THE MOST

HANDSOME
DROWNED MAN IN
THE WORLD

SYNOPSIS

HE STORY BEGINS WITH A GROUP OF CHILDREN PLAYING ON THE BEACH. THEY SPOT A " DARK
AND SLINKY BULGE" IN THE OCEAN. AT FIRST THEY THINK IT'S A SHIP, THEN A WHALE, AND
FINALLY WHEN IT WASHES UP ON SHORE, THEY REALIZE IT IS DROWNED MAN. THE MEN OF
THE VILLAGE CARRY THE DEAD BODY TO THE NEAREST HOUSE AND NOTE HOW HEAVY HE IS.
THE VILLAGE IS SO SMALL THAT THERE IS SUCH LITTLE SPACE THAT USUALLY DEAD BODIES
ARE THROWN OVER THE CLIFFS AND INTO THE OCEAN RATHER THAN BURIED. THAT NIGHT,
THE MEN HEAD TO THE NEARBY VILLAGES TO SEE IF ANYONE IS MISSING A LARGE GUY, WHILE
THE WOMEN STAY BEHIND TO CLEAN THE DROWNED MANS BODY, WHICH IS COVERED IN
SEAWEED AND DEAD SEA CREATURES. WHEN THE DROWNED MAN IS FINALLY CLEAN OFF, THE
WOMEN ARE LEFT BREATHLESS BECAUSE HE IS THE TALLEST, STRONGEST, MOST VIRILE AND
BEST EQUIPPED-MAN THEY HAVE EVER SEEN OR COULD IMAGINE. HE IS SO BIG, IN FACT
WOMEN CAN'T FIND A BED LARGE ENOUGH FOR HIM. NONE OF THEIR HUSBAND CLOTHES WILL
FIT HIM. THEN THE WOMEN DECIDE TO SEW HIM SOME CLOTHES FROM A SAIL, SO THAT HE
COULD CONTINUE IN HIS DEATH WITH DIGNITY. THE OLDEST WOMAN AMONG THEM SAYS THAT
DROWNED MAN HAS THE FACE OF SOMEONE CALLED ESTEBAN. ALL THE WOMEN IMMEDIATELY
AGREE. THEY REALIZE THAT BEING SO MASSIVE AND MANLY MUST HAVE BEEN A BURDEN TO
THE DROWNED MAN. HE MUST HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSED BY HIS SIZE ALL THE TIME. WHEN
THE MEN RETURN AND ANNOUNCE THAT NONE OF THE NEARBY VILLAGES CAN CLAIM
ESTEBAN, THE WOMEN REJOICE FOR HE IS NOW THEIRS.

 THE MAN THINK THEIR WOMEN ARE BEING FOOLISH. THEY GRUMBLE AND
COMPLAIN UNTIL FINALLY THE WOMEN REMOVE THE HEADSCARF FROM THE
DROWNED MAN'S FACE. THEN THE MEN TOO, ARE IN AWE WITH HOW
HANDSOME HE IS, ARE LEFT BREATHLESS. SO THE VILLAGERS HOLD A
SPLENDID FUNERAL FOR THE DROWNED MAN. THEY GO TO NEARBY
VILLAGE TO GET FLOWERS AND THEY CHOOSE FOR HIM HONORARY FAMILY
MEMBERS FROM THEIR VILLAGE. WHEN THEY FINALLY LET THE BODY GO
OFF THE CLIFF, THEY DO NOT ANCHOR IT, SO THAT HE CAN COME BACK IF
HE WISHES. THE VILLAGERS REALIZE THAT FROM NOW ON, EVERYTHING
WILL BE DIFFERENT. THEY WILL MAKE THEIR HOUSES BIGGER, STRONGER
AND DIG FOR SPRING IN THEIR COURTYARDS AND PAINTS THEIR HOUSES IN
BRIGHT COLORS AND PLANT FLOWERS ON THEIR CLIFFS. SO THAT YEARS
FROM NOW, SAILORS PASS BY THEIR VILLAGE WILL SEE THE COLORS AND
SMELL THE SCENT AND KNOW THAT THERE , ON THOSE CLIFFS IS ESTEBAN
VILLAGE.

 THEME OF TRANSFORMATION
1. THE MOST HANDSOME DROWNED MAN IN THE WORLD EXPLORES THE
TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT OF ONE DEAD MAN ON AN ENTIRE VILLAGE. IT ARGUES THAT A
TRULY GREAT PERSON HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE OTHERS, TO INSPIRE THEM TO BE
BETTER, TO MAKE THEM WANT TO BE EXTRAORDINARY. IT'S INTERESTING THAT, IN THIS
STORY, THE VILLAGER'S TRANSFORMATION ORIGINATES ENTIRELY FROM THEMSELVES.
THE DEAD MAN IS DEAD, AFTER ALL, WHICH MEANS THE VILLAGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE
THEMSELVES AND FOR THE CHANGES THAT THEY MAKE.

