CHAPTER VII -Frivolous Cupid

In “Marriage by Compulsion,” Duke Deodonato, ruler of a duchy, is persuaded by Dr. Fusbius that marriage is the best state for humans. Consequently, Deodonato decrees that all single men over twenty-one must marry within three weeks. However, this bold move disrupts the duchy, especially when he implies he himself will select a bride for his qualities, ignoring wealth or status. This causes all eligible women to refuse proposals, hoping to be chosen by the Duke, and disrupts the decree’s intentions.

The situation escalates when Deodonato adjusts the decree to force any woman to marry the first man who proposes to her. In reaction, women hide, unwilling to risk an unwanted marriage and forfeit the chance to marry the Duke. The crisis reaches a head when a beautiful young woman, arrested for rejecting Dr. Fusbius’s proposal, appeals directly to the Duke.

Legal debates arise, pitting letter against spirit, but the conflict centralizes around the young woman, Dulcissima. She becomes a symbol of resistance against the decree, challenging the Duke’s policies face-to-face. Moved by her defiance and beauty, Deodonato finds himself in a moral and emotional quandary.

Ultimately, the Duke confronts his own decree’s limitations, acknowledging its failure to capture the nuances of love and consent. This leads to a poignant moment where, instead of enforcing the decree upon Dulcissima, he offers himself humbly in marriage. The President of the Council cleverly interprets the law, enabling Deodonato to choose Dulcissima without contravening his own decree, showcasing the power of love over law.

The resolution sees Deodonato abolishing the problematic decree, advocating for the freedom of choice in marriage. His proposal to Dulcissima, and her acceptance, symbolizes a new beginning for their duchy, one founded on mutual respect and love rather than compulsion. The narrative concludes on a celebratory note, with a nod to the importance of windows – offering a wider view of life’s possibilities, a metaphor for openness and choice in the journey of love.