The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World Themes

In “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” a tiny remote seaside village experiences a profound transformation as a result of its encounter with a huge and handsome drowned man, whom they name Esteban. The villagers are so moved by the splendor of the man’s appearance and humility of his expression that they decide to radically remake their village. They aim to honor his memory with wider doors, taller ceilings, colorful walls, and extensive…

Throughout “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” the people of the village have evolving and vastly different perceptions of the huge and handsome drowned man. At first, many of the women of the village are convinced that he was a man of enormous authority and poise. But later they believe that he was actually a kind, humble, and awkward man. The women who hold onto their first perception of the man insist that…