Dead Stars
by : Paz Marquez Benitez
As a professor, Marquez Benitez used her writing course as
an opportunity to write her first major short story in 1925
titled Dead Stars which was published in the Philippine
Herald. In which the two main characters are displayed as
allegories to American imperialism in order to portray the
slow decay of Philippine heritage.
THE AUTHOR : PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ
• Born in March 3, 1894 in Lucena , Quezon
• She became editor of the Women’s Journal from
1919-1924 , the first feminine magazine in English
published in the Philippines .
• Her only other known published work is “ A Night in
the Hills ’’ (1925)
• Her and her husband’s establishment of educational
magazines ,schools , and her contributions to the
development of creative short story writing courses
within the Philippines is believed to have inspired
generations of Filipino writers .
The story of the short story Dead Stars revolves around a man, Alfredo
Salazar, and his affairs. Alfredo Salazar believes in true love and optimism
to discover ecstasy in its stir. Esperanza is the first woman he falls in
love with.
The families of both of them are acquainted with each other and hence
they start a loving relationship. Both get engaged after three years of their
relationship. Alfredo is a lawyer who has strong desires and wants warmth
and compassion, however, Esperanza is an impassionate woman having
strong will and principles. Alfredo’s love for her soon fades away when he
meets Julia. Julia, now, becomes a new object of his desire.
Julia Salas is sister in law of the Judge, who is a friend of Alfredo’s father.
Julia is an optimistic and enthusiastic person having her own dreams and
desires.
When Alfredo comes across her, he is strongly attracted to her. On
his visit to her with his father, he engages himself in conversation
with her and is attracted to her charm. Even he is so passionate that
he doesn’t disclose his engagement to Esperanza.
So as to avoid the discovery of his fiancée, he keeps secrets from
Esperanza too. His eyes are doomed when he learns about Julia’s
return to his native town. With the fear of losing her, Alfredo decides
to declare his true feeling for Julia.
When the Church’s function ends, Alfredo goes to meet her, though
his fiancé is waiting for him. When he reaches there, he learns that
Julia has already known about his engagement to Esperanza. She
wishes him for his marriage and leaves him.
On his return home, he gets a double blow. He finds Esperanza talking
to her friend about loyalty and faithfulness. Alfredo senses a desire to
communicate. He supports the reason for craving and choice over
dishonesty.
Esperanza soon confesses that she knew about his affair with Julia. In
pursuit of his lust and heart’s content, she encourages him to cancel
the wedding. However, the wedding goes ahead as scheduled and
Alfredo surrenders to reason. Near Julia’s native town, Alfredo, after
eight years, is sent to some work duty. On his visit, he feels nostalgic
and cannot resist his lust for Julia and soon finds an excuse to meet
her.
Julia is still single that forces Alfredo to dream about starting a new
life with her; however, he soon realizes that everything is not the
same as it were before. Moreover, Julia has also changed lost
Theme
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility is another underlying theme of the story.
Alfred is engaged to his beloved to get married, yet, he
distracts himself with another woman Julia. He forgets
his responsibility towards his to-be wife, even after
eight years he still thinks of Julia until he realizes that
Julia has changed herself.
Theme
LOVE AND INFATUATION
Love is the dominant theme of the story. Alfredo loved
Esperanza and she believed in his love to marry him.
Alfredo thought he and Julia loved each other but had
to sacrifice their taboo affair . Alfredo still retained the
flame for Julia only to learn that all this time he never
understood his desire for Julia, It was more a desire for
something different and unachievable that made him
fall for Julia.
Theme
REGRET
Another thematic expression of the story is of regret
and pain. Alfredo regretted never telling Julia about his
engagement before he learned on her own. He even
regretted not being honest to Esperanza regarding his
affection for Julia.
Succumbing to social conventions and scrutiny he
marries Esperanza and ends up ruining eight years of
his and his wife’s marriage.
Theme
TRANSIENCE & MUTABILITY OF CIRCUMSTANCE
The story highlights the futility of chasing momentary
gratification over true and gradual emotions. The
craving for something forbidden over something moral
and legitimate can lead to disastrous results.
Literary and Poetic Devices
“I supposed long-engaged people are like that;
warm now, cool tomorrow. I think they are
oftener cool than warm.”
Figure of Speech: METAPHOR
“Down there” beyond the ancient tamarinds
lay the road, upturned to the stars. In the
darkness the fireflies glimmered, while an
errant breeze strayed in from somewhere,
bringing elusive, faraway sounds as of voices in
a dream.
Poetic Devices: IMAGERY (VISUAL, AUDITORY)
“Like a carabao in a mud pool”
Figure of Speech: SIMILE
“The golden streamer was withdrawing, shortening,
until it looked no more than a pool far away at the rim
of the world. Stillness, a vibrant quiet that affects the
senses as does solemn harmony; a peace that is not
contentment but a cessation of tumult when all
violence of feeling tones down to the wistful serenity
of regret. She turned and looked into his face, in her
dark eyes a ghost of sunset sadness.”
Poetic Devices: IMAGERY (Visual)
“So all these years–since when?–he had been
seeing the light of dead stars, long
extinguished, yet seemingly still in their
appointed places in the heavens.
Figure of Speech: METAPHOR
“Esperanza herself–Esperanza waiting,
Esperanza no longer young, Esperanza the
efficient, the literal-minded, the intensely
acquisitive.”
Poetic Devices: ANAPHORA
“Six weeks ago that house meant nothing to him save
that it was the Martinez house, rented and occupied by
Judge del Valle and his family. Six weeks ago Julia Salas
meant nothing to him; he did not even know her name;
but now–”
Poetic Devices: ANAPHORA
“She was small and plump, with wide brown eyes, clearly
defined eyebrows, and delicately modeled hips–a pretty
woman with the complexion of a baby and the expression
of a likable cow. Julia was taller, not so obviously pretty.
She had the same eyebrows and lips, but she was much
darker, of a smooth rich brown with underlying tones of
crimson which heightened the impression she gave of
abounding vitality.”
Poetic Devices: IMAGERY (VISUAL)
“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 emotion it will yield. Men commit themselves
when but half-meaning to do so, sacrificing possible
future fullness of ecstasy to the craving for
immediate excitement. Greed–mortgaging the
future–forcing the hand of Time, or of Fate.”
Poetic Devices: ANAPHORA
Special Words to Remember
“The end of an impossible dream!”
Special Words to Remember
“Oh, old things, mistakes, encumbrances,
old baggage.”
Special Words to Remember
“A man is happier if he is, as you say,
calm and placid.”
Thank you!
