain. People of the colonies refused to accept the usurper, yet were separated in the strategy they had to pursue. Some continued to be loyal to the Spanish royal family, however, others chose autonomy and self-governance. Provoked by actions of Napoleon, Spaniards used the French Enlightenment ideas against French men, creating the constitution of Cardiz in 1812. The absence of a Spanish ruler prompted a formation of juntas-which held provincial sovereignties, which later put them under the Supreme Junta of Seville. Bonaparte did not expect the consequences that his actions brought to Indies and Bolivar, who determined to continue the independence fight. The newly organized juntas could either stay loyal to the king of Spain, accept a new French king or recognize the constitution and step on the road of