. THEME OF ADMIRATION
1. "THE HANDSOME DROWNED MAN IN THE WORLD EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS FOR A
PERSON TO BE GREAT, AND WHAT EFFECT SUCH A PERSON CAN HAVE ON THOSE WHO
ADMIRE HIM OR HER. ADMIRATION CAN BE DIRECTED OUTWARD, BUT AT SOME POINT,
THE STORY TEACHES US, IT TURNS INWARD, TOWARD THE SELF, AND MANIFESTS AS A
DESIRE FOR SELF-BETTERMENT.

 THEME OF ISOLATION
1. "THE MOST HANDSOME DROWNED MAN IN THE WORLD" EXPLORES THE WAYS IN WHICH
HUMAN BEINGS OVERCOME PERSONAL ISOLATION THROUGH THEIR COLLECTIVE
COMMUNITY. IN THIS STORY, COMMON BELIEFS IN THE MYTHIC OR FANTASY BRING
TOGETHER THE MEMBERS OF A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE. THE MEN, WOMEN, AND
CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE UNITED BY THEIR COMMON DESIRE FOR SELFIMPROVEMENT. TOGETHER, THEY IMAGINE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES, A
FUTURE IN WHICH THEY ARE AS EXTRAORDINARY AS THE MYTHS IN WHICH THEY ALL
BELIEVE.

. THEME OF MEN AND MASCULINITY

1. MASCULINITY IS NARROWLY DEFINED IN "THE MOST HANDSOME DROWNED MAN IN THE
WORLD." SIZE, STRENGTH, AND ATTRACTIVENESS ARE ALL SYNONYMOUS WITH
MASCULINITY IN THIS STORY. HOWEVER, NON-PHYSICAL TRAITS LIKE COMPASSION,
HUMILITY, LEADERSHIP, AND MODESTY ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOTION OF
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN. THE HIGHEST IDEAL OF MASCULINITY IS SHARED AND
ADMIRED EQUALLY BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS STORY.

CHARACTERS
1. THE BIG HANDSOME DEAD BODY
BIG (HE HAS BIGGER BODY THAN EVERYONE
HERE)
HANDSOME (VILLAGERS NOTICE THAT
ESTEBAN HAS BEAUTIFUL FACE)
HELPLESS (HE IS A DEAD BODY. THERE IS
NOTHING HE CAN DO)
2. THE CHILDREN (THE VILLAGERS)
CURIOUS (LIKE MOST CHILDREN, THEY ARE
CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE)
INNOCENT (PLAYING WITH THE DEAD BODY
INNOCENTLY, DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
FACING)

3. THE MEN (VILLAGERS)

DREAMER (THE MEN SOMETIMES HAVE
IMAGINATION ABOUT THE DEAD BODY)
WISE (GIVING EFFORT TO FIND THE
IDENTITY OF ESTEBAN ALTHOUGH HE IS
DEAD)
JEALOUS (THEY FEEL A LITTLE JEALOUS
WITH ESTEBAN BECAUSE OF HIS BEAUTY)
4. THE WOMEN (VILLAGERS)
CARING (TAKE CARE OF ESTEBAN
SINCERELY)

WHAT IS SETTING?

SETTING

- SETTING MEANS:
THE WHERE AND WHEN OF THE STORY TAKES PLACE AND THE TIME OF
THE INCIDENT HAPPENS.
IT INVOLVES THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE STORY
TOO.

EXAMPLE:
THE

DEAD MAN WAS FOUND IN THE OCEAN, IN THE

AFTERNOON BY A GROUP OF A CHILDREN WHO ARE
PLAYING ON THE BEACH OF A SMALL FISHING
VILLAGE.

A BARREN FISHING VILLAGE WITH CLIFF

AROUND IT NEAR THE SEA:
THE VILLAGE WAS MADE UP OF ONLY TWENTY-ODD
WOODEN HOUSES THAT HAD STONE PORCHES WITH
NO FLOWERS AND SCATTERED ACROSS THE BACK OF
A DESERTED CAPE

THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD SO MUCH

AUTHORITY THAT HE COULD HAVE DRAWN FISH OUT OF THE
SEA SIMPLY BY CALLING THEIR NAMES AND THAT HE WOULD
PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO HIS LAND THAT SPRINGS WOULD
HAVE BURST FORTH FROM AMONG THE ROCKS SO THAT HE
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PLANT FLOWERS ON THE CLIFFS.

