The drowned man, later named “Esteban” by the villagers, is the story’s titular character. The drowned man is described to be remarkably handsome, extremely tall, and very large in stature. He immediately catches the villagers’ attention and affection despite being covered in scales, slime, and other remnants of the ocean. He carries a weight about him that the villagers find curious and integrate into their impression of him. The drowned man has a mythos about him. His appearance affords him a higher degree of appreciation. He is viewed as superior in his physicality, relationships, and abilities. In response, the villagers plan him a lavish funeral and weep openly at the loss of their Esteban.

The name Esteban bears its own significance. “Esteban” is short for the name “Estevanico.” According to his myth, the original Estevanico was the first African man to step into Latin America. He was believed to be an enslaved person who went on to master countless languages and learn lifesaving medicinal skills. He was even considered to be a deity by some. The village’s Esteban is an allusion to the Spanish folk hero Estevanico and works to emphasize the greatness and otherworldliness of the drowned man to the villagers.