ASIA

DEAD STARS
By: Paz Marquez Benitez

GROUP-1
IDENTIFY REPRESENTATIVE TEXTS AND AUTHORS FROM ASIA

Asia is one of the world's most notable geographical

regions, which is either considered a continent in its
own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia.. The
continent, which has long been home to the
majority of the human population,was the site of
many of the first civilizations. Its 4.7 billion people
constitute roughly 60% of the world's population.
Asian literature is diverse in that it showcases a
selection of styles and themes, but as it progressed
over time, common ideas have been identified
between the texts from the various regions of the
Asian continent.
Perhaps the most similar trait of all Asian texts is their
religiosity and spirituality. Asian literature is known to be
a philosophical and contemplative art, pondering on
major matters in life such as our origins and our death:
where we come from and where we go, how we come
alive and how we die, as well as how we should live in
between.
Related to the spiritual feature, the involvement of
nature is evident.

Besides these, Asian literature greatly talks about race,

injustice, power, nationalism, struggles, love—and in all
things at all times, there are morals to be learned.
The most common styles in this type of
literature are poetry or verse and
dramatic prose. Asian poetry is typically
lyrical, as in it deals with the grand
scheme of emotions. A sub-type of lyrical
poetry is the ode, which we can see in
some religious texts. Asian poetry is also
usually formed in narratives or story-
telling verses like epics. As for the proses
of Asia, there are collections of short
stories, legends, orally transmitted
sayings, and drama
Philippine literature is literature
associated with the Philippines
from prehistory, through its
colonial legacies, and on to the
present. to look back to our
historical past and dramatic
present, these six literary periods
namely: Precolonial Period (BC to
1564)
Spanish Colonization Period (1565 – 1863)
Historical Background It is an accepted belief
that the Spanish colonization of the Philippines
started in 1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez
de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in
the Philippines. Literature started to flourish
during his time. This spurt continued unabated
until the Cavite Revolt in 1872. The Spaniards
colonized the Philippines for more than three
centuries. During these times, many changes
occurred in the lives of Filipinos. They
embraced the Catholic religion, changed their
names, and were baptized.
Nationalistic / Propaganda and Revolutionary
Period (1864 –1896)
These works of literature planted the seed of
nationalism in the hearts of every Filipino.
During this period, the language was slowly
shifting from Spanish to Tagalog and the works
of literature were addressed tc the masses
Instead of addressing only the elite
The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)-
issues had to be clarified, abuses and
injustices denounced, accusations refuted,
future actions laid out
American Colonial Period (1910
– 1945)
Filipino writers went all form of
literature like news reporting,
poetry,stories,plays,essay,and
novels.Their writing clearly
depicted their love of country
and their longings for
independence.
Japanese Occupation (1942-1960)
Philippine Literature was interrupted in its
development when the Philippines was again
conquered by another foreign country, Japan.
Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE
REVIEW, almost all newspapers in English
were stopped by the Japanese. This had an
advantageous effect on Filipino Literature,
which experienced renewed attention
because writers in English turned to writing
in Filipino
Contemporary/Modern Period (1960 –
PRESENT) .
Filipino writers continue to write poetry,
short stories, novellas, novels and essays
whether these are socially committed,
gender/ethnic related or are personal in
intention or not.Of course the Filipino writer
has become more conscious of his art with
the proliferation of writers workshops here
and abroad and the bulk of literature
available to him via the mass media including
the internet.
 SHORT STORY
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that
typically can be read in one sitting and
focuses on a self-contained incident or series
of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking
a single effect or mood. The short story is
one of the oldest types of literature and has
existed in the form of
legends, mythic tales, folk tales, fairy tales,
tall tales, fables and anecdotes in various
ancient communities around the world. The
modern short story developed in the early
19th century.
 BIOGRAPHY
Paz Márquez-Benítez (3 March
1894 – 10 November 1983) was
a Filipina short-story writer,
educator and editor.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!”
Her career as a woman
educator as well as her
contributions as a writer are
seen as an important step
within the advancement of
woman in professional careers
as well as in the development
of Philippine literature.
During her career as a writer, Marquez-
Benitez wrote short stories critical of
American Imperialism. She is most known by
her short story Dead Stars (1925) in which
the two main characters are displayed as
allegories to American imperialism in order
to portray the slow decay of Philippine
heritage. Her only other known published
work is A Night in the Hills (1925). Even
