Scene Analysis
How do Ophelia's actions express her thoughts when she can't find the words?
It turns out, that in Shakespearian times, the flowers Ophelia handed out had significant and commonly-known meanings. So what are these meanings and how do they express Ophelia's thoughts towards each character?
Rosemary and Pansies: These flowers, given to Laertes, symbolize remembrance and thoughts. Ophelia even explains this. Laertes denounces this as a 'document in madness' but this is not the case. By delivering this foliage, Ophelia is asking Laertes to think about and remember somehthing, probably their father's death. But this action could have also been foreshadowing Ophelia's death that comes later in the script. However, that theory would only be applicable if it was believed that Ophelia did, infact, suicide. For those that believe her death was an accident, this concept is irrelivant.
Fennel and Columbine: Fennel symbolizes flattery and columbine is considered to be the flower for "decieved lover," as it is a symbol for male adultury and faithlessness. By delivering these to Claudius, Ophelia is incinuating that he isn't really in love with Gertrude and only married her to gain the crown.
Rue: Rue symbolizes both bitterness and adultury and was thought to be the cause of most miscarriages. Ophelia keeps a rue floret to herself but also gives one to Gertrude and says that she 'must wear [her] rue with a difference'. This means that Gertrude's rue symbolizes something different than Ophelia's. One might conclude that Ophelia was filled with bitterness due to both the horrible things Hamlet said to her and her father's death and that is why she kept some rue to herself. This would mean that Gertrude's rue represents adultury. Ophelia probably, like Hamlet, believes that Gertrude married Claudius so fast after her husband's death that he doesn't count as a spouse, but more of a rebound spawned from the fear of ruling a country on her own.
Daisy: Daisies were known to represent innocence and gentleness. Ophelia doesn't actually give the flower to anybody, but instead throws it to the ground. By denying the gift of a daisy to anyone, she is basically saying that there is no innocence left in the court.This is her way of expressing how corrupted the royal family has become.
Violets: Ophelia finishes her monologue by explaining that all the violets withered when her father died. Violets symbolize faithfulness and fidelity. In a sense, Ophelia is saying that all faithfulness to the royal family ended with the death of her father. Now this can mean one of two things. First, Ophelia could be saying that Polonius was the last person who was legitimately devoted to the Danish court and now that he has been murdered, they have no followers left. The other possible meaning of Ophelia's words is that she was dedicated to the royal family but they have broken her trust by allowing her father to be murdered and so she is renouncing her alligence to the thrown.
Rosemary and Pansies: These flowers, given to Laertes, symbolize remembrance and thoughts. Ophelia even explains this. Laertes denounces this as a 'document in madness' but this is not the case. By delivering this foliage, Ophelia is asking Laertes to think about and remember somehthing, probably their father's death. But this action could have also been foreshadowing Ophelia's death that comes later in the script. However, that theory would only be applicable if it was believed that Ophelia did, infact, suicide. For those that believe her death was an accident, this concept is irrelivant.
Fennel and Columbine: Fennel symbolizes flattery and columbine is considered to be the flower for "decieved lover," as it is a symbol for male adultury and faithlessness. By delivering these to Claudius, Ophelia is incinuating that he isn't really in love with Gertrude and only married her to gain the crown.
Rue: Rue symbolizes both bitterness and adultury and was thought to be the cause of most miscarriages. Ophelia keeps a rue floret to herself but also gives one to Gertrude and says that she 'must wear [her] rue with a difference'. This means that Gertrude's rue symbolizes something different than Ophelia's. One might conclude that Ophelia was filled with bitterness due to both the horrible things Hamlet said to her and her father's death and that is why she kept some rue to herself. This would mean that Gertrude's rue represents adultury. Ophelia probably, like Hamlet, believes that Gertrude married Claudius so fast after her husband's death that he doesn't count as a spouse, but more of a rebound spawned from the fear of ruling a country on her own.
Daisy: Daisies were known to represent innocence and gentleness. Ophelia doesn't actually give the flower to anybody, but instead throws it to the ground. By denying the gift of a daisy to anyone, she is basically saying that there is no innocence left in the court.This is her way of expressing how corrupted the royal family has become.
Violets: Ophelia finishes her monologue by explaining that all the violets withered when her father died. Violets symbolize faithfulness and fidelity. In a sense, Ophelia is saying that all faithfulness to the royal family ended with the death of her father. Now this can mean one of two things. First, Ophelia could be saying that Polonius was the last person who was legitimately devoted to the Danish court and now that he has been murdered, they have no followers left. The other possible meaning of Ophelia's words is that she was dedicated to the royal family but they have broken her trust by allowing her father to be murdered and so she is renouncing her alligence to the thrown.