DEAD STAR

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE


Friday July 25, 2019


Review of  Dead Star

Short Story of Dead Star

        

                This story is about a man have already fiance and the same time he also in love with other girl, that make him difficulties by choosing who is the one. Alfredo, at his 30’s had not yet married but engaged to Esperanza for 3 years. However, Esperanza patiently waited for Alfredo to set the table. Alfredo met Julia Salaz just before he and Esperanza would get marry. He felt as if he would be much happier beside Julia. To make the long story short, he found himself caught up in the middle of a rock and hard place. He found himself falling in-love with Julia. However, Julia found out that he would be soon married to Esperanza. On the other hand, Esperanza felt the coldness of Alfredo. She knew why Alfredo was acting such way and told him that she is not blind to see what he was up to lately. He ended up marrying Esperanza still, as Julia already said goodbye to him and went back to her hometown.

         The story was written in the year 1925, when people less accepted broken engagement, marriages and families. In my opinion, the reason why Alfredo did not choose to go after Julia was because it was unacceptable at his time. In the 20th century, Filipinos have already learned to accept broken marriages or engagements; and I think if Paz had written this story in the 20th century, he would have written a different ending, and perhaps with a different title. Reading the story brought me mixed emotions: anger, sadness, excitement, confusion, etc. etc. I was not sure if I’ll feel sorry for Esperanza or Julia. However, in the end, I felt sorry, for, none other than the main character of the story, Alfredo.

               In the story dead stars, men are easy to fell out love and easy to fall in love. The protagonist, Alfredo is uncertain by his decisions in his life. He was engaged to Esperanza, his fiancée of four years. But for some reasons, apparently on Alfredo’s part, a change of heart has taken place. He has fallen for Julia Salas, the sister-in-law of the judge whom his father had a meeting with. His confusion, weakness and unreasonableness are innate flaws of humans. Alfredo sees something different to Julia Salas that Esperanza don’t have and I find it very egotistical for him that he differentiates the two women. He sees women as second choice of his dreams when it is fade.