The main themes in 'the handsomest drowned man in the world story' include the role of perception. At first, the villagers see the drowned man as just a body washed ashore, but as they start to imagine his life, their perception changes completely. Additionally, there is a theme of transformation. Not only does the view of the man transform, but also the villagers seem to transform in their outlook towards their own village. They start to think about making it more beautiful and grand, almost as if the man's beauty has inspired them to reach for a higher standard in their own community.
The main character is the drowned man himself. And the villagers are also important characters as they are the ones who discover him, interact with him (even though he's dead), and whose lives are affected by his presence.
One of the main themes is the power of imagination. The villagers' perception of the drowned man transforms as they imagine his life, which shows how our minds can create elaborate stories. Another theme could be the impact of an outsider, even a dead one, on a small community. His presence changes the villagers' view of themselves and their village.
The main characters are, without a doubt, the villagers and the drowned man. The villagers play a key role as they first discover the body, then they start to build a story around him. They are ordinary people who are suddenly faced with something extraordinary. The drowned man, on the other hand, is the object of their fascination. He is the outsider who, through his death, enters their world and changes it in many ways.
The main theme is about the power of imagination and how a stranger can have a profound impact on a community. The drowned man's extraordinary appearance makes the villagers create an elaborate backstory for him, which in turn changes their own view of themselves and their village.
The description makes the man an object of fascination. It grabs the readers' attention and makes them curious about why he is described as such. This also sets him apart from the villagers, highlighting his other - worldliness.
I'm not sure specifically which 'a drowned man story' you are referring to. There could be many stories related to a drowned man. It might be about a tragic accident where a man drowned at sea or in a river, perhaps exploring the events leading up to his death, the search for his body, and the impact on his family and community.
Since we don't know the specific 'a drowned man story', the main character is most likely the drowned man himself. He would be the central figure around whom the events of the story revolve.