Characters
Even though he is a stranger—and a deceased one at that—Esteban becomes a pivotal figure in the villagers' lives. His arrival is abrupt and enigmatic: the story begins with children from the small coastal village spotting an unfamiliar object in the sea. When it washes ashore, they discover it is a drowned man. The children play with the corpse until another villager notices and informs the rest of the community. The men then transport the body to the nearest house, commenting that he is almost as heavy as a horse. They also observe that he is exceptionally tall, barely fitting inside the house.
That evening, the village men travel to neighboring communities to see if anyone recognizes the dead stranger. While they are away, the village women care for the drowned man, noting that the vegetation on him is from distant oceans and his clothes are in tatters. He also exudes a sense of pride. It is only after they finish cleaning the body that the women realize how extraordinary he is. He is the epitome of manliness—the tallest, strongest, most virile, and best-built man they have ever seen.
He is so large that nothing in the village can accommodate him: not a bed, table, or set of clothes. The women decide to sew him pants from a sail and a shirt from fine bridal linen to bury him with dignity. As they sew, they begin to weave a fantasy about him. They imagine that if such a man lived among them, doors would be wider, ceilings higher, floors and bedsteads sturdier, and his wife would be the happiest woman. They believe he could summon fish from the sea and make flowers bloom on the arid cliffs. Even now, because of him, the wind seems steadier and the sea more restless.
They name him Esteban, but by giving him a name, they realize he will have to be dragged along the ground to be buried at sea. This realization brings them to understand how unhappy he must have been with his body during his life. He would have constantly ducked under doorways and hit his head on ceilings. When visiting, he would have had to stand to avoid breaking his hosts' furniture, and he would have never known if people respected him or simply feared his size. When the women cover his face with a handkerchief, he looks so irrevocably dead—and so much like their own men—that they weep for him. He becomes the most destitute, most peaceful, and most obliging man on earth.
The men return at dawn with the news that Esteban is not from any of the neighboring villages, and the women rejoice, claiming him as their own. The men want to dispose of the body by throwing it into the sea, but the more they rush, the more reasons the women find to keep him. One man finally vents his frustration over the women's fussing about a stranger, prompting the women to reveal Esteban's face. With one glance, the men see Esteban's embarrassment about his size and for causing disruption. United, the villagers hold a grand funeral for Esteban, filling the village with flowers and drawing neighbors who have heard of him. Saddened by their loss, the villagers choose a family for him, making everyone his kin. Their grief is so intense that sailors at sea, hearing their cries, veer off course. After Esteban's departure, they feel his absence deeply.
The villagers now recognize the barrenness of their village and their lives. Following the funeral, they resolve to make changes: they will build larger houses to...
(This entire section contains 910 words.)
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ensure Esteban's memory can visit easily; they will paint their homes in his honor; and they will plant flowers on the cliffs so that future passengers on ocean liners will smell the fragrance and captains will point to the roses, saying: "That's Esteban's village."
Esteban does not speak, but his face and body convey his regret for being a burden, large and cumbersome as he is. The villagers sense his kindness and consideration, as well as an authority that could make fish jump into his boat when fishing. The village women find him "speaking" to them in other ways, leading them to compare their husbands to his impressive size and handsome features. His presence compels the villagers to reexamine their lives and collaborate to beautify their village and enlarge their homes, ensuring he will always feel welcome, even after being returned to the sea. Esteban's true essence lies not in the dead body found on the beach, but in the minds of the villagers, who are inspired to improve their lives.
The residents of this small fishing village endure a difficult climate every day. Their land is so narrow that there isn't even enough space to bury their deceased. The village is so tiny that when a drowned man is discovered, he is instantly recognized as an outsider, since "they simply had to look at one another to see that they were all there." No one in the village has a name, which emphasizes their collective identity and actions. The villagers' unity is evident in the way they all take responsibility for Esteban, and later, they will all share the duty of beautifying their village in his memory. Garcia Marquez drew inspiration from the village of Aracataca, where he spent his childhood, and its people to craft this story, which also mirrors his socialist ideals.
Characters
Esteban
Even though Esteban is both a stranger and deceased, he profoundly impacts the
villagers' lives. Without uttering a word, his face and body convey his
apologies for being such a burden due to his large and cumbersome size. The
villagers sense his kindness and thoughtfulness, coupled with an authoritative
presence that they believe could command fish to leap into his boat. The
village women perceive his "communication" differently, comparing their
husbands to his impressive stature and handsome appearance. His presence
compels the villagers to reflect on their lives and collaborate to enhance
their village's beauty. Thus, Esteban lives on not in the physical form of the
dead man found on the beach, but in the minds of the villagers, inspiring them
to improve their lives.
The Villagers
The residents of this small fishing village endure daily struggles in a harsh
environment. Their land strip is so narrow that there's no space to bury their
dead. The village is so tiny that the drowned man is instantly recognized as a
stranger, as ''they simply had to look at one another to see that they were all
there.'' No individual in the village is named, emphasizing their collective
existence and actions. Initially, the women respond to Esteban with care, which
evolves into admiration, longing, and eventually, a sense of ownership. The
men, at first, exhibit irritation and jealousy, but gradually develop
compassion and pity. The unity of the villagers is evident in how they all take
responsibility for Esteban and later commit to beautifying their village in his
memory. Garcia Marquez loosely based the village on Aracataca and its people,
reflecting his socialistic beliefs in the story.
