What would have happened if Gertrudis had looked at a star? {...}These great stars, in fact, have survived millions of years only because they are very careful not to absorb the burning rays that lovers from all over the world, night after night, send in their direction. If this were not the case, such strong heat would develop inside them that it would cause them to explode into a thousand pieces. Therefore, when a gaze reaches them, they immediately reject it and reflect it on the earth as in a game of mirrors. This is why they shine so brightly at night.
The passage reflects on the notion of stars as distant entities that have endured the test of time by carefully deflecting the intense emotions of love sent their way. It suggests that if Gertrudis, a character in "Like Water for Chocolate," had chosen to gaze upon a star, she would have experienced a powerful yet potentially overwhelming connection. The stars, in this interpretation, serve as a metaphor for emotional resilience, as they manage to maintain their existence despite the passionate love directed at them by humanity.
This metaphor of stars rejecting the burning rays of love highlights the idea that strong emotions can be both beautiful and destructive. The stars' ability to reflect these feelings back to Earth symbolizes how individuals process love and longing without letting it consume them fully. By maintaining a careful distance, they avoid the danger of emotional overload, which could lead to turmoil. Thus, the stars shine brightly in the night sky, embodying the balance between embracing love and maintaining one’s inner peace.
