Analysis of "the Dead Stars" An analysis of the short story "Dead Stars," a story of "what if" as a married man again meets the woman he fell in love with many years earlier while engaged to his wife. The story is basically a compilation of the complicated circumstances that every man has to go through in life.
Alfredo was once in love with Esperanza, no doubt, but there comes a time when love fades, and the only thing holding you together is the vow you gave your fiancée, that which you cannot take back. Why can't you take it back? Its because you are afraid of what will be the reaction of the people around you, specially during the time of the story. What's visibly wrong about this is that most often than not, men refuse to listen to their own yearnings and s imply submit to further dehumanization. Love here, though perhaps genuine to a point, for Alfredo, is seemingly weak and purposive. Weak, because it is eventually overcome by propriety, and purposive because it was merely a tool to justify his desire to go against society; that for once he will not be a puppet, but the master of his own fate. In the story, Alfredo falls drastically in love with Julia even as he is engaged to Esperanza, but in the end forgoes the idea. He kept on holding on to that glimmer of "what could have been" through out the years of his marriage to Esperanza, but upon meeting Julia again, he realizes t hat what he thought was there, had now gone for more than one reason. First, it is possible to say that after what society has done to him (dehumanized him), he found at peace in his place, and sought no more that illusive dream of yesterday. He understood, after meeting her again, that it was nostalgia that was taking hold of his heart, and not the "love" that he once felt for her. It is said in the story that he is not unhappy with his marriage, but a part of him always slips away from the world in order to dream of another life that could have blossomed, had he chose Julia over Esperanza. On the other hand, it is possible that there was no real love to speak of, but a desire for something else. He desired youth. Although relatively young, he desired the qualities that the youthful possessed: vigor, passion, vitality. These are a few things that he lacked as a person and to find these in Julia gave him a sense of completeness. It was a welcomed changed in his life, and he wanted to hold on to it for as long as he could, since even if he couldn't be like Julia, he is comforted by the thought that he was able to meet someone who is di fferent from everybody else, and that she could have been his wife. He is noted to be of a cool and calm demeanor, which is why it seems out of character if he s uddenly bursts with energy. Dead stars symbolize things that are present but are left unspoken of. The love between Alfredo and Julia seemed real, but look closer and one can state that it was hardly mutual, and that it was impossible to l ast. Esperanza's devotion to Alfredo also resembles love, but since she believes in the "regenerative virtue of institution" more than true love, it is safe to say that she is in the relationship, because of moral obligation. So what one thought as real (or present) is now nothing but an illusion. Source: http://marjmag.blogspot.com/2011/05/analysis-of-dead-stars.html Source: http://marjmag.blogspot.com/2011/05/analysis-of-dead-stars.html Alfredo Salazar from Paz Marquez-Benitez’ Marquez- Benitez’ "Dead Stars": A Character Analysis (In which I pose another attempt toward reactivation.)
*** Paz Marquez-Benitez, in her masterpiece Dead Stars, did not only write about a love story. Most importantly, her writing reflects the time in which the literary work was written along with the language, the norms and t he way people think. It serves as a literary time machine for readers as it enables them to understand how courtship, marriage and fidelity were viewed through the early 1900 standards. It renders a sound comparison between the past and the present, the existing modern culture and the fading, almost obsolete tradition. Although the comparison and contrast provides a good critical foundation, another highly significa nt aspect of this short story involves the main character, Alfredo Salazar, which, always applies to whatever era, hence the focus of this paper. His confusion, weakness and unreasonableness are innate flaws of humans. Perhaps one of the many reasons why this work is timeless is that readers never fail to see a part of them in Alfredo Salazar’s character , character , making the short story a rich source of serious ruminations on society, love and humanity.
People oftentimes give high regard to the society in which they belong. They try to adhere to the norms, traditions and cultu re of their society, though sometimes the conformity would require them to sacrifice a part of themselves – an an opinion, an emotion or a decision. However, there are cases wherein the established norms and rules of society are the ones which s hould prevail. In Dead Stars, the main character, Alfredo Salazar, was torn between making two important decisions – to to marry or not to marry. But just like other dilemmas, the crossroad in which he found himself in was not to be solved without harming anyone. He was engaged to Esperanza, his fiancée of four years. years . Theirs was undoubtedly a love that was true. But for some reasons, apparently on Alfredo’s part, a change of heart has taken place. place. He has fallen for Julia Salas, the sister-in-law of the judge whom his father had a meeting meeting with. After spending several afternoons and conversations, he found himself slowly getting attached to her that he started losing concern for Esperanza. In the end, however, he married his fiancée and though their marriage was not an unhappy one, he still
could not take the possibilities of a future with Julia off his mind. Until one day, their paths crossed again and he realized one painful truth that led him to liberation at last.
