Simon Bolivar is one of the most powerful and influential figures in the history of Latin America, a hero who led the movement for the independence of several Latin American nations, a military and political leader with his own personal history full of tragic and dramatic moments. During his life he contributed to freeing the populations of Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia from Spanish domination, he played an important role in the foundation of Gran Colombia and in defining the principles of democracy. Even though Bolivar was not well known in the world, he was always respected among the people of Latin America and remembered as a man of authority and power. Bolivar's integrity, high moral standards, and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds made him a role model for many people. Simon Bolivar is a courageous character whose leadership and risks turn against him when he least expects it. Bolívar's dream had always been to create an American Revolution-style federation among all the newly independent republics of Latin America, where with a new government established solely to recognize and uphold the rights of the individual. Gabriel Garcia Márquez in his book “The General in his Labyrinth” changes or “distorts” the representation of the Latin American hero a bit. First of all, Marquez never calls Simon Bolivar by his name, but only as "The Liberator". His idea behind the book was to change the traditional heroic portrayal of Simon Bolivar and show an old man suffering due to his illness and mental exhaustion. This dark and brooding story covers the last 7 months of Simon Bolivar's life. The South American Liberator spent many years in opposition to the Spanish presence, wiped out the Spanish from their former colonies... middle of paper... nations, committed actions he regretted later in his life. Throughout his life he is haunted by guilt over ordering summary executions of former comrades, by his fall from power, and by depression over perceived failure. And in the final and most significant scene of the story, shortly before his death, Bolivar finally sees the truth: “The frantic race between his misfortunes and his dreams was at that moment reaching the finish line. The rest was darkness." It is a book that lends itself to much contemplation: about history, about the men who made it, and about what happens to each man when his glory has passed. This story about Bolivar is about how these men live out their last days, things that are not easily recorded in history as we like to remember our heroes unblemished and perfect. This story is about when each of us becomes human and all too mortal.