Read the definition of Magical Realism and explain how Garcia Marquez's story fits into this description.
Basically Magical Realism "explores the overlap between fantasy and reality and reveals the mysterious elements hidden in day-to-day life." The story starts out with a few children playing near the shores when something big from far away appears floating. A few guesses are made of what it could be and not until its right in front of them can they see that it was a dead man who had drowned. They play with him for a while until a man from the village discovers what they're doing and spreads the news.
The body was then taken to the village to be taken care of and give a proper burial. But before all that can be done, they were trying to figure out if this tall man was part of their village or one near. No one was missing and he was a mystery that no one could explain. The women in the village started to prepare him and make sure he was dressed right and looked proper.
In the process of fixing him up; the women began to make up stories and describe how handsome he was. They began to make up his past life and his name. Esteban is what they called him. Plus everything that he went through while being alive. During this phase in their lives they made of him what they wanted him to be. That's where magical realism jumps in. The women made him the perfect man; something that they lacked in their lives. They described him and added what their husband's couldn't provide.
Esteban being the corpse that he was becomes more that just a body. He's more real than anyone in the village. Sooner or later they do send Esteban back to the sea, but the village is permanently changed. For the while that Esteban was in the village his presence had added a joy and self-importance to their village.
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