A ROMANTIC AND MODERN CALDERON: THE DEFENCE OF MARRIAGE FOR LOVE IN THE PALATINE COMEDY AGRADECER Y NO AMAR

This article analyses the intrigue of princely love in the palatine comedy Agradecer y no amar by Calderon, whose main character is a prince, Carlos of Ursino, who questions royal marriages arranged because of reasons of state, not because of love. He rejects that the choice of wife can depend on worldly ambitions and somebody else's criteria, and claims his freedom as individual to choose someone of his liking with whom he can share a joyful love. So he is a bad prince according to the political treatises of the Golden Age, because he doesn't give up his own desires in favour of public conveniences. In spite of that, the end of the comedy -after some tangles focused on conceals of identity, disguises and affairs of honour- makes compatible the marriage for reasons of state with the triumph of romantic love.