An allusion is a textual reference to other historical periods, figures, and events, as well as other authors, literary works, and characters. In employing allusions, the author empowers readers to draw from their own knowledge to make connections about the text.

In “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” García Márquez alludes to several mythological stories. The name the old woman proposes is “Esteban,” which is short for “Estevanico,” the first African man to arrive in Latin America. Estevanico was viewed as a mysterious folk hero, and he directly parallels the drowned man in the story. The drowned man receives his name as a way to emulate Estevanico’s greatness (D’Amato, Lee. “Estevanico, the First African Man to Explore the Americas.” The Archive, 18 Nov. 2022). The name the younger village women propose, “Lautaro,” refers to a Mapuche Indian who fought against Spanish conquerors in the 1500s. In his story of greatness, Lautaro, also known as “the hero of the Mapuche,” lead the resistance against the Spanish colonization of Chile (Hancock, Anson Uriel. “Lautaro, Hero of the Mapuche.” TOTA, 2019).

According to scholarly interpretation, García Márquez also alludes to Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec deity who reigned over the winds and rain.