6/10/2018 12:10:00 AM

CAEDO,MARIA MARGARITA

PHILITS

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

The short story revolves around a young man named Alfredo Salazar, a lawyer
who is betrothed to his partner of four years named Esperanza. Their
relationship at the start was filled with enthusiasm and bliss but just like any
other long-term relationships, things fade away and no longer has the same
vibes as how it was back then. After a few years Alfredo suddenly starts to
develop a liking for Julia, a visitor in town whom he met while doing
neighboring deals with his father. They find good company in each other’s
presence until Alfredo realizes that it had become a weekly habit for him to
see her every Sunday after church. One day, his family invited Julia’s family in
their coconut plantation by the beach. This gives them both the time to spend
hours together and for them to finally say their farewells which leads Alfredo
to being conflicted with his feelings. He thinks of choosing Julia instead of
Esperanza but is worried about what people might think regarding it. Soon
enough, he marries Esperanza after Julia has left town but nevertheless he still
cannot get over the memories he shared with Julia. His thoughts on her keep
haunting him with the “what ifs” or the “could’ve been’s”. As Alfredo goes on
his business trip, he comes across Julia in that town. He has not forgotten
about his feelings for her though overtime finally learned to accept his
marriage to Esperanza, he is quite content with his life and somewhat
perceives that the love he had for Julia aligns with “light of dead stars, long
extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens."

The story symbolizes things that are present yet left uncertain or unspoken of.
Just like the love Julia and Alfredo had, it was real and there were great
moments though as time had gone by it has faded, like a dead star. What
Alfredo harbored all those years slipped away but still holds a place in his
heart. The story conveys the theme that pertains to forbidden love. It says that
forbidden love is only apparent, and its bane haunts the person until such
time that he realizes his faults. The underlying theme is responsibility, as
shown by the story that Alfredo is engaged to be married to Esperanza and
people expect him to marry her.
It also shows how men are easy to fall out love and easy to fall in love with.,
Alfredo is uncertain by his decisions in his life, he was engaged to Esperanza,
his fiancée of four years. But for some reason, apparently on Alfredo’s part, a
change of heart has taken place. He has fallen for Julia Salas, the sister-in-law
of the judge whom his father had a meeting with. His confusion, weakness and
unreasonableness are innate flaws human beings experience in life.
Sometimes even if we try to get involved in such circumstances like this, we
aren’t able to resist it. And that was the case of Alfredo getting into a
relationship with Julia despite being engaged already to Esperanza.
6/10/2018 12:10:00 AM
6/10/2018 12:10:00 AM