Reader - Response Criticism

By: Jude Matteur P. Feranandez

   In this short story entitled The Dead Star, It tackles the different concepts that destroys the virtues of love. One of this destructive concept is the betrayal. The story revolves in the characters Alfredo , Ezperanza, and Julia. Alfredo is betrothed to Ezperanza which he swear to marry her. Alfredo symbolizes men who are confused , insensitive,  and irresolute. Since Alfredo was engaged to Ezperanza he still choose to love Julia.

      After the Four years of engagement with Esperanza, he decided to admits that he was happier with Julia. Then the story resembles the being weak in the state of love which it overcomes the quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of couples, either in ancient times nor modern times. It justify his desire to go against the society. As we read the first part, Don Julian told Carmen " THE LAST SPURT OF HOT BLOOD" it might be Alfredo's life which he is seeking out for something that was unattainable because of boredom .The story serves as a guide for readers in order for them to understand how courtship, marriage, fidelity were viewed in times like Medieval Era. As stated in the last stanza " An immense sadness as of loss invaded his spirit, a vast homesickness for some immutable refuge of the heart far away where faded gardens bloom again, and where live on in unchanging freshness, the dear, dead loves of vanished youth." It tells that Alfredo just feel an infatuation to Julia, whereas he realizes that his feeling to Julia was only for a short time