Dead Stars (retold) by Paz Marquez Benitez| short story w/ moral | love | choice | Filipino author
Summary
TLDRIn 'Dead Stars,' Alfredo, a dignified lawyer engaged to Esperanza, finds his heart captured by Julia Salas, a charming woman he meets at a judge's house. As his feelings for Julia intensify, he struggles with his commitment to Esperanza. After a final encounter with Julia, who has moved on, Alfredo realizes his love for her was but a memory. Now married to Esperanza, he revisits Julia's town, only to discover that his once passionate feelings have faded, much like the light of distant dead stars.
Takeaways
- 📚 The story 'Dead Stars' by Paz Marquez Benitez is a retold narrative focusing on the life of Alfredo, a dignified young lawyer engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Esperanza.
- 👨🦳 Alfredo's father, Don Julian, and sister, Carmen, discuss his marriage prospects, with Carmen expressing concern about Esperanza's potential impatience due to Alfredo's age and their prolonged engagement.
- 💔 Alfredo experiences a conflict of emotions when he meets Julia Salas, a woman who captivates him despite not being conventionally pretty, leading to a change in his relationship with Esperanza.
- 💔 Alfredo's relationship with Julia develops into a passionate affair, causing him to feel a sense of mystery and thrill that was missing in his relationship with Esperanza.
- 🏠 A pivotal moment occurs when Julia informs Alfredo that their time together is coming to an end, leaving him devastated and regretful over his inability to break off his engagement.
- 🎉 Despite the emotional turmoil, Alfredo eventually marries Esperanza, leading to a peaceful and stable life without the struggles and sudden emotions he experienced with Julia.
- 🚶♂️ Alfredo's journey to a town for a case leads him to Julia's hometown, where he grapples with his unresolved feelings for her, despite being married to Esperanza.
- 🕵️♂️ Upon finding Julia's house, Alfredo is met with surprise and a sense of detachment, realizing that the love he once felt for her is no longer present.
- 💡 The story uses the metaphor of 'Dead Stars' to illustrate Alfredo's realization that his feelings for Julia, like the light of distant stars, have long been extinguished but seemed to persist in his memory.
- 🤔 The narrative prompts reflection on why Alfredo chose Esperanza and what insights can be gained about the complexities of choosing between what one wants and what one needs in life.
Q & A
Who is the main character in the story 'Dead Stars'?
-The main character is Alfredo, a dignified young lawyer engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Esperanza.
What is Alfredo's relationship status at the beginning of the story?
-Alfredo is engaged to Esperanza, and they have been engaged for a long time.
How does Alfredo meet Julia Salas?
-Alfredo meets Julia Salas at Judge de Valia's rented house, where he and his father visit frequently.
What changes in Alfredo's behavior towards Esperanza that she notices?
-Esperanza notices that Alfredo no longer waits for her outside the church as he used to.
How does Alfredo describe his relationship with Julia Salas compared to his relationship with Esperanza?
-Alfredo finds his relationship with Julia to be mysterious, thrilling, and passionate, unlike his relationship with Esperanza, which he finds boring and lacking in spirit.
What significant event occurs when Don Julian invites the judge and his family to his coconut plantation?
-During the visit, Julia tells Alfredo that it will be the last day they see each other, which devastates him.
How does Julia's reaction to Alfredo's engagement affect him?
-Julia's change in treatment towards him and her congratulatory remarks make Alfredo feel detached and realize that their relationship has changed irrevocably.
Why does Alfredo decide to look for Julia when he is in her hometown?
-Alfredo is haunted by memories of Julia and is curious to see her again, despite being married to Esperanza.
What realization does Alfredo come to when he finally meets Julia after many years?
-Alfredo realizes that he is no longer in love with Julia and that he was only holding onto the memory of his love for her.
What is the symbolic meaning of the title 'Dead Stars' in relation to Alfredo's feelings for Julia?
-The title 'Dead Stars' symbolizes Alfredo's feelings for Julia, which, like the light of dead stars, seem to shine brightly in his memory but are actually long extinguished.
What insight can be gained from Alfredo's story regarding the choices we make in life?
-Alfredo's story offers insight into the complexities of choosing between what we want and what we commit to, and the consequences of those choices on our emotions and relationships.
Outlines
💔 Unfulfilled Love: Alfredo's Dilemma
The first paragraph introduces Alfredo, a dignified young lawyer engaged to Esperanza. Despite their long-standing relationship, Alfredo finds himself drawn to Julia Salas, a woman he meets at Judge de Valia's house. As his father and sister discuss his marriage, Alfredo is haunted by his growing affection for Julia. His relationship with her is filled with mystery and passion, contrasting the stability of his engagement. When Julia announces her departure, Alfredo is devastated, revealing his deep emotional conflict between duty and desire.
🌠 The Fading Light of Dead Stars
In the second paragraph, Alfredo, now married to Esperanza, revisits his past love for Julia during a business trip to her hometown. Upon meeting her again, he is surprised to find that the intense emotions he once held for her have dissipated. The reunion reveals a changed Julia and a changed Alfredo, who no longer feels the passion he once had. He comes to the realization that his love for Julia was but a memory, akin to the light of dead stars that shine no more but appear bright due to the time it takes for their light to reach us. The story's title 'Dead Stars' reflects this theme of love that once burned brightly but is now extinguished, leaving only the illusion of its presence.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Engagement
💡Dignity
💡Charm
💡Passion
💡Regret
💡Stability
💡Memory
💡Emotionless
💡Dead Stars
💡Choice
💡Contentment
Highlights
Alfredo is a dignified young lawyer engaged to his longtime girlfriend Esperanza.