though she had only two published works
her writings would be regarded as the first
steps of Philippine literature moving into the
mainstream.
Marquez-Benitez remains as a
prominent influence on Philippine
literature through not only her writing
but her impact as an educator and
editor.Her and her husband's
establishment of educational
magazines, schools, and her
contributions to the development of
creative short story writing courses
within the Philippines is believed to
have inspired generations of Filipino
writers.
This Context, you may take into
consideration the following questions:
• Did it come at the beginning of his or her
career, in the middle, or at the end?
-In the beginning
• Had that career so far been successful or
not?
-Yes because the story dead stars was the
first successful story written in English in
1925, as it gave birth to modern Philippine
writing in English which makes her career a
success.
• What was going on in the author’s life?
• What personal circumstances, or specific
event, either at the time of composition or
in the past, motivated the author to write
it? -in which the two main characters are
displayed as allegories to American
imperialism in order to portray the slow
decay of Philippine heritage.
• In short, how does this work fit into the
author’s life and what influence did that life
have on it?
 Dead Star
By: Paz Marquez-Benitez
The short story revolves around one man, Alfredo
Salazar and the affairs of his heart. He is a man who
believes in true love and hopes to find bliss in its
wake. The first woman he falls in love with is
Esperanza.Their families are acquainted with each
other and they thus they begin a passionate
relationship. But soon it fades away when Alfredo
comes across another woman, Julia, who becomes
the object of his desire.Esperanza and Alfredo have
their engagement after three years of romance.
Alfredo, a lawyer is a man who wants warmth and
compassion but Esperanza is a strong-willed,
impassionate and woman of principles.
So when he comes across Julia Salas, sister-in-law
of the Judge who is a friend of Alfredo’s father. He
is strongly attracted to her. Julia is an enthusiastic
and optimistic person. A woman of hope, dreams
and desires.On his visit with his father, he starts
engaging in profound chats with Julia and starts
getting attracted to her charm, wit and passion. In
his impassioned state, he does not even disclose
the truth about his engagement to Esperanza.In
order to avoid the scrutiny of his fiancée, he starts
keeping secrets from Esperanza too. One day he
learns about Julia’s return to her hometown. His
eyes are doomed with the fear of losing her and he
decides to confess his guilt and true feelings to
Julia.
After the Church’s function, he goes
to meet her even though his
fiancée is waiting for him to come
to her. However, reaching to Julia,
he realizes that she has already
learned about his lies. She even
wishes him best on his marriage to
Esperanza and leaves him.He gets a
double blow when he returns home
to Esperanza.
She is talking to a friend about loyalty and
faithfulness. Alfredo feels an urge to speak.
He defends the cause of desire and choice
over immorality.This gets under the skin of
Esperanza who declares that she knew
about him and Julia. She encourages him to
commit such immoral infidelity and cancel
the wedding, all in pursuit of his heart’s
content and lust. However, Alfredo
surrenders to reason and sanity and the
wedding goes ahead as planned.
As fate would have it, he is sent on some work
duty to a place near Julia’s hometown. He
cannot help resist the feeling of nostalgia and
old lust for Julia. He finds an excuse and way to
her place where he met her.She is still single
and he is forced to dream about a life with her
instead of Esperanza. But soon he comes to
know that something is not the same after all.
Julia has changed and rather lost something
now.Maybe it is her beauty, wit, charm or even
her passion, but she is a different woman.
She is cold and aloof and does not
extend the same warmth and affection
to him anymore.He is heartbroken and
pensive and questions whether he
ever loved her truly. Was it all a futile
infatuation or mere affair? Was the
romance they shared, just a figment of
his imagination? Whatever it was, he is
no more alive. He accepts the hard
reality that anything that there may
have been was there no more.
Setting:
Time
•Lenten Season (they are celebrating
the holy week since there is a
procession made for "Our Lady of
Sorrow")
Place:
• Sta. Cruz particularly in Calle Luz,
hometown of Julia Salas, Calle Real,
Church of Our Lady of Sorrow, House
of Don Julian and Judge Del Valle
 Characters:
•ALFREDO SALAZAR:
He is the son of Don Julian. He is over thirty years old bachelor.
Alfred Salazar believes in true love and optimism to discover
ecstasy in its stir. Esperanza is the first woman he falls in love
with. After their engagement, he falls in love with Julia Salas.
•ESPERANZA:
She is the wife of Alfredo Salazar. Esperanza is an impassionate
woman having strong will and principles. A homely woman,
she is also among the lucky women who have the aptitude of
consistent beauty.
•JULIA SALAS:
She is the sister in law of Judge Dal Valle, a friend of Alfredo’s
father. She is the second woman with whom Alfredo falls in
love with. She remains single for her entire life.
Plot:
•The short story revolves
around one man, Alfredo
Salazar and the affairs of
his heart. He is a man who
