The Handsomest Drowned M The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World

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Pranathi Chitta Aditi Mukund Veena Suthendran Meghana Vankina IB-prep English Wilkinson 2 5-6-14 (Make up work- absent) “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” What are the various villagers’ interpretations and interactions with the drowned man? They seem to strain credulity as simple, literal reactions to a dead man. What is the significance of their experience with Esteban? When the villagers see Esteban, they look at him as if he was a king. They treat him as if he were alive and with much care. The villagers use Esteban as a motivation. Since the villagers had no background information on who Esteban really was, they made up his personality; the society created him to be someone to their taste which helped them build their community successfully. Many women view him to be extremely handsome and they begin to sew him attire to wear. What makes the drowned man great (both on a literal level and beyond)? In the literal sense, Esteban is “great” by the nature of his large size, his attractive facial features, and his masculinity. These characteristics evoke a quality of power and sort of leadership trait that the people in the village fall in love with. The drowned man’s greatness extends beyond his death which shows how powerful his exterior plays in the role of what people think of him. How are the villagers affected by their experience with Esteban? Why? The villagers’ lives are permanently affected after interacting with Esteban’s body. After they push his body off the cliff, they collectively decide to make their walls, houses, and village bigger and better so it can be fit for a man like Esteban. This shows how just one man’s presence (or lack of it) can have such an enormous impact on a group of people. Thes... ... middle of paper ... ...st story, the character is revered because of his beauty. What connections can you draw between these two stories and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? In both the stories, and in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the main component to the story is the outsider. The outsider in all three of these works is usually seen as different from the rest of society. The way the outsider is perceived by the society is one of fascination. Society is hesitant of the outsider, and treats him as an outsider rather than part of their in-group. Another key aspect showcased in all three of the works is the theme of beauty or physical appearance. The villagers in all of the stories have placed great regard and value on the attractiveness of their own people. However when a new outsider person is presented to them they take into account the appearance before making any judgments of character.

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