Nature of Love: A formalist criticism of Paz Marquez Benitez “Dead Star”

Thesis statement: in the perspective of formalist criticism the short story

“ D e a d S t a r ” b y: P a z M a r q u e z B e n i t e z s h o w h o w b e a u t i f u l a n d d i s a s t r o u s
love can be.

Dead Star is a love story about a man named Alfredo Salazar, who has his
fiancé in the person of Es peranza and they have 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 howe ver, he sees
another girl, when he goes with his father to a judge’s house. He tries to
s e e k l o v e i n h e r , b u t s h e k i n d a d e c l i n e s . I n t h a t w a y, A l f r e d o b e c a m e a
little bit confused in his upcoming wedding where he is about to choose
between two options; to do what he should do by marrying Esperanza as
prescribed by his parents or to do what he wants to do by having Julia
Salas, his dream – the dead star in his life.

The feeling of being in love is exciting. In the story it stated that Alfredo
could not understand those months of great hunger that was not of the
b o d y n o r ye t o f t h e m i n d , a c r a v i n g t h a t h a d s e i z e d o n h i m . T h i s s t a t e m e n t
show how Alfredo reacts when he felt love for the first time. Being in
love was a great experience it gave the person a motiva tion to achieve
what they reall y wanted. In the story Alfredo was so eager to fall in love
because of the beauty that love brings. So he court Esperanza to know the
feeling of being loved.

F o r b i d d e n l o v e i s v e r y d i s a s t r o u s . S u d d e n l y, A l f r e d o ' s s l o w b l o o d b e g a n
t o b e a t v i o l e n t l y, i r r e g u l a r l y. A g i r l w a s c o m i n g d o w n t h e l i n e - - a g i r l t h a t
was striking, and vividly alive, the woman that could cause violent
c o m m o t i o n i n h i s h e a r t , ye t h a d n o p l a c e i n t h e c o m p l e t e d o r d e r i n g o f h i s
life. This line from the text shows how forbidden love can destroy the
love of a person towards other. Love is very sacred and must not be given
to just any person. In this line it shows that Alfredo was thinking of other
girl even his wedding is coming . Alfredo thinking of other girl ma y affect
his wedding if he choose a wrong path it may destroy his career.

Being honest is needed in every relationship. Esperanza had wanted to

know if he went straight home after mass. Alfredo suddenly realized that
for several Sundays now he had not wait ed for Esperanza to come out of
the church as he had been wont to do. He had been eager to go
"neighboring." He answered that he went home to work. And, because he
was not habitually untruthful, added, "Sometimes I go with Papa to Judge
del Valle's." in this part of the story Alfredo told a lie to Esperanza this
may affect their relationship. He lied so that Esperanza will not get hurt
but being dishonest is a sign of not good relationship. But if a lie gets
bigger the problem will also get bigger. Alfredo telling lie on Esperanza
will just make their relationship unhealthy and may lead to
misunderstanding. Honesty is a key component of a healthy relationship,
not only because it helps us avoid harmful breaches of trust, but because
it allows us to live in reality as opposed to fantasy and to share this
reality with someone else .

T h e m a i n s ym b o l u s e i n t h e s t o r y w a s D e a d S t a r a n d i t i s a l s o u s e d a s t h e
title. Dead star means represent a presence that is unrecognized. It speaks
of emotions and relationships that may exist but are not realized and lose
t h e i r r e a l m e a n i n g a n d s i g n i f i c a n c e . I n t h e s t o r y, t h e a t t r a c t i o n b e t w e e n
Alfredo and Julia is a forbidden. They both felt is to be real but never
accepted their mutual attraction or confessed it. However, the truth
remains that they never intently examined their sentiments and
relationship. Therefore, when they reunite after eight years they do not
have the same passion for each other.

Conclusion the story tells a forbidden love which is not accepted by the
s o c i e t y. A l f r e d o a n d J u l i a s h o w s a n e x a m p l e o f f o r b i d d e n l o v e w h e r e
Alfredo is already engaged and had another woman which is Julia.
Alfredo’s feeling for Julia is an obstacle to the relationship of Alfredo
and Esperanza. But in the end of the story it sho ws that forbidden love
w i l l n e v e r w o r k . L o v e i s a b e a u t i f u l t h i n g t h a t e v e r yo n e w a n t s f e e l . J u s t
like Alfredo when he falls in love with Esperanza he was so eager and
willing to do everything to get Esperanza. Love is not the feeling of
sexually attracted or feel romantic it is deeper which can only be feel by
those who were really in love.