Esteban's Size (Simile)
When the men of the village first carry the drowned man's body to the nearest house, they remark that "he weighed more than any dead man they had ever known, almost as much as a horse" (2). This hyperbolic simile helps establish Esteban's unique size, but also introduces Marquez's signature reliance on magical realism, in which certain details of the story bend the bounds of reality.
The Men's Perspective (Metaphor)
While the women fret and fuss over preparing Esteban for burial, the village men grow frustrated and weary of the attention the women are giving to the drowned man. They refer to Esteban as a "piece of cold Wednesday meat" (7). This metaphor underscores how unaffected the men are by the presence of the drowned man, having seen death before. However, this perspective is quickly challenged when the men are able to see Esteban's face. They, like the women, become completely taken with the magnificence of his appearance.
Esteban's Village (Metaphor)
At the end of the story, the villagers imagine that sometime in the future, a ship captain might spot their community from the sea and remark that it is Esteban's village. This notion is a metaphor for the villagers' newfound sense of vitality and appreciation for life. After Esteban's funeral, the villagers transform their desolate landscape into a bright and lively one, harnessing what they assumed was Esteban's memory but what was actually their own desire for change all along.