believes in true love and
hopes to find bliss in its
wake. The first woman he
falls in love with is
Esperanza.
Exposion:
•THROUGH the open window the air-steeped
outdoors
passed into his room, quietly enveloping him,
stealing
into his very thought. Esperanza, Julia, the sorry
mess
he had made of life, the years to come even now
beginning to weigh down, to crush--they lost
concreteness, diffused into formless melancholy.
The
tranquil murmur of conversation issued from the
bricktiled azotea where Don Julian and Carmen
were busy
puttering away among the rose pots.
Rising Action: It would be the part
where Alfredo is having a
conversation with Julia Salas about
his affection and feelings towards
her, but Alfredo is having this
dilemma where he is engaged with
Esperanza for four years and don't
know if he will follow his heart or
his commitment.
Climax: It would be the
part where Alfredo and
Esperanza had this
conversation talking about
if they needed to cancel
their wedding because of
Alfredo's dilemma.
Falling Action: Alfredo
and Esperanza still
continued their
wedding, and after a few
years Alfredo went to
the town of Julia for a
business purpose and
ended up seeing and
talking to Julia
Resolution:After their
conversation Alfredo
shakes the hand of Julia,
realizing that the feelings
that he had for Julia is only
a part of his past which
died and became only a
memory of his past.
 Conflict
• MAN VS. SOCIETY The conflict of the story
is begin to Alfredo because he is not ready
to take a commitment to Esperanza even
they are engage in many years, although
Alfredo seemed uncertain of his real wants.
It is not to mean though that Alfredo is
afraid to commit. He just fell in love with
another woman named Julia Salas. (love
triangle) then add the society that make an
individual criticism. That's why Alfredo
decided to chose Esperanza.
Theme:
•Surface
FORBIDDEN LOVE:
Dead Stars expresses the
subject of forbidden love.
Forbidden love is only apparent
and curses and disturbs the
person until a person realizes
his or her faults.
Underlying
•RESPONSIBILITY:
Responsibility is another underlying
theme of the story. Alfred is engaged to
his beloved to get married, yet, he
distracts himself with another woman
Julia. He forgets his responsibility
towards his to-be wife, even after eight
years he still thinks of Julia until he
realizes that Julia has changed herself.
Point of View
•THIRD PERSON The author tells
the story in third person. We
know only what the character
knows and what the author
allows him/her to tell us. We can
see the thoughts and feelings of
characters if the author chooses
to reveal them to us.
Moral lesson:
We should be committed
to our partner and stay
loyal if you don't love
her/his anymore just
break up with her/his
and don't lie.
LITERARY
CONTEXTS
Biographical Context
Paz Marquez-Benitez wrote short stories critical
of American imperialism.She is most known by
her short story Dead star in which the two main
character are displayed as allegories to American
imperialism in order to portray the slow decay of
Philippine heritage.And also depicts the life of a
Filipino .Her and her husband are both
established names for themselves and had a four
children.Very opposite in the story but Paz
express a realistic story that showcase how men
cheat despite the years of being together.
 Linguistic Context
Dead Stars symbolizes the unspoken present
things. The affection and love between Alfredo
and Julia seemed to be existing and real, however,
with the passage of time, it fades away like a dead
star. Hence, the disillusionment and memories of
the past do not exist anymore. The Dead star is
metaphor that represent a presence that is
unrecognized.or dead..The"Dead Stars” was a
narrative story, published from a third-person
perspective. In the third person, the author
informs the tale (using pronouns they, she, he, it,
etc).The penmanship of Paz Marquez-Benitez
reflect the dominant cultural opinions of both
literature and culture.
 Socio-historical Context
It depicts the language, norms and the
manners of the people during that time.
The readers are enabled to understand
how marriage, fidelity, and courtship
were viewed during the early twentieth
century. This serves as a mode to
compare the past and the present, and
the fading traditional culture and the
predominating modern culture.The short
story also illustrates the rising
conjunction of sociopolitical feminism.
In this story, women are represented
as meek and dependent on men. Men
are considered to be superior to
women. Women are faithful who
easily falls in love while the male is
shown as uncertain, inconsistent and
rational. However, the story also
ruined the concept of patriarchal
society as it sees the man rational and
logical while woman as emotional and
kind.
 Philosophical Context
Paz Márquez-Benitez has not only written
about a story of affection in her novel Dead
Stars. Most substantially, her instruction
reflects the time when literary work was
comprised in conjunction with the language,
norms, and beliefs of people. It functions for
authors as a literary time machine, allowing
them to understand how courtship, marriage,
and fidelity were considered in the early
1900s.
 It distinguishes strongly between
the past and the present, the
present modern culture, and the
almost obsolete, vanishing
tradition.The story is also infused
with moral and intellectual
approaches that emphasizes the
values and moral that exist in that
age, culture,and place.