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In this section of Julia Alvarez's The General in His Labyrinth, there is some character development shown in The General. The General (and his entourage) are beginning his departure from town, and it is a slow journey because of The General's declining health. They pass through many towns and villages on their way out of town, and although a few people offer support, there are far more people insulting him along the way. Things are written on buildings too. It is ironic, becuase less than three years before, in these same streets, people had flooded from their houses, celebrating The General's return from the foreign wars. They had been so enamoured by him then, yet now they couldn't insult him more. As The General and his entourage continue through small villaegs along the way, more and more of the villagers don't recognize him or don't know who he is. This hit hard with The General. As he put it, "I am no longer myself" (44). He knows that no only does he look different, but he IS a different person to these people...