Alfredo's father and sister discuss his engagement and the possibility of Esperanza growing tired of waiting.
Alfredo meets Julia Salas at Judge de Valia's rented house and they get to know each other.
Julia's charm enthralls Alfredo, and he begins to fall in love with her over time.
Esperanza notices a change in Alfredo's behavior and questions him about it.
Alfredo's relationship with Julia feels mysterious, thrilling, and passionate compared to his engagement.
Julia tells Alfredo that their meeting will be the last, leaving him devastated and regretful.
Alfredo and Julia have a final goodbye on the street, with Julia acknowledging his engagement.
Alfredo marries Esperanza and finds peace and stability in their marriage.
Alfredo still cannot forget Julia even years after his marriage to Esperanza.
Alfredo travels to Julia's hometown for a case, feeling uneasy about potentially seeing her again.
Alfredo decides to look for Julia, haunted by memories of their time together.
Upon finding Julia, Alfredo feels detached and realizes his feelings for her have changed.
Alfredo and Julia catch up, but the spark is gone, and he questions why he sought her out.
Alfredo realizes he was only holding onto the memory of his love for Julia, which has faded.
The story's title, 'Dead Stars,' symbolizes Alfredo's realization that his feelings for Julia have long been extinguished.
The story prompts reflection on choosing between what one wants and the consequences of those choices.
Transcripts
this is a retold version
of dead stars by paz marquez
benitez this is alfredo
he is a dignified young lawyer in this
town
over 30 a bachelor and
is engaged to his longtime girlfriend
esperanza
he can barely hear his father don julian
and his sister carmen talk about him
carmen impatiently asks don julian
when the wedding of alfredo and
esperanza will be
she reasons that alfredo is over 30 and
still a bachelor and that
esperanza might be tired of waiting
don julian seems to know and understand
what might have happened to the engaged
couple
but he didn't say exactly what
alfredo remembers it with shame
he was very much engaged to esperanza
that time
one day his father invited him to go to
judge de
valia's rented house
this is where he met julia salas
on many days he and his father would
visit the judge's house
while his father and the judge got
absorbed in each other's company
alfredo and julia got to know each other
julia was not obviously pretty
but she had a charm which enthralled
alfredo as time passed by
[Music]
little by little he was falling in love
[Music]
one day esperanza asked alfredo
about something that has changed in the
way he treated her
she asked why alfredo did not wait for
her to come out of the church anymore
alfredo told her that he was busy
and sometimes he and his father go to
judge del valle's house
[Music]
esperanza didn't know that a woman
named julia is beginning to capture his
boyfriend's heart
for alfredo his life with esperanza
being engaged to each other for a long
time
was boring and lacked the spirit
and passion that he used to have with
her
with julia he feels something mysterious
there was something new thrilling and
passionate in his relationship with her
he was just so in love with julia salas
or so he thinks don julian
invited the judge and his family over to
his coconut plantation
which is near his house on the beach
as they were walking julia told alfredo
that that day was the last day
that they will see each other
alfredo was devastated
his world seemed to freeze
he seemed to regret the fact that he
could not let go of his engagement
and to be with julia things would have
been much a lot easier for him
[Music]
the two met one last time on the street
one night
apparently julia learned about the
engagement
and congratulated him taking aside
whatever it was
that occurred to them in the past few
weeks
she obviously changed her treatment with
him
[Music]
it sure was their final goodbye
now alfredo is married to esperanza
he is not unhappy in fact
his marriage is peaceful and stable
there were no more struggles no more
sudden emotions that take a man nowhere
he is on a trip to a town where he needs
to look for an important woman
in the case that he is handling
this town is also julia's hometown
where she currently lives the thought of
it makes alfredo uneasy
because in the years that he had been
married
he still could not forget her
he was just trying to be content with
his life with esperanza
and not remember too much
now in julia's town he knows that he
will see her again
and so he decided to look for her
well on his way the memory of his time
with julia
haunted him once more
when he finally finds julia's house
he is greeted by her with surprise
julia had not changed much
she's just a little slender yet
alfredo thinks something had gone
they have a little catching up with how
things are back in town
while alfredo was looking intently at
julia's face
something was lost in julia or was the
loss
his he felt detached from her unlike
before
he even wondered why he was there in the
first place
the feeling that he was expecting to
feel towards her
is not there anymore and that surprises
him
he doesn't even care if she still cares
he was simply emotionless
he realizes that he was only holding on
to the memory of his love for julia
that and nothing more
what he and julia had was just a memory
he was simply not in love anymore
[Music]
just like a man sees the light of dead
stars
long extinguished yet seeming to still
shine brightly
all those years alfredo thought he still
loves julia
but the truth is his feelings have long
been dead
now that you know what dead stars is
about
think about this why
is the story titled dead stars
why do you think did alfredo choose
esperanza
what insight can you get when it comes
to choosing between
what you want
[Music]
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