Human emotions are very intricate and delicate both at its lowest and highest. And so is love. When Alfredo was still passionately attached to Esperanza, he was overwhelmed. Taking the conversation of Alfredo’s sister, Carmen, and his father, Don J ulian into consideration, readers can deliberately conclude that he was indeed in love. . . . “Papa, do you remember how much in love he was?” “In love? With whom?” “With Esperanza of course. He has not had another love affair that I know of,” she said with good -natured contempt. “What I mean is that in the beginning he was enthusiastic – flowers, serenades, notes and things like that.’ The excerpt was a good manifestation of how change in men occurs. But since change is men’s “wine and bread” according to Angela Manalang-Gloria, it is as essential as living itself, and therefore the most important things to be cons idered after the transition are the causes, the way one deals with change and the consequences. Alfredo was aware of the cause of his change as what is shown in the following paragraph: Why would men so mismanage their lives? Greed, he thought, was what ruined so many. Greed – the desire to crowd into a moment all the enjoyment it will hold, to squeeze from the hour all the emotions it will yield. Men commit themselves when bu t half-meaning to do so, sacrificing possible future fullness of ecstasy to the craving for i mmediate excitement. . . Another significant reason as to his emotional wanderings could be the length of time in which he was engaged o Esperanza. As what Don Julian had philosophize, couples who were engaged for so long become too comfortable and familiar with each other that the spark of love that was felt at t he time the romance was just starting to blossom would expectantly cool down – that it “argues a certain placidity of temperament – or of affection – on the part of either, or both”. \ Another factor to be considered was the contrast of Alfredo and Julia’s personalities. Alfredo was “calm and placid” while J ulia was lively and full of vitality. T he difference between them must have excited him as he saw in her the things he lacked. However, though aware he was of the possible reasons why he, as well as men, or even humans in general, succumb to acts or thoughts of subtle infidelity, his attitude to wards what is moral and not becomes shadowed in the attempts to justify his own behavior. Stances about the argument he had with Esperanza regarding the latter’s anger toward Calixta’s cohabitation with the man she’s not married to, may vary. But again, one’s act was expected to adhere with what is the established morality in a certain society. Because of what seemed as a liberal notion, Alfredo was trapped in a situation where he has to defend himself and in the process, what was manifested was his greed. “One tries to be fair – according to his lights – but it is hard. One would like to be fair to one’s self first.” But the wedding materialized; He chose not to break his word probably in order to save himself, Esperanza and Julia from social ridicule. He felt that his moral and social obligations were already fulfilled upon choosing not to cause humiliation to them all. The way in which he chose to deal with his internal change was to consider the way in which the society will view the people involved. But perhaps he felt that in doing so he has deprived himself of fairness. So he became distant and unreachable to Esperanza although he stayed with her and treated her gently. He has developed the skill in being unaffected and somehow mastered the art of being detached.
After several years, he was sent by his profession in search for the elusive Brigida Samuy and into the hometown of Julia Salas. Upon seeing her and finding out that she never married, he started to notice that she lost something, even doubted if the los s was his. As he tried to find the answer, a great realization dawned on him. Gently – was it experimentally? – he pressed her hand at parting; but his remained undisturbed and emotionless. Did she still care? The answer to the question hardly interested him. . . . So all these years – since when? – he had seen the light of dead stars, lo ng extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens.
Therefore, the love he thought he (Alfredo Salazar) felt for her (Julia Salas) during the short s ummer they shared was not the love that was enough to break an engagement. Nor was it love in its strictest definition. Instead, it was desire that sprung from the coldness that slowly crept in his relationship with Esperanza due to their long-time familiarity with each other. It was excitement that was ignited by boredom and “the last spurt o f hot blood.” Alfredo symbolizes the greed and indecisiveness of men when it comes to dealing with the matters of the emotion. He had entertained the pull of an anonymous feeling. Anonymous since he never really ventured to understand it but he clung to it anyway. And in the process he lost a part o f himself and deprived that part to Esperanza as well. Had it not been for chasing the lights of an ill usive love that was long dead, or worse, never was, would Alfredo be happier in his marriage? Is it fair to say that he has wasted the milestones of a blissful marriage with a woman he loved first all for the sake of an impossible whim? Considering the disappointment he manifested upon realizing what he lost, the answer, is yes. *In the process of feeding the lack or sense of being incomplete, she lost her initial love and was disillusioned by the fact that the “love” he was so eager to chase for, that he disregarded his first love for, was actually never “love” after all.
