Suppression of Pride In a state of martial law one individual does not have much to say. This statement holds true in the novel, "No One Writes to the Colonel," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The author discusses the political climate of one man, the Colonel, who after fighting to create the government in power is being controlled by the bureaucracy. A corrupt government can ruin a man, sap his will, and drive him mindless with hunger; although times are hard the Colonel keeps his dignity and pride. The government, through the use of martia ....