Dead Stars

* 1. Dead Stars Paz Marquez Benitez * 2. SynopsisThis story revolves around Alfredo Salazar and two women: Esperanza, his fiancéefor four years and a young girl from out-of-town named Julia Salas. Alfredo iscommitted to marrying Esperanza. But he started having second thoughts about hisfeelings when he met Julia in the Judge’s house. But he Aware that all his lovedones-including Julia would not agree if he would not honor his understanding withEsperanza. So he and Esperanza got married And made a family. After eight years, hemet Julia. And then realized that his feelings for Julia was gone. He compares hislove for Julia with a Dead Star. This story is about LOVE and RESPONSIBILITES. * 3. Characters * 4. Alfredo Salazar - son of Don Julian, a more than 30 years old man and a bachelor. He isengaged to Esperanza but him still fleeting to Julia Salas.Esperanza - wife of Alfredo Salazar. She is a homely woman, literal minded and intenselyacquisitive. 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 thatremains single in her entire life.Don Julian - an old man, a father of Alfredo Salazar and Carmen.Carmen - sister of Alfredo Salas.Judge Del Valle - brother-in-law of Julia Salas.Donna Adella -- sister of Julia Salas. She is small and plump, a pretty woman with acomplexion of a baby with a expression of a likeable cow.Calixta - note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza.Dionisio - husband of Donna Adella.Vicente - husband of Carmen.Brigida Samuy - She is the illusive woman whose Alfredo is looking for. * 5. The Setting * 6. Don Julian’s house- Carmen was asking Don Julian about Alfredo’s wedding. Alfredo remembered thatperiod with a wonder not unmixed with shame. That was less than four years ago.He could not understand those months of a great hunger that was not of the bodynor yet of the mind, a craving that had seized on him one quiet night when themoon was abroad and under the dappled shadow of the trees in the plaza, manwooed maid.Judge Del Valle’s house- Alfredo went ‘neighboring with Don Julian. This is when he met Julia Salas. DonJulian and his uncommunicative friend, the Judge, were absorbed in a game of chess.So he and Julia went outside and talked.Don Julian’s house in Tanda where there are coconut plantations and a beach.- After the merienda, Don Julian sauntered off with the judge to show him what athriving young coconut looked like--"plenty of leaves, close set, rich green"--while thechildren, convoyed by Julia Salas, found unending entertainment in the rippling sandleft by the ebbing tide. Alfredo left his perch on the bamboo ladder of the house andfollowed. Alfredo and Julia had a very long conversation and told each other aboutthemselves * 7. Calle Real- After the parade for The Lady Of Sorrows Alfredo caught up with Julia in Calle Real.Julia congratulated him for his upcoming wedding ironically. They were walking untilthe gravel road lay before them; at the roads end the lighted windows of the houseon the hill. There swept over the spirit of Alfredo Salazar a longing so keen that it waspain, a wish that, that house were his, that all the bewilderments of the present werenot, and that this woman by his side were his long wedded wife, returning with him tothe peace of home.Sta. Cruz- Sta. Cruz was Julia’s hometown. Alfredo was searching for Brigida Samuy, a ladyimportant for his defense in the court. Knowing that this place was Julia’s hometown,he thought of his marriage. He was not unhappy. He went to Julia’s house. He saw herShe asked him about the home town, about this and that, in a sober, somewhatmeditative tone. He conversed with increasing ease, though with a growing wonderthat he should be there at all. He could not take his eyes from her face.The time of the story is the Lenten Season because they are celebrating the holy weekproven by the procession they made with the Our Lady of Sorrow. * 8. Plot * 9. Introduction At Don Julian’s house Carmen was asking Don Julian about Alfredo and Esperanza. Alfredo reminiscence how he met Julia Salas. Rising Action He had gone neighboring with Don Julian to judge Del Valle’s house. He met JuliaSalas. All the time he was calling her Mrs. Del Valle which led him to embarrassment.Coming to the judge’s house became often. Then he realized he was in love with Julia in spite his engagement with Esperanza. Climax After the procession for The Lady Of Sorrows Alfredo caught up with Julia. It was when Julia found out about Alfredo’s wedding so he congratulated him. Alfredo needs to make a very difficult situation. Would he choose what he WANTS to? Or would he choose what he HAS to? * 10. Falling ActionJulia didn’t want Alfredo not to honor his understanding with Esperanza. She said goodbye. He went home to Esperanza. And there, the last word has been said. Denouement 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 her there. Still unmarried. And he realized that his love for Julia was like a Dead Star. It was non existent. * 11. Point of View * 12. Third Person Point of View The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). Weknow only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell us. Wecan see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal them to us. * 13. EvidencesCarmen sighed impatiently. "Why is he not a bit more decided, I wonder. He is over thirty, is he not? And still a bachelor! Esperanza must be tired waiting." "She does not seem to be in much of a hurry either," Don Julian nasally commented, while his rose scissors busily snipped away. "A last spurt of hot blood," finished the old man. He and Julia Salas stood looking out into the she quiet night. Sensing unwanted intensity, laughed, woman-like, asking, "Amusement?" * 14. Conflict * 15. Man vs. CircumstancesIn the story, Alfredo struggles against his fate and the circumstances of life and love facing him. He needs to face problems in choosing between difficult choices of his life. * 16. Theme * 17. The short story "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez isconveying the theme that pertains to forbidden love. Itsays that forbidden love is only apparent, and its baneshaunt the person until such time that he realizes hisfaults. * 18. END