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"Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez

1) The story follows Alfredo Salazar, a lawyer engaged to Esperanza, who falls for their neighbor Julia after four years together. 2) Alfredo struggles between his feelings for Julia and his commitment to Esperanza. He considers choosing Julia over Esperanza. 3) However, after Julia leaves town, Alfredo marries Esperanza. Years later when he sees Julia again, he realizes his feelings for her had faded, and he is content in his marriage to Esperanza, having committed to her as he believed was right.

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Loida Manongsong
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2K views1 page

"Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez

1) The story follows Alfredo Salazar, a lawyer engaged to Esperanza, who falls for their neighbor Julia after four years together. 2) Alfredo struggles between his feelings for Julia and his commitment to Esperanza. He considers choosing Julia over Esperanza. 3) However, after Julia leaves town, Alfredo marries Esperanza. Years later when he sees Julia again, he realizes his feelings for her had faded, and he is content in his marriage to Esperanza, having committed to her as he believed was right.

Uploaded by

Loida Manongsong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Manongsong, Loida Pangilinan

BSED ENGLISH 3201

LITR 102 – ASEAN LIT

“Dead Stars”
by Paz Marquez Benitez

Mignon McLaughlin once said "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same
person." Also it was mentioned in the book of Matthew chapter 5 verses 27-28 that Thou shalt not commit adultery:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in
his heart.” Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez is essentially a compilation of the challenging circumstances that every
man must face in life.
Alfredo was confused between doing the right thing and doing what was right in his heart. Alfredo Salazar, the
story's main character, is a lawyer. Esperanza's life revolves around him. They'd been dating for four years and planned
to marry in May. In the beginning, their relationship was full of zeal, love, and pleasure. But like with any long-term
relationships, their feelings for one other change with time. Esperanza was stunning, elegant, quiet, and clearly not your
ordinary woman. She adored Alfredo and placed her complete confidence in him. Alfredo considered exploring his true
desires after their four-year engagement. Alfredo encountered Julia Salas, their neighbor's sister-in-law, when he
decided to do some neighboring with his father, Don Julian. She had just been in town for six weeks as a guest. They
made fine company for each other, and before they realized it, Alfredo made it a weekly practice to pay her a visit after
every Sunday mass. Julia is the typical kind, not particularly attractive, but she captivates Alfredo's attention. Alfredo
discovered new happiness and began to fall for her as their new friendship grew. His family invited Julia's family to their
coconut farm near their beach one day. It's an opportunity for them to spend some quality time together, but it's also a
moment to say goodbye. Julia intends to leave town and return home. Alfredo's heart was broken, and he was more
confused than ever. He is considering choosing Julia over his fiancée Esperanza, but what people say is what he believes
is most important. He married Esperanza after Julia left town, and he is delighted now that everything has fallen back
into place. His thought of Julia is hunting him, and those what-ifs dilemma. Alfredo goes for a business trip to the town
where Julia lived. While he is there, Alfredo runs across Julia. He has never forgotten about his feelings for her, but over
time, he has come to accept his marriage to Esperanza. Alfredo finds that the feelings he had for Julia are gone. He is
content with his life, and the perceived love he had felt for Julia all those years was like the "light of dead stars, long
extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heaven."
To wrap up at the end of the story the quotation and verses being stated on the first paragraph was proved by
the main character, Alfredo Salazar. He chose to be with his wife, Esperanza whom he had committed to.

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