 Bolívar 's fate is known from the beginning , and García Márquez constantly uses images which foreshadow this ending . For instance , a clock stuck at seven minutes past one , the exact time of the General 's death , appears repeatedly in the novel . This sense of fate is introduced in the epigraph , which comes from a letter written by the historical Bolívar to General Santander on August 4 , 1823 : " It seems that the devil controls the business of my life . " As Palencia @-@ Roth points out , the word used for devil here is demonio rather than the more familiar diablo . Demonio derives from the Greek word daimon , which can equally mean divine power , fate , or destiny . Accordingly , the General succumbs to his fate and accepts his death as destiny . 
 Bolívar <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>fate is known from the beginning , and García Márquez constantly <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>uses</mark></a> images which foreshadow this ending . For instance , a clock<a href='been_done' title='3'><mark></mark></a> stuck at seven minutes past one , the exact time of the General <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>death , <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>appears</mark></a> repeatedly in the novel . This sense of fate is introduced in the epigraph , which <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>comes</mark></a> from a letter written by the historical Bolívar to General Santander on August 4 , 1823 : " It <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>seems</mark></a> that the devil <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>controls</mark></a> the business of my life . " As Palencia @-@ Roth <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>points</mark></a> out , the word used for devil here <a href='drop_aux' title='10'><mark>is</mark></a>demonio rather than the more familiar diablo . Demonio <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>derives</mark></a> from the Greek word daimon , which can equally mean divine power , fate , or destiny . Accordingly , the General succumbs to his fate and <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>accepts</mark></a> his death as destiny . 
Bolívar  fate is known from the beginning , and García Márquez constantly use images which foreshadow dis ending . For instance , a clock been stuck at seven min past one , the exact time of the General  death , appear repeatedly in da novel . Tdissense of fate is introduced in tdaepigraph , which come from a letter written by the historical Bolívar to General Santander on August 4 , 1823 : " It seem dat the devil control thdaizness of mah life . " As Palencia @-@ Roth point outt , the word used fa devil here demonio rather than thedare familiar diablo . Demonio derive from the daek word daimon , which can equally mean divine power , fate , or destiny . Accordingly , the General succumbs to his fate and accept his death as destiny .