Flowers (Symbol)
Flowers are a symbol of transformation in the story. The village is described as small and consisting of "wooden houses that had stone courtyards with no flowers and which were spread about on the end of a desertlike cape" (3). While the women are cleaning the drowned man's body, they imagine that, had he lived in their village, he would have planted flowers on the rocky cliffs. Then, after Esteban's funeral, the villagers plant the flowers on the cliffs themselves, along with painting their houses vibrant colors. The flowers come to represent the village's transformation from a mundane community to one of vitality and energy.
Esteban (Symbol)
The drowned man, or Esteban as he comes to be called, symbolizes hope and aspiration. Though he is dead, his large physique and handsome face inspire the villagers to imagine what kind of magnificent life he must have lived. Then, they themselves attempt to harness that energy they imagined for Esteban, changing their ways in the wake of his funeral. As such, Esteban becomes a symbol of the villagers hopes that they projected onto the stranger who washed up on their shore.
Collectivity (Motif)
A recurring motif in the story is that of collectivity or community. The omniscient narrator writes about the villagers as if they are one living, breathing body – they all think the same thoughts and are united in their mourning of Esteban. This sense of collectivity helps underscore the villagers' shared dreams and aspirations, which they attempt to harness at the end of the story through the memory of Esteban.
