Final answer:
Gabriel García Márquez's works are predominantly characterized by the theme of magical realism, which incorporates fantastic elements into realistic narratives. His key influences include his Latin American heritage, personal history, and major historical events like the Banana Massacre of 1928.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prominent theme found in Gabriel García Márquez's works, including “The Handsomest Drowned Man”, is magical realism. This literary genre is characterized by the integration of fantastical elements into realistic settings and narratives. Márquez, who recorded the turbulent political history of Latin American life through his fiction, was part of the Latin American 'boom' and incorporated magical realism into most of his works.
Key influences in Márquez's life that inspired “One Hundred Years of Solitude” include his experiences with Latin American politics and cultural history, his childhood in Colombia, and the stories told to him by his grandparents (especially his grandmother's fantastical storytelling style).