Dead Stars by Paz Marquez

Literary Approach

              The literary approach of the story “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez gives a moralist approach to the readers. This approach connects to the humanistic, equality, sensitivity, and social justice of a literary work. It judges the literature basing on its moral lesson whether the story gives positive encouraging virtue or negatively influence the reader. The story “Dead Stars” gives a theme that pertains to a forbidden love that leads to choosing between doing what is right and what makes us happy considering its effects.

The characters and their role

Alfredo Salazar

• He’s son of Don Julian
• He’s more than 30 years of age
• He is a bachelor
• He was engaged to Esperanza but fell in love with other woman named Julia

Salas.

• He marries Esperanza in the end.

Esperanza

• She was engaged to Alfredo but in the end, they got married.
• She was a homely woman, literal-minded and intensely acquisitive.
• She was one of those fortunate women who have the gift of extraordinary beauty.

Julia Salas

• Sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle
• She was charming and gleeful.
• The other girl of Alfredo Salazar, who remains single in her entire life.

Don Julian

• He’s old and he’s the father of Alfredo Salazar.
• A friend of Judge Del Valle

Carmen

• Sister of Alfredo Salazar

Judge Dionisio Del Valle

• Brother-in-law of Julia Salas
• Husband of Dona Adella
• A friend of Don Julian

Dona Adella

• Sister of Julia Salas
• Husband of Judge Del Valle
• She has a small plump, a pretty woman with a complexion of a baby and with an expression of a likable cow.

Calixta

• Note carrier of Alfredo Salazar and Esperanza

Vicente

• Husband of Carmen

Brigada Samuy

• She was the woman whose Alfredo’s looking for in Sta. Cruz

Synopsis

           Alfredo Salazar was intended to marry his girlfriend for four years which is Esperanza. The warmness of their relationship was very evident from the beginning. For Alfredo’s pursuing his love in Esperanza drastically. But as the year goes by, it seems like his utmost feeling for Esperanza slowly fading. And it was all because of Julia.