Reader-Response 

Criticism focuses on each reader’s personal

reactions to a text, assuming meaning is created by a reader’s or
interpretive community’s personal interaction with a text. Assumes no
single, correct, universal meaning exists because meaning resides in
the minds of readers.

The story Dead Stars, for me, is hard. Words are not simple and the
author uses too much of figurative language. I really had difficulty in
understanding at first because of the flowery words which made my
mind go crazy. The story is also quite long and so it’s very time-
consuming to read and it took plenty of my time because I have to
read it again to fully grasp the story.

Upon reading the story, I felt different emotions. In my first reading, I

was really not able to understand because my mind was pre-
occupied and it tells me that this story is difficult and so, I find it
difficult at first. But, as I read it once again, I have set my mind to
think that the story is just easy. And so, I think I understood the story.
I really feel sad and sorry for Alfredo because he was in a very
difficult situation. It really is hard to be engaged with someone
thinking that she is the one but all of a sudden here comes a girl who
stole your heart. An old song comes to my mind when I read the
story. It could be Alfredo’s theme song. “How can I tell her about
you? Girl, please tell me what to do. Everything seems right,
whenever I’m you.” I really feel sad because of that. But since he
realized in the end that Julia was really not for her, I felt satisfaction.
It’s like a question has been answered at last.

I also feel sad for Esperanza for experiencing that problem just
before getting married. If it was me, I would have a hard time thinking
about my future with that man. But, her love for Alfredo was greater
that the problem and so I am happy she chose to marry him. In the
end, she is still the winner of Alfredo’s heart.

Feminism Criticism focuses on understanding ways gender roles

are reflected or contradicted by texts, how dominance and
submission play out in texts, and how gender roles evolve in texts.

In the story, traditional gender roles were displayed. Espereranza is

the typical woman, waiting for the decision of his man. She’s like just
sitting there waiting for Alfredo and has no idea her man is eyeing
another woman. It was stated in the story that maybe that is why she
doesn’t seem in a hurry because the man himself seems like he is
not into marrying her. That is just so sad. Women those days were
really dependent. Alfredo on the other hand, displays weakness,
weakness that should not be shown as a man.