Source: http://bibliophilicnightowl.blogspot.com/2011/01/alfredo-salazar-from-paz-marquez.html Dead Stars is one of the best Philippine short stories that has already tested time and generations. It has endured decades of changing ideals and trends, but the fact still remains that it’s one of those stories that everyone can still relate to, fr om teenagers who are just beginning to be interested in the opposite sex, to those people who have already loved and lost it. The story Dead Stars has immortalized Paz Marquez Benitez in the minds and hearts of r eaders and non-readers alike. M ost teenagers today would tell you that they have come across the story because it had been required by their teachers in school. Only a few would have actually read it because they wanted to. Either way, after you’ve read the story, it would stick to you not only because you’re required to, but because it will feel like it’s a new experience to you that you just know you’ll forever treasure . Not a lot of sources today will give you summary of Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez , because they will think it cruel to ruin the story for you. However, you may find a few good sources giving you a brief but very dense analysis of the story, should you have enough patience to look through the web. For those looking for the analysis of Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez , you will find the ones that are online helpful to you not only in realizing things about the story that you didn’t think were possible, but also because it will give you a fresh outlo ok about the best Philippine short stories and the Philippine epic stories as well. Personally, I would rather you read the short story first, so you can enjoy reading more the Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez analysis that you’re looking for. Incidentally, there is a poem that has been created as answer to the premise of this short story. If you want to read that as well, you can visit this s ite on Filipino poems. Source: http://www.patulong.com/dead-stars-by-paz-marquez-benitez-analysis/ the times, oh the times The short story, "Dead Stars" was written during the American Colonization of the Philippines, a time when the modern short story, critical essay, and free verse poetry were introduced. English was the medium of learning, and became, as well, the language of the learned. This was also the time when utilitarian literature was slowly being overshadowed by the individualistic, modern view of creating "art for art's sake". Paz Marquez- Benitez was born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezon to the prominent Marquez family. Being one of the students who learned under American Education, she wrote the first Filipino modern short story in E nglish. This achievement put her and her story as one of the best writers and best Filipino short stories. Paz went to the Tayabas High School (now Quezon National High School) and proceeded for college in the University of the Philippines, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She then married UP College of Education dean, Dean Francisco Benitez, two years after her graduation. She had two children. She then became a teacher in the same university, teaching short story writing. She is an i nfluential figure to some Filipino writers, such as Loreto Paras-Sulit, Paz M. Latorena, Arturo Belleza Rotor, Bienvenido N. Santos and Francisco Arcellana. She wrote one more story, entitled "A Night in the Hills". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paz_M%C3%A1rquez-Ben%C3%ADtez Interpretation
Dead Stars is a story about the fickleness of Alfredo Salazar, a man in his thirties who is about to be married to a woman na med Esperanza after four years of their being engaged. It begins with Alfredo staring out from the open window, who is being talk ed about by his father and sister regarding his marriage and his love life. We are told that he was so in love, that "at the beg inning he was enthusiastic--flowers, serenades, notes, and things like that --" towards Esperanza. But his sister has observed that something has happened to him, that he was no longer aggressive and perhaps, youthful. Their father then explains that it is normal, th at long-engaged people are "warm now, cool tomorrow", that Alfredo was having his "last spurt of hot blood".
