Dead Stars

Title: Dead Stars

Author: Paz Marquez Benitez

Author’s Background:

Paz Marquez-Benitez (1894–1983), who authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story "Dead Stars", was born in Lucena City, Quezon.

Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction.

She taught at the University of the Philippines’ English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a reputation as an outstanding teacher.

She became an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language, among them, Loreto Paras Sulit, Paz Latorena, Bienvenido Santos, Manuel Arguilla, S.P. Lopez and National Artist Francisco Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of us all!”

In 1919, she founded "Woman's Home Journal", the first women's magazine in the country. In 1928, she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the first anthology of Philippine stories in English by Filipinos, from the works of her students.

She married UP College of Education Dean Francisco Benítez, with whom she had four children.

She died on November 10, 1983.

The annually held Paz Marquez-Benitez Lectures (Ateneo) honors her memory by focusing on the contributions of Filipino women writers to Philippine Literature in the English language.

Source: https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/972/today-in-philippine-history-march-3-1894-paz-marquezbenitez-was-born-in-lucena-city-quezon

Vocabulary:

melancholy - a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
tranquil - free from disturbance; calm.
contempt -  the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
dappled - marked with spots or rounded patches.
fabrication – the action or process of manufacturing or inventing something.
perfervid – intense and impassioned.
insipid – lacking flavor.
monotonies – lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.
tumultuous – making a loud, confused noise; uproarious.
avidly – with great interest or enthusiasm.
delude – impose a misleading belief upon (someone); deceive; fool.
immemorial – originating in the distant past; very old.
ecstasy – an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
placid  – (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited.
temperament – a person's or animal's nature, especially as it permanently affects their behavior.
resonant – (of sound) deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.
repose – a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility
indolence – avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
spurt – a sudden gushing stream.
incontrovertible – not able to be denied or disputed.
recalcitrant – having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
betokened - be a sign of; indicate.
exuberant – filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.
fastidious – very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
tarred – cover (something) with tar.
austere – severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
desultory – lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
conversationalist – a person who is good at or fond of engaging in conversation.
porch – a covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building.
beckon – make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow.
imperious – assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.
prying – excessively interested in a person's private affairs; too inquisitive.
poignantly – in a way that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret.
errant – erring or straying from the proper course or standards.
elusive – difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
saunter – walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.
absurdity – the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.
ebb – (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.
forthwith – (especially in official use) immediately; without delay.
flushed – (of a person's skin) red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion.
frank – open, honest, and direct in speech or writing, especially when dealing with unpalatable matters.
inflection – the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.
tantalizing – torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable.
poised – having a composed and self-assured manner.
piquant – having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.
perverse – (of a person or their actions) showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences.
meditative – of, involving, or absorbed in meditation or considered thought.
retort – say something in answer to a remark or accusation, typically in a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive manner.
woo – try to gain the love of (someone, typically a woman), especially with a view to marriage.
covert – not openly acknowledged or displayed.
aver – state or assert to be the case.
emphatically – in a forceful way.
solemn – formal and dignified.
cessation – the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
tumult – a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.
wistful – having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
serenity – the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
encumbrance – a burden or impediment.
indolent – wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
cubbyhole – a small, enclosed compartment or room.
quaint – attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
devout – having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
gaily – in a cheerful or lighthearted way.
wick – a strip of porous material up which liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action to the flame in a candle, lamp, or lighter.
acrid  – having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell.
sedate – calm, dignified, and unhurried.
circuitous – (of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.
winnow – blow a current of air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff.
nuance – a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
disdain – the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.
bewilderment – a feeling of being perplexed and confused.
feeble – lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
acquisitive – excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
indignant – feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.
 – great enjoyment.
orthodoxy  – authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice.
capitulation – the action of surrendering or ceasing to resist an opponent or demand.
solace – comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.
sinuous – having many curves and turns.
peculiar – strange or odd; unusual.
cadence – a modulation or inflection of the voice.
lugubrious – looking or sounding sad and dismal.
forlornly – pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
shrill – (of a voice or sound) high-pitched and piercing.
volition – the faculty or power of using one's will.
recurrent – occurring often or repeatedly.
trifle – a thing of little value or importance.
obstinate – stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
immutable – unchanging over time or unable to be changed

