Dead Stars | Review

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez | Review

                    Dead Stars was written in 1925 by Paz Marques Benitez. The story is about a man who had to choose between two things: doing the right thing or doing what his heart wants. Alfredo Salazar is a lawyer and engaged to a woman named Esperanza. They were happy but as time goes, their feelings towards one another started to fade away. After four years, Alfredo met Julia Salas and started to develop his feelings for her. One day, both of their families went to the Coconut Plantation of Alfredo's Family. Julia was planning to leave and go back to her hometown. They bid their final goodbyes and started parting ways. It broke Alfredo's heart, he was confused whether to choose Julia or her fiance, Esperanza. 

                    After Julia left, Alfredo married Esperanza and realized that he loves her and that he was happy. Eight years after their marriage, Alfredo still couldn't stop thinking about his feelings toward Julia and that their memories was hunting him. Alfredo went on a business trip to the town where Julia lives. He saw Julia and remembered his feelings for her but then he realized that it was long gone. He was contented with his life and marriage with Esperanza. Alfredo's feeling for Julia was now just like a Dead Star, it does not exist anymore.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Alfredo Salazar

He is a lawyer and a man who is afflicted with the love of two women, his wife Esperanza and another woman Julia Salas. His father Don Julian is a wealthy man and takes him with himself on his visits to Judge Del Valle.

Esperanza

She a woman of exquisite beauty, charm and wit. She takes care of her house and family. However, she suffers from the lust for material wealth and reputation. She is married to Alfredo after he woos her aggressively.

Julia Salas

She is the other woman in the life of Alfredo Salazar. She is a thoughtful, beautiful and winsome woman who is good at conversing on different and profound issues. She is energetic, enigmatic and vital, a complete opposite of Alfredo. This may be one of the reasons he gravitates toward her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezón, Paz Márquez Benítez authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story, Dead Stars, published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Born into the prominent Márquez family of Quezón province, she was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High School (now, Quezón National High School) and college from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912.