THE VILLAGERS IN THE VILLAGE WERE SO KIND, HELPFUL AND

COOPERATIVE:
o IT TAKES A GROUP OF EFFORT TO CLEAN THE BODY, TO SEW LARGE
ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR IT, TO CARRY THE BODY, AND TO STAGE AN
ELABORATE FUNERAL. THEY EVEN HAVE TO ENLIST THE HELP OF
NEIGHBOURING TOWNS TO GET FLOWERS.

o THEY DO NOT WANT HIM TO BE ORPHANED. THEY CHOSE A FATHER AND A

MOTHER AMONG THE BEST FOR HIM, AND OTHERS MADE THEMSELVES
BROTHERS, AND UNCLES AND COUSINS, UNTIL THROUGH HIM ALL OF THE
VILLAGERS ENDED UP RELATIVES.
o THROUGH ESTEBAN, THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARE UNITED. THEY ARE
COOPERATIVE. THEY PLAN TO PAINT THE FRONTS OF THEIR HOUSES WITH
JOYFUL COLOURS TO ETERNALIZE THE MEMORY OF ESTEBAN AND MAYBE
THEIR HOUSES WOULD HAVE WIDER DOORS, TALLER ROOFS, FIRMER
FLOORS SO THAT THE MEMORY OF ESTEBAN COULD WALK EVERYWHERE.

THE MOST HANDSOME

DROWNED MAN IN THE WORLD
PLOT ANALYSIS

INITIAL SITUATION OR THE BEGINNING

BEGINS AT AN ORDINARY SEASIDE VILLAGE.
A GROUP OF CHILDREN PLAYING JOYFULLY BY THE SEA.

THE RISING ACTION

THE CHILDREN SEE A WEIRD BULGE IN THE

OCEAN.

THEY REALISE THAT THE BULGE IS ACTUALLY

A DROWNED MAN.
THEY PLAY WITH THE DROWNED MAN, BURY
AND UNBURY THE BODY UNTIL THE MEN OF
THE VILLAGE REALISE WHAT IS HAPPENING
AND TAKE THE DROWNED MAN TO THE
NEAREST HOUSE.
AND THEY KEEP WONDERING WHO IS THE
DEAD BODY AND WHERE DOES HE COME
FROM.

CLIMAX

THE WOMEN OF THE VILLAGE CLEANED THE DEAD DROWNED MAN AND IS
SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE DEAD MAN IS SO HANDSOME, THE MOST HANDSOME
MAN THAT THEY HAVE EVER SEEN IN THEIR LIVES.
THE VILLAGERS THEN DECIDED TO THROW THE BODY OFF THE CLIFF INTO THE
SEA.
AND THEY ALL WEEP SORROWFULLY.

RESOLUTION

THE VILLAGERS THEN HAVE CHANGED THEIR PERCEPTION AND WANTED TO

CHANGE THEIR WAYS OF LIVES TO THE BETTER. CLEARLY, THE DEAD DROWNED
MAN HAS GIVEN IMPACTS TO THEM.

CONFLICT
EXTERNAL CONFLICT

INTERNAL CONFLICT

1. CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER.

1. CHARACTER VS. SELF

-VILLAGERS VS. THE DROWNED MAN

-VILLAGERS VS. SELF

2. CHARACTER VS. SOCIETY

-ESTEBAN VS. VILLAGERS5
3. CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER
-VILLAGERS VS. THE DROWNED MAN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GABRIEL GARCA MRQUEZ

FULL NAME

: GABRIEL JOS DE LA CONCORDIA GARCA MRQUEZ.

BORN

: 6 MARCH 1927 (ARACATACA, COLOMBIA)

DIED

: 17 APRIL 2014 (MEXICO CITY,MEXICO)

NATIONALITY

: COLOMBIAN

EDUCATION

: UNIVERSIDAD DE CARTAGENE

WORKS

: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE, AUTUMN OF THE PATRIARCH,

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA.

AWARDS

: NEUSTADT INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE (1972)

NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE (1982)

Garca Mrquez was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screen

writer and started his career as journalist. Well known as Gabo,
considered as one of the most significant authors fo 20th century. Best
known for his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), The Autumn
of the Patriarch (1975) and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). Achieved
significant critical acclaim and widespread commercial success, most
notably for popularizing a literary style labeled as magic realism, which
uses magical elements and events in otherwise ordinary and realistic
situations ( Most Handsomest Drowned Man).

JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA DESCRIBED GABRIEL GARCIA AS THE GREATEST
COLOMBIAN WHO EVER LIVED ON HIS DEATH.