Source: Oxford Dictionaries © Oxford University Press

Characters:

Alfredo Salazar – The protagonist of the story. He is lost in mind as he has romantic interest with two women; Esperanza, the woman he is engaged with for four years, and Julia Salas, the woman the sparked another love in his heart.
Esperanza – The woman Alfredo Salazar is engaged with.
Julia Salas – The second woman the Alfredo Salazar is interested at. Although she is not as beautiful as Esperanza, Alfredo Salazar finds something interesting in her that is not from the body. At the end of the story it was revealed that she remained single.
Don Julian – Father of Alfredo Salazar
Carmen – Sister of Alfredo Salazar
Judge Del Valle – Brother-in-law of Julia Salas
Donna Adella – Sister of Julia Salas
Dionisio – Husband of Donna Adella
Vicente – Husband of Carmen
Calixta – Note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza

Setting:
Geographic Location: Philippines

Setting 1:
Location: Alfredo Salazar’s house

Setting 2:
Location: Judge Del Valle’s house

Setting 3:
Location: Don Julian’s house on the beach near his coconut plantation

Exposition:

Alfredo Salazar was daydreaming about his past love experience. Esperanza and Julia Salas, the two women whom he had romantic interest with. He hears the conversation of his sister, Carmen and his father, Don Julian. Carmen asked when would he long table be set. Then the topic changed to Alfredo as they relate his hesitance with his relationship with Esperanza. Carmen asked Don Julian how in love Alfredo was with Esperanza as in the past, he would give flowers and gifts to her but now he doesn’t usually do so, which Don Julian explains that a love between people would start to cool off as time passes by. And anothe reason Alfredo why doesn’t seem to do as much is because his youth is about to end. “A last spurt of hot blood” said Don Julian.

Alfredo left the house. He gazed at the nearby house that was owned by the Martinez but was rented and occupied by Judge del Valle and his family. Six weeks ago that house meant nothing to him until he met Julia Salas.

Rising Action:

One evening, he was persuaded by his father to go with him and go to Judge del Valle’s house. He does not usually do so but he agreed because it is nice to have a change of pace and his father said that it would nice to get the good will of a judge for a lawyer.

They met a young woman at the door. Alfredo called her Miss del Valle which he would soon realize that she was not judge’s sister but a sister-in-law, and that her name is Julia Salas. He apologized but she replied that it is ok as she had a similar experience in the past.

Don Julian and the Judge were playing a game of chess. Alfredo grew tired of watching and talk nonsense so he and Julia Salas had gone off to the chat in the porch. As he took a closer look On Julia Salas, she looked similar to Doña Adela but Julia was taller and much darker.

Every Sunday mornings after mass Don Julian and Alfredo would go to the judge’s house. Don Julian would play chess with the judge while Alfredo would spend time chatting with Julia out to the porch. He truly enjoyed Julia’s company and she definitely felt likewise. But only when Esperanza chance to ask him indirectly about where he would go every Sunday after mass did Alfredo realize that he was not eager to wait for Esperanza come out of the church but rather to go neighboring. Esperanza never asked again because in her mind, if a man were to marry a woman, it is because he loved her. Likewise, if he were engaged to a woman.

Just before Holy Week, Don Julian invited the judge and his family to spend Sunday afternoon at Tanda where he had a coconut plantation and a house on the beach.

Alfredo saw Julia walking at the edge of the beach. He left the house and followed Julia. On that day, he was mesmerized by Julia’s tantalizing charm. The breeze blew away the hair from her forehead, and whipped the tucked-up skirt around her straight, slender figure. Her face was not as relatively pretty as Esperanza but something within her charmed him.

