Dead Stars1

8/2/2019 Dead Stars1

1/20

Group 2Uy, IvanFlores, RachelSangria, Kathlene

Tia, TrixiePerez, Meara


2/20

Paz Marquez Benitez


3/20

Born on 1894 in Lucena City, Quezon, Authored the first Filipino modern English-language

short story,

Dead Stars was published in the Philippine Herald in1925.

was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in theAmerican education system which used English as the

medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High School (now,

Quezon National High School) and college from theUniversity of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts

degree


4/20

became a teacher at the University of thePhilippines,

taught short-story writing and becoming an

influential figure to many Filipino writers in theEnglish language.

The annually held Paz-Marquez Benitez Lecturesin the Philippines honors her memory byfocusing on the contribution of Filipino womenwriters to Philippine Literature in the Englishlanguage.


5/20

After Dead Stars she only had one more

published short story, entitled "A Night In TheHills". Nevertheless, she made her mark inPhilippine literature because her work isconsidered the first modern Philippine short

story.


6/20

The story revolves around Alfredo Salazar,an attorney and a bachelor over thirty, andtwo women: Esperanza, his fianc of fouryears, and a young girl from out-of-townnamed Julia Salas. Everyone takes it forgranted that Alfredo will eventually marry

Esperanza. But although he is ashamed toadmit it, the intensity of his passion forEsperanza has faded and he is attracted toJulia, whom he meets at a dinner party.


7/20

Alfredo is aware that all his loved ones-including Julia-would disapprove of his failure tohonor his understanding with Esperanza. So he

and Esperanza got married and had a family.Then, eight years later, he went to a businesstrip to the town where Julia lives. He visits Julia,whom he has never forgotten. But he issurprised to find that he no longer feelsattracted to her. He compares the memory of hislove for her to dead stars, whose glow is stillvisible from the earth for years after they aregone.


8/20

Alfredo Salazar - son of Don Julian, a man more than 30 years ofage and still a bachelor. He is engaged to Esperanza but he isstill fleeting to Julia Salas

Esperanza fiance/wife of Alfredo Salazar. She is a homelywoman, literal minded and intensely acquisitive. She is one ofthose fortunate women who have the gift of uniformly beauty

Julia Salas - sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle. She is the other girlof Alfredo Salazar that remained single even after many years

Don Julian - father of Alfredo Salazar and Carmen

Carmen - sister of Alfredo Salazar


9/20

Judge Del Valle - brother-in-law of Julia Salas

Donna Adela - sister of Julia Salas. She is small

and plump, a pretty woman with a complexionof a baby with a expression of a likeable cow

Calixta - note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar andEsperanza

Dionisio - husband of Donna Adela.

Vicente - husband of Carmen


10/20

Just like Alfredo, a lot of us see them in our heaven of

thoughts. Sometimes we feel as if the feeling is still there,that in one moment during our present, we recall these

memories that had packed our past emotions with a sky ofrainbows, enough to make us feel in love and hurt all in ashort while. These dead stars are things we rememberoccasionally, not solely because of the other person, butbecause of who we were at the time. The other person

doesnt even play a big part in the production anymore; heor she is just a character, a supporting role. The mainattraction is how it made us feel, the relationship, theemotions involved.


11/20

People of the past, the Filipinos to be straight,are conservative and traditional. It is in our rootsto be concerned of what society will speak of us

with regards to our actions. That was whyAlfredo had chosen Esperanza it wasundoubtedly out of duty, and not out of love. Hefelt he had to do it, or hell risk his relationship

with his family, Esperanzas family, theneighbors perhaps, and many otherrelationships.


12/20

What comes to mind when you hear the wordStar? What kind of value do we ascribe to

this particular heavenly entity?

- Whenever we hear the word star, weassociate it with the stars in the night sky or aperson who is great in his/her field. Stars arethings that are usually considered beautifultherefore precious and also being enigmatic.


13/20

Why is the story entitled Dead Stars?

- In the story, dead stars symbolize a dream for

something that is nonexistent. Alfredo loved Julia;she was his dream, his star. He thought there waslove between them. But like a dead star, which isso far away, and whose shine could actually be

the leftover traveling light from it, he was a longway from getting the girl, and the love he thoughtwas possible, never was.


14/20

The two women in the story, Julia and Esperanzarepresent two kinds of love. How did theyexpress their love to Alfredo?

- Esperanza truly loved Alfredo; she was hurtwhen Alfredo would rather be with Julia than her,his fiance. Julias love was sacrificed. Maybe shedidnt want Alfredo to be talked behind his back

because of his unfaithfulness to his fiance. Juliamay felt that Esperanza found Alfredo first andthey had more time together than she with him.


15/20

Why did Alfredo defend Calixta, the maidEsperanza said who eloped with a married

man?- Defending Calixta is synonymously defendinghimself and Julia. He didnt go straight to thepoint, but he fills the shoes of Calixta tosomehow empathize to his situation.


16/20

Why didnt Julia confront Alfredo when shelearned that he was getting married?

- Julia somehow having feelings for Alfredo, didnt

want to interfere with between Alfredo andEsperanzas relationship. Was Alfredo insensitive when he invited Julia to

his wedding?- Yes, Alfredo was insensitive when he invited Julia

to his wedding. Somehow knowing that Julia alsoharbors feelings for him, still he invited her makeshim insensitive.


17/20

What did Alfredo realize when he saw Julia after somany years? What do you think is Alfredos biggestmistake? Explain your Answer

- Alfredo saw Julia when he was at Calle Luz andfound out that there was no magic between them.Alfredos biggest mistake was marrying Esperanza. Hemarried her because he felt the need to followthrough his promises even if he knew that there wasno more love between them. He chose Esperanzabecause it was impossible to do otherwise. It was tosatisfy the call of society, and because he was justbeing a gentleman.


18/20


19/20


20/20

To whom did he fall for while being engaged?

Where did the two meet?

If you were Alfredo would you pursue your newfound love even though you are alreadyengaged? (explain in 1 sentence only)

Who is Julias sister? (describe)

Why was the story entitled Dead Stars?

Dead Stars1

Documents

Transcript of Dead Stars1