The Role of Esteban's Presence in The Handsomest Drowned Man in The World

In the story “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”, written by Gabriel GarciaMarquez, Esteban’s presence changes the villager’s perspective on humans. In the short story, the women in particular were intrigued by how different Esteban is in quality when comparing him to their men. Esteban’s dead body was glorified from the moment he reached the village island. They automatically noticed him for his size, hair, and muscular physique. The viewed him as if he were a supernatural “superhuman”.The men in the village at one point grow jealous and fearful of Esteban’s presence and how it impacts their wives feelings. Some even begin to believe that they would dream about Esteban instead of them. In the story the handsomest Drowned Man in the World, Esteban’s presence leads the villagers to idolize him as “superhuman”, which ultimately leads them into an false reality. Esteban’s dead body was glorified from the moment he reached the village island. They automatically noticed him for his size, hair, and muscular physique.

The viewed him as if he were a supernatural “superhuman”. They started to imagine how life would be like if Esteban were to live in their village. By imagining this altered life, the women reject their own reality and create a false one. Making it true to their own desires and feelings. Marquez goes on to say that “his house would have had the widest doors, the highest ceiling, and the strongest floor...” The villagers took Esteban’s appearance and forged it into their village. As if he was a part of their society. Regardless whether he was a stranger or not, the villagers give him life and meaning. It can be said that Esteban’s presences changes the villager’s view on mankind. Making them believe that life with Esteban involved can be described as a holy land. Esteban’s arrival sparked a change of reality for the villagers. The women began to draw comparisons and even fall in love with Esteban.

They had a complete disregard for their men. They were living in an illusion where Esteban makes them happy and gives them a sense of fullness. They women knew nothing about him. They didn’t know his story or who he even was as a person. It’s as if the women conjured up their own personal image of Esteban that deemed them to see him as “superhuman”. The women were used to seeing average men in their village. Esteban’s body made them fall in love with his different traits. This can be said because sometimes when coming across a different person or object, people often fantasize about it or fear it. In the women’s point of view, they fell in love and began to gaze at all his qualities.

The women were beginning to believe that Esteban was a part of them. They slowly began to crave him more and more. The women would waste their time just to watch the dead body. Nothing else really seemed important to them. The only thing on their mind was Esteban and how unmeasurably beautiful he was. The women felt as if Esteban was one of them. As soon as he reached the village, they all agreed to make pants and shirts for him. They wanted to do this for him to give him a sense of dignity and pride. A dead body whom they didn’t even know. However, the women praised him as if he were special. Which in their eyes he was. They would imagine how life would be like for the man if he were to live in their village. They would envision how his house looked like, his doors, and even his wife. Esteban’s presence gave these women a sense of free imagination. Where they could at one moment step inside and make it their reality. In the story Marquez writes.The women imagined how Esteban would fit into their subconscious reality. Regardless of who he was or what he was, the women idolized him as a special unique human being. One of which they would have never thought of in their lifetime. Finally, the women of the village prepared a funeral for Esteban.

They gathered hundreds of flowers for this occasion. This shows just how much they admired and fell in love with his body. They even went to great lengths as in painting their houses in memory of him. They wanted to make his memory last a lifetime. This symbolizes that their dream or imagination will never die. Because he has truly stayed with each and every one of the villagers within their mind. The villagers never once questioned Esteban’s appearance. They were automatically traumatized by his beauty. With Esteban around, the villager’s felt that there imagination was co-existing with their reality. The women didn’t care for what their men were feeling. And at the same time, the men grew hatred and jealousy towards Esteban’s. These are the reactions that can occur when allowing one to bring their fantasies to life. To allow it to overcome everything that is truly real to them.In conclusion, Esteban’s presences brings an uproar in the villager’s imagination. The men grew jealous and angry. The women became oblivious to their men and started fantasizing about esteban. They allowed Esteban’s presence to change their view of man. This imagination can have detrimental effects on those closest around the person. Esteban symbolizes how something new can make a person think and feel different. He explains how sometimes it’s okay for people to lose themselves in their imagination, as long as it does not intertwine with theirreality.