Alfredo "fell in love" with another woman in just a few weeks of his "neighboring" to the Martinez Residence, where Julia Salas stayed for her visit. Julia too, seemed to have fallen for Alfredo, but both knew that what they had was against, perhaps, mo rality, and was subject to the scrutiny and judgement of the society. Alfredo, being an engaged man, should not involve himself with others. But he chose to live a lie, he believed he found "youth" and "heart's desire" up in the hills with Julia. He always r easoned that " If a man were married, why, of course, he loved his wife; if he were engaged, he could not possibly love another woman." But then he immersed himself in an illusion, in a dream that he can possibly be with Julia despite hurting Esperanza, and of course, breaking a lot of society's rules. In the end, in his final encounter with Julia where the girl did not seem to respond to his last show of love, there he was redeemed from that delusion, that all along he was holding on to nothing; that all along he w as looking at dead stars. *Stars that appear presently to the naked eye on the sky are already dead. They are light years away from us Summary: Dead Stars by Paz Marquez-Benitez
Dead Stars by Paz Marquez-Benitez Alfredo Salazar was betrothed to Esperanza, h is girlfriend for four years. T he start of their relationship was relatively “warm”, with Alfredo wooing Esperanza like a man in dire lovesickness. But as the years went by, the warm love’s fire slowly flickere d. And it was because of Julia Salas. She was charming and gleeful. He shared moments of light but sometimes deep conversations with her when the lawyer Alfredo visited Julia’s brother -in-law, who was a judge. He always went there with his father and since it was his father who needed to talk to the judge, he was always left to Julia’s company. He never told her he was engaged. At first he didn’t notice that a change in his heart was taking form. But then he started keeping details of his activities to his fiancée and then the guilty feeling crept in. when he found out that Julia was about to head back to her distant hometown, he felt blue and frightened. He met her in church after the Holy Thursday procession, although he knew that Esperanza was already waiting for him. He approached her and she conversed with him with an expression that told him she finally knew. She congratulated him and said she will be at his wedding. Then they parted. When he visited Esperanza in her house, he overheard her talking to another woman about infidelity and immorality, to which he reasoned in favor of the condemned. The statement caused an intense fury to Esperanza and she told him that she knew. She dared Alfredo to abandon her, along with morality and reason and her dignity as a woman as well as her image before the so ciety all for the sake of his “being fair to himself”. Eventually the wedding took place. And after several years, Alfredo was sent to a distant village due to a legal assignment. It bothered him so much because it was near Julia’s hometown. But he still f ound himself making his way to her house despite of himself. And he found her there, just as how and where he expected her to be. She never married. And he wondered how life would be if he ended up with her. But all was too late and he could never bring things back. He also noticed that Julia lost something, albeit the fact that he didn’t know what that is – youth, love, luster? And when he looked at her he doubted if she ever cared for him, if he has mistaken the past light i n her eyes as manifestations of a possible romance. But now they’re all gone. And so it was indeed all done.
The story revolves around Alfredo Salazar, a bachelor over 30, and two women: Esperanza, his fiancée of four years, and a young girl from out-of-town named Julia Salas. Everyone takes it for granted that Alfredo will eventually marry Esperanza. But although he is ashamed to admit it, the intensity of his passion for Esperanza has faded and he is attracted to Julia, whom he meets at a dinner party. But he is aware that all his lo ved ones – including Julia – would disapprove of his failure to honor his understanding
with Esperanza. So he and Esperanza get married and have a family. Then, 8 years later, he goes on a business trip to the to wn where Julia, still unmarried, lives. He goes to visit Julia, whom he has never forgotten. But he is surpr ised to find that he no longer feels attracted to her. He compares the memory of his love for her to dead stars, whose glow is still visible fro m the earth for years after they are gone. Dead stars is a love story about a man named Alfredo Salazar, who has this fiancée named Esperanza and they had been engaged for quite some time. Society views them as an ideal couple. Their wedding is about to take place in the near future. Prior to the wedding however, he sees another girl, when he goes with his father to a judge’s house. He tries to seek love in her, but she kinda declines. In that way, Alfredo became a little bit confused in his upcoming wedding where he is about to chose between 2 optio ns: to do what he should do my marrying Esperanza as prescribed by her parents or to do what he wants to do by having Julia Salas, his dream – the dead star in his life. In the story, dead stars symbolize a dream for so mething that is nonexistent in the f irst place. The guy loved the girl. She was his dream, his star. He thought there was love there. But like a dead star which is so far away, and whose shine could actually b e leftover travelling light form it, he was a long way fro m getting the girl, and the love he t hought was possible, never was.
**Characters
Alfredo Salazar – son of Don Julian, a more than 30 year old man and a bachelor. He is engaged to Esperanza but him still fleeting to Julia Salas. Esperanza – wife of Alfredo Salazar. She is a homely woman, literal mided and intensely acquisitive. She is one of those fortunate women who have the gift of uniformly beauty. Julia Salas – Sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle. She is the other girl of Alfredo Salazar that remains single her entire life. Don Julian – an old man, a father of Alfredo Salazar and Carmen Carmen – sister of Alfredo Salazar Judge Del Valle – brother-in-law of Julia Salas Donna Adella – sister of Julia Salas. Calixta – note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza Dionisio – husband of Donna Adella Vicente – husband of Carmen Brigida Samuy – She is the illusive woman who Alfredo is looking for.
