The General in His Labyrinth

The banquets and celebrations that greet the General whenever he arrives in a new city, town, or village are a recurrent motif in the novel. The local people may have lost their love for the General, but they still recognize him as a figure of national importance. As such, the local dignitaries insist on throwing a lavish celebration in his honor wherever he goes. The General, however, is in no mood to celebrate. Not only is he approaching the nadir of his political importance, thus reducing his desire to celebrate his former achievements, but he also is physically unable to join most of the parties: The General is dying, and each banquet is an unexpectedly difficult ordeal. While the celebrations are intended as a sign of respect, they have the inverse effect of forcing the General to sacrifice his health in the interest of being polite; Reluctant to disappoint his public, the General accepts all the invitations. He attends every banquet, party, and dance, determined to show the people that he is still the vital, heroic figure who brought their country together. Even though it pains and exhausts him, he cannot tolerate the idea that people view him as anything other than a strong leader. His public image is more important than his health, he believes, so he exhausts himself each night in an effort to maintain the mythology around himself that he has cultivated for so long. Rather than celebrations, the banquets take on a funeral tone. Each forced celebration is a wake for a version of the General that no longer matches reality. As he attends, he drives himself further into the grave, forcing himself to play the role of a man he can no longer be.

Chapter 3 of The General in His Labyrinth introduces another important woman from the General's life. Like Manuela, Miranda Lyndsay once saved the General from an assassination attempt by playing on his romantic interest in her. In this respect, she shows a keen awareness of the General as a public figure. Knowing that he treasures his reputation as a brave and romantic man, she knows that she cannot simply tell him about the plot against him, as he would want to face down his would-be killers. Instead, she pretended to seduce him, luring him away to a remote place on the night the attack is meant to take place. Miranda manipulates the General's ego to ensure that he does not place himself in danger, showing that she is his tactical equal. While the General possesses the military genius to win on the battlefield, women like Miranda are forced to use their sexuality and understanding of the male ego to win their battles. After saving the General's life, she asks him to pardon her husband, and in recognition of her aid, the General promises to do what he can. Later in the novel, he follows through on this promise. The relationship between Miranda and the General illustrates the sincere, honest nature of the man who lurks beneath the legend.

The depiction of Mompox illustrates the complicated nature of the General's legacy. As he passes through the city, he notes that Mompox has been devastated by war. The streets and buildings have been destroyed by both colonial and anti-colonial armies; both sides have meted out destruction and the traumatic legacy of this violence can be seen all around. The physical geography of Mompox has been reshaped by the battle for independence, and much like the General himself, the local people are traumatized and exhausted. Thus, the visit to Mompox is a reminder to the General of the cost of independence. For all the abstract notions of freedom and oppression, the reality of the war is that people suffered, and their lives were put on hold. Some paid this cost willingly, while others were collateral damage. The visit shows the General that, for all the effort he has put into cultivating a reputation as a liberator and a hero, the brutality of war is far too stark to change people's opinions on certain matters.