The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World Essay Questions

How do the villagers react to the discovery of the drowned man?

The story presents three distinct responses to the arrival of the drowned man: the first comes from the children of the village, who find the drowned man on the beach. The children play with the corpse, burying it and digging it up again before an adult interferes. This image might be a morbid one, but the matter-of-fact and calm tone of the narrator suggests that there is something natural about the behavior, about children simply behaving like children. Second, the women of the village are immediately taken with the stranger, imagining a magnificent life for him and comparing him to their own husbands. Finally, the men of the village are initially frustrated with the women for paying the drowned man so much attention. They themselves are soon won over by the drowned man as well, after they are able to see his face. These responses to the drowned man help underscore the story's interest in community and how the lives of the villagers all intersect.

What role does storytelling play in the narrative?

One of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's signature themes in his work is the nature of storytelling itself. It is part of the reason why so many of his stories include elements of magical realism: Marquez's work explores how narratives develop over generations, and how imagination plays a pivotal role in one's personal narrative. In this particular short story, the people of the village rely on storytelling to imagine the life that the drowned man may have lived, therein imagining for themselves the lives they would like to live after his funeral.

On what note does the story end?

While the story ends with the funeral for the drowned man and the mourning village, it ultimately concludes on a hopeful and uplifting note. The villagers transform their community by building larger houses, painting their homes bright colors, and planting flowers on the cliffs, all in memory of Esteban. The end of the story therefore suggests that Esteban's presence inspired the villagers to embrace their own vitality and fulfill their latent desires for vibrancy and joy while they still have time.