Hayatın Anlamını Semboller Üzerinden Okumak: Dünyanın Boğulmuş En Güzel Adamı
Reading the Meaning of Life Through Symbols: The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World

Summary/Abstract: During the course of their life span, people try to give life meaning through experiences gained both in spiritual and physical contexts. Defining one’s own path and discovering the meaning of one’s life can be characterized as a long and challenging journey. Literary works help people develop their perception and look at things from a different perspective. An alternative way to develop different perspectives is symbols. The discovery of the symbols within works thanks to various sources is certainly an intellectual exercise which makes life more meaningful and help develop a higher awareness. This study analyzes the interpretations of the meaning of life through symbols in the story The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World by Gabriel García Márquez, leading author of Magical Realism in Latin America and one of the most significant authors of world literature. The story covers the events after a drowned man is found on the beach of a Caribbean village. This study analyzes how a dead body found on the beach by children and named Esteban by the women in the village revived the village which was once aimless as well as interpreting the results of the change experienced in the village. The study explores the meaning of the concept of symbol, its importance and usage in general terms. The interaction between symbol, literature and mythology is pointed out. Following this grounding, the study presents the symbols found in the story and their relation to the meaning of life.

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