43 pages • 1-hour read
The Autumn of the Patriarch
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Essay Topics
The General of the Universe, known by everyone, remains nameless and even faceless throughout the novel. What is the significance of this ambiguity and lack of identity for a dictator?
Bendición Alvarado never gives in to the power that she is granted through her son, instead living her life as she always has. What is the function of her narrative?
What is the significance of Leticia’s transformation from a holy woman to a woman who destroys everything she touches?
The General pursues, and cannot maintain, relationships with women. Write about the representation of romantic love in the novel.
The General’s identity is often replicated throughout the novel; first in his double, Patricio, and then on screen and radio when Nacho rules the nation for the General. What does the constant blurring of the General’s identity and appearance signify?
Throughout the novel, many plagues infect the people of the nation while people with leprosy continually invade the palace grounds. How do disease and illness operate in the novel?
When the General finally offers to trade the sea with foreign powers, he is granted a wind machine in return. What does this symbolize?
Though the General has a herniated testicle, he remains quite virile, fathering thousands of children. What does his herniated testicle symbolize?
Márquez repeatedly uses the phrase “master of his own power.” Analyze the phrase in relation to the rest of the novel. Use examples from the text to support your answer.
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