DEAD STARS

• BY PAZ MARQUEZ
BENITEZ
 “ So all these years--since
when?--he had been seeing
the light of dead stars,, long
extinguished, yet seemingly
still in their appointed
places in the heavens..”.
PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ
BIOGRAPHY
 Paz was a member of the first freshman class of the University of
the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912.
She was among the first generation of Filipino people trained in
the American education system which used English as the medium
of instruction.
She later became a professor at UP Diliman and taught short
story writing.
Mentored notable other writers such as Bienvenido S. Santos
and Francisco Arcellana.
 Alfredo Salazar - son of Don Julian, a more than
30 years old man and a bachelor. He is engaged
to Esperanza but him still fleeting to Julia Salas.
Esperanza - wife of Alfredo Salazar. She is a
CHARACTERS homely woman, literal minded and intensely
acquisitive. 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 Alfredo Salazar has feelings for.
She remains single in her entire life.
 • Don Julian - an old man, a father of
Alfredo Salazar and Carmen.
• Carmen - sister of Alfredo Salas.
CHARACTERS • Judge Del Valle - brother in law of Julia
Salas.
• Donna Adella - sister of Julia Salas. She
is small and plump, a pretty woman
with a complexion of a baby with a
expression of a likeable cow.
 • Calixta - note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar
and Esperanza.
CHARACTERS • Dionisio - husband of Donna Adella.
• Vicente - husand of Carmen.
• Brigida Samuy - She is the illusive
woman that Alfredo is looking for.
 Don Julian’s House
SETTING - Carmen was asking Don Julian about
Alfredo’s wedding. Alfredo remembered
that period with a wonder not unmixed with
shame. That was less than forty years ago.
 Judge del Valle’s House
SETTING - Alfredo went neighboring with Don Julian.
This is when he met Julia Salas. Don Julian
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 a
thriving young coconut looked like--"plenty
SETTING of leaves, close set, rich green"--while the
children, convoyed by Julia Salas, found
unending entertainment in the rippling sand
left by the ebbing tide. Alfredo left his perch
on the bamboo ladder of the house and
followed. Alfredo and Julia had a very long
conversation and told each other about
themselves.
PLOT
INTRODUCTION

• At Don Julian's house, Carmen was

asking Don Julian about Alfredo and
Esperanza. Alfredo reminisced how he
met Julia Salas.
RISING ACTION
He had gone neighboring with Don Julian to
judge Del Valle's house. He met Julia Salas. All
the time he was calling her Mrs. Del Valle
which led to him to embarrassment. Coming
to the judge's house became often. Then he
realized he has feelings for Julia in spite his
engagement Esperanza.
CLIMAX

• After the procession of 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 WANT to? Or would he choose
what he HAS to?
FALLING ACTION

• Julia 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.
He realized that his love for Julia was like a
Dead Star. It was non existent.
SYNOPSIS
 This story revolves around Alfredo Salazar &
two women: Esperanza, his fiancée for four
years and a young girl from out-of-town named
Julia Salas. Alfredo is committed to marrying
Esperanza. But he started having second
thoughts about his feelings when he met Julia in
the Judges' house.
But he was aware that all his loved ones-
including Julia would not agree if he would not
honor his understanding with Esperanza. So he
and Esperanza got married and made a family.
After 8 years, he met Julia. And then realized
that his feelings for Julia was gone. He compares
his love for Julia with a ‘Dead Star’.
Conflict
Man vs. Circumstances
In the story, Alfredo struggles against
his fate and the circumstances of life &
love facing him. He needs to face
problems in choosing between
difficult choices of his life.
• Man vs. Society
• Alfredo was afraid to the reaction of the people
around him especially during the time of the
story. People oftentimes give high regard to the
society in which they belong. They try to
adhere to the norms, traditions and culture of
their society, though sometimes the conformity
would require them to sacrifice a part of
themselves – an opinion, an emotion or a
decision.
• Man vs. Himself
• Alfredo was uncertain and confused by
his decisions. He was torn between
doing what is right and what is in his
heart.
Symbolism

Dead Stars symbolize a dream for something that is

nonexistent. She was his dream, his star. He thought he's
in love. But like a dead star which is so far away, and
whose shine could be the leftover traveling light from it,
he was a long way getting the girl and he realized that he
is no longer is attracted to her.
Third Person POV
The author tells the story in third person
(using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc.).
We know only what the character knows
and what the author allows him/her o
tell us. We can see the thoughts &
feelings of characters if the author
chooses to reveal them to us.