At the same time, he found out that it might be the last time he would see Julia. So, he wanted to confess his feelings for her but it was strange to show his affection for her in a direct manner so he tried to do so surreptitiously. Then he asked once again why she has to leave. Julia’s parents wanted her to spend the Holy Week at home. As the sun sets, they say their goodbyes.

It was Holy Thursday and Alfredo was with Esperanza and her mother. They were there for the Lady of Sorrows. Then suddenly, he saw someone he was not expecting. It was nick Julia. She still has not left. As the sun finally set. Alfredo went for Julia. It was already past eight, but it did not come to his mind to hurry and he greet Julia, “Good Evening”.

Alfredo and Julia talked to each other, but Julia talked to him like how he first met. She had already known that Alfredo is going to get married. They continued to chat but her replies have gone cold.
Then she walked away.

Climax:

Alfredo has arrived at home. But his mind is in deep thought. Esperanza was talking to him, something about Calixta their note-carrier having a relationship with another man. Esperanza wanted to know Alfonso’s opinion. But he replied coldly. Not necessarily wicked he said. Esperanza was surprise by his response. “Why shouldn’t it be? You talked like an—immoral man. I did not know that your ideas were like that.” Alfonso explained, but in a tone that seemed angry. The couple quarreled. “Why do you get angry? I do not understand you at all!” Esperanza wanted to know if Alfonso still wants to continue to their relationship, but it was too late to plea for forgiveness. Esperanza burst out and left and Alfonso left completely shamed and unnerved.

Falling Action:

Eight years have passed. Alfonso and Esperanza have married. Alfonso drops by in Julia’s home town. Something he had to do as he must find a woman related to his work. He once again thought of Julia. He found out that Julia has stayed single. He was not unhappy with his marriage, but he was curious as to what would have happened if Julia was the one he would have married. He dropped by Julia’s house. “Good evening” “Good evening. Oh! Are you in town?” Julia replied. Alfonso considered, this is something he had not planned, but Julia left the windows and told her mother of his coming. Soon after, she opened the door with a lighted candle on her hand. At last, they shook hands.

Once again, they did what they usually would do when they meet up, they talked to each other, asked him about the home town, this and that. Julia has not changed much though a little less slender, He miss this moment, sitting next to her, but he could not take his eyes of her face, he looking for something that seems to be missing. As they parted he pressed her hand, but he did not feel any surge of emotion.

Ending:

So that was all over. Why did he stay so long in that memory? That dream? All these years, he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens. He felt immense sadness, a vast homesickness for something that he can’t find, the dear, dead loves of vanished youth.

Theme:

The story takes places in the Philippines. It resembles the mind of what most people may feel as their romantic relationship with their significant other starts to cool off because sometimes there is a yearning for change or something different especially as one closes the end of his/her youth.

Symbolisms:

Dead stars – In science the light that a star would emit that we can see from Earth is from the past. Basically, when we observe stars at night, we are not actually at it’s present appearance but from the past. In the story the dead stars referred to the dream of Alfredo to be together with Julia but when he confronted her eight years later, he found that the emotions that he once felt for her would not trigger. His dream was just a remnant of what he once experienced like how a star’s light that has travelled far away has become a remnant as it is just a light from the past.

Lesson:

Once you are in a relationship, no matter how long it has already been since you started it, do not take interest in anyone else especially if you are satisfied with your current relationship and both of you and your partner are happy with each other. But if you truly cannot resist finding interest on someone else, assess the situation. What will these foolish emotions you feel bring you? Do you think that the feelings you have with the other person are stronger than that of your partner and not just some sexual urge? If not, immediately stop. You will just bring harm to yourself, your partner, and everyone that is close to you. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your selfish emotions and think of the people around you. Be like Alfredo who although had almost broken his relationship where the problem is not the woman he loves but himself, saved his relationship and chose to marry Esperanza. Only to find out eight years later that it was definitely the right choice as the feelings he once had for Julia is no longer there.