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Reader Response

The document summarizes a short story analysis of "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez. It discusses the author, setting in the Philippines during Holy Week, plot about a man named Alfredo whose love for his fiancee Esperanza fades when he meets Julia, themes of forbidden love and responsibility, characters including Alfredo, Esperanza and Julia, and the narrative style of third-person point of view. In the end, Alfredo realizes his love for Julia was like a dead star, non-existent.

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Mikee Mella
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219 views

Reader Response

The document summarizes a short story analysis of "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez. It discusses the author, setting in the Philippines during Holy Week, plot about a man named Alfredo whose love for his fiancee Esperanza fades when he meets Julia, themes of forbidden love and responsibility, characters including Alfredo, Esperanza and Julia, and the narrative style of third-person point of view. In the end, Alfredo realizes his love for Julia was like a dead star, non-existent.

Uploaded by

Mikee Mella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

TAPUAC DISTRICT, DAGUPAN CITY


College of Business Education
A. Y. 2022-2023

Name: Saplan, Vanessa D.


Subject: Sosyedad at Literatura / Panitikang Panlipunan
Instructor: Ms. Carace, Jessica

Dead Star: Reader-Response Criticism

I. Introduction

There is no such thing as unconditional love that will last forever and
never fade away. Love is renewal and must continually sustaining to keep the
fire burning. Love will may be fade or loss but commitments has no end, it is
forever until you die. This short story analysis paper conatins the little background

of the author, Time and place where the story takes place, Plot where you can
know the story of dead stars and see what type of conflic it has, Themes, Sytle of
the short story, Characters and their characteristics, and Language of the story.
And in the end you can come up also with your own insights regarding the story

of dead stars.

II. Discussion

I. Author

Paz Marquez-Benitez was born on March 3, 1894 in Lucena, Quezon.


She studied at the University of the Philippine. She is a creative and a great
writer. She is the author of the short story entitled Dead Stars that was written
in 1925 and has a significant place in Philippine English Literature as it gives
birth to modern English writing in Philippine.

II. Setting

The setting of the short story Dead star are various: Don Julian’s House,
Judge Del Valle’s House, Don Julian’s House in Tanda where there are coconut
and a beach Calle Real Sta. Cruz. The time is Lenten Season, they celebrating
LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
TAPUAC DISTRICT, DAGUPAN CITY
College of Business Education
A. Y. 2022-2023

the holy week proven by the procession they made with Our Lady of Sorrows.

III. Plot

The family of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza are acquainted with each
other and hence they start a romantic relationship. After three years of their
relationship they go engaged. However Alfredo’s love for Esperanza soon fades
away when he meets Julia.

Julia Salas is the sister in law of the judge that friend of Alfredo’s father.
When Alfredo visit his father, he entertain Julia and got attracted to her charm.
Alfredo cannot resist his lust for Julia Even he is so passionate that he does not
disclose his engagement to Esperanza.

To avoid the discovery of his fiancée, he keep secret from Esperanza too.

Alfredo got sad when he knew that Julia will return to his native town with the
fear of losing her, Alfredo decides to confess his feeling to Julia. After the Church
function ends, Alfredo learns that Julia already knew about his engagement to
Esperanza and she wish him the best for his marriage. When he got home,
Esperanza talking to her friend about loyalty and faithfulness and Alfredo join in
conversation. Soon to past Esperanza open up that she knew about his affair with

Julia and she encourages him to cancel the wedding however the wedding goes
ahead as scheduled.

After eight years, Alfredo got assign to some work duty near Julia’s native
town. On his visit, he feels nostalgic and even it is been eight years he still cannot

resist lust for Julia and soon he finds a way to meet Julia. Julia didn’t want Alfredo

not to honor his understanding with Esperanza. She said goodbye. Alfredo went
home to Esperanza. And there, the last word has been said.

Alfredo and Esperanza got married. After eight years, he was searching for
a lady named Brigida Samuy a lady important for his defense in the court in Sta.
Cruz, Julia’s Hometown. He went to Julia’s house and he found out that Julia is
LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
TAPUAC DISTRICT, DAGUPAN CITY
College of Business Education
A. Y. 2022-2023

still unmarried . And then he realized that his love for Julia was like a dead star, it
was non existent.

Character v.s Self - Alfredo fights against his fate as well as the challenges
that come with life and love. He will have to deal with challenges when making
major life decisions.

IV. Themes

The story of Dead star is conveying the theme that pertains to forbidden
love and responsibility that did not fulfill. Forbidden love of a romantic relationship

between Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza which Alfredo cannot resist his lust for
Julia until He realizes His faults. Alfredo Salazar did not fulfill his responsibility to
stick only and pursuit Esperanza alone. He is engaged with Esperanza, yet, He
still can’t control the lust and affection toward to other girls. 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.

V. Characters

Alfredo Salazar – He is also known as Alfred. He is the son of Don Julian.


Third years old bachelor. He is a lawyer who has strong desires and wants
warmth and compassion. The fiancé of Esperanza that soon to be fade away his
love for her and got attracted to Julia Salas.

Esperanza – The wife of Alfredo Salazar who is impassionate woman


having strong will and principles, she also has an aptitude of consistent beauty.
The first woman with whom Alfredo falls in love with.

Julia Salas – The sister in Law of Judge Dal Valle, a friend of Alfredo’s
father. She is an optimistic and Enthusiastic person having her own dreams and
desires. The second woman with whom Alfredo falls in love with but she remains
single for her entire life.

Don Julian – He is the father of Alfredo Salazar.

Carmen – She is the only sister of Alfredo.


LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
TAPUAC DISTRICT, DAGUPAN CITY
College of Business Education
A. Y. 2022-2023

Judge Del Valle – He is Julia’s bother in law

Donna Adella – Julia’s sister. A pretty, small, plump and baby complexion.

Calixta – He is a note-carrier of Esperanza and Alfredo Salazar.

Dionisio – Donna’s Husband.

Vicente – Carmen’s Husband.

Brigida Samuy – The exclusive woman whom Alfredo is searching for.

VI. Style

Dead Stars is a narrative short story. It is written in the third person point of
view using the pronouns he, she, it, they, etc. The kind of plot that used is linear
plot, it is in a chronological order.

III. Conclusion:

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