 The theme of love is central to the novel . Bolívar had a reputation as a womanizer , and books have been written on his philandering ; but as depicted in this novel , during the last seven months of his life , the General could no longer engage in the activities that had fueled that reputation . García Márquez mentions a woman every few pages , many of whom are his own invention , exploring love through the General 's memories . Palencia @-@ Roth notes that the presence of these women " allows a labyrinthine exploration of his life before his final journey " and suggests that García Márquez uses love as a barometer of the General 's heart and health . Although Bolívar is usually thought to have died from tuberculosis , Palencia @-@ Roth believes that for the author , the General dies from the lack of love . " Despised by many of his countrymen , abandoned by all but a few aides and associates , left — during the final seven months of his life — without even the companionship of his longtime mistress Manuela Saenz , Bolívar had no choice but to die of a broken heart . " 
 The theme of love <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>central to the novel . Bolívar had a reputation as a womanizer , and books <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> been written on his philandering ; but as depicted in this novel , during the last seven months of his life , the General could no longer engage in the activities <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> fueled that reputation . García Márquez <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>mentions</mark></a> a woman every few pages , many of whom <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>are</mark></a>his own invention , exploring love through the General <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>memories . Palencia @-@ Roth <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>notes</mark></a> that the presence of these women " <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>allows</mark></a> a labyrinthine exploration of his life before his final journey " and <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>suggests</mark></a> that García Márquez <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>uses</mark></a> love as a barometer of the General <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'s</mark></a>heart and health . Although Bolívar is usually thought to <a href='been_done' title='13'><mark>have</mark></a> died from tuberculosis , Palencia @-@ Roth <a href='uninflect' title='14'><mark>believes</mark></a> that for the author , the General <a href='uninflect' title='15'><mark>dies</mark></a> from the lack of love . " Despised by many of his countrymen , abandoned by all but a few aides and associates , left — during the final seven months of his life — without even the companionship of his longtime mistress Manuela Saenz , Bolívar had no choice but to die of a broken heart . " 
Da theme of love central to tdanovel . Bolívar had a reputation as a womanizer , and books done been written on his philandering ; but as depicted in this novel , durin the last seven months of his life , the General could no longer engage in the activities done fueled dat reputation . García Márquez mention a woman every few pages , many of whom his own invention , exploring luhhh through thdaeneral  memories . Palencia @-@ Roth note tdatthe presence of these women " allow a labyrinthine exploration of his life before his final journey " and suggest that García Márquez useluhhe as a barometer of the General  heart and health . Although Bolívar is usually thought to done died from tuberculosis , Palencia @-@ Roth believe thdata thedathor , the General die from the lack of love . " Despised by many of his countrymen , abandoned by alll but a few aides and associates , left — ddurinthe final seven months of his life — w/o even the companionship of his longtime mistress Manuela Saenz , Bolívar had no choice but to die of a broken heart . "