Ophelia's Flowers - meanings and symbolism

Ophelia's Flowers - meanings and symbolism

(IV.v.173-183; V.vii.167-171)

Explain the symbolism and meanings of Ophelia's flowers.

The meanings of Ophelia's flowers are more suggested than defined. It is important to remember that each flower has many different meanings and one must consider the meaning that best fits the context of the play. However, the flowers scene is not just a nice, pretty scene in Hamlet; it and the flowers themselves hold deeper meanings.

1. Are Ophelia's flowers real?
   • Argument exists that Ophelia creates flowers in her imagination and pretends to pass them out.
   • Personal interpretation: flowers are real.
     • Laertes's reaction proves it.
2. Ophelia's madness in connection with her flowers.
   • "[. . .] her madness reveals the silent woman who is suffering acutely from her passive acceptance of things" (Charney 250).
   • In her insanity, we see an inner sexuality come out in Ophelia.
     • "In her madness Ophelia suddenly comes alive as a character and forces us to reckon with her innuendoes" (Charney 249).
   • Ophelia is very suggestive in the flower scene. This parallels Hamlet's suggestive lines from earlier on in the play: "Lady, shall I lay in your lap?" (III.ii.110-111).
   • Conscious vs. unconscious.
3. The flowers themselves
   • Flowers generally symbolize people's regard for each other (Costello 61).
   • One must consider that the loss of her father and the loss of her love through rejection have become confused issues within Ophelia's mind because she is mad.
   • Recipients of flowers.
     • Rosemary given to Laertes with meaning of remembrance: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance—pray you love remember" (IV.v.173-174).
     • Pansies given to Laertes for thoughts; refers back to his earlier thoughts on Hamlet's love for Ophelia: "And there is pansies, that's fro thoughts" (IV.v.174-175).
     • Fennel given to either Gertrude (frailty of women) or Claudius (politician); recipient is disputed. Emblematic of flattery and deceit: "There's fennel for you . . ." (IV.v.179).
     • Columbine also given to either Gertrude or Claudius (recipient disputed). Symbol of ingratitude, of "forsaken lovers," and of cuckoldry (Kerr 49).
     • Rue relates to sorrow or repentance. Recipient depends upon who received both the fennel and the columbine. I believe Gertrude receives the rue and, therefore, that Claudius receives the others. Ophelia also gives herself rue: "There's rue for you. And here's some for me" (IV.v.178-179).
     • Daisy given to Gertrude. Represents innocence.
     • Violet is given to no one. Symbolize faithfulness and connected to death: "[. . .] I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died" (IV.v.181-183).
4. Garland of flowers and Ophelia's death
   • Garland made of crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples (wild orchids)
     • Crow flowers=buttercups=ingratitude
     • Flowering nettles=sharp and stinging
     • Daisies=Ophelia's innocence/virginity
     • Long purples (orchids)=sexual love/testicles
   • Will tree "aslant in the brook" (IV.vii.165).
     • Drooping branches create imagery of tears, sadness, or depression.
     • Site of Ophelia's death
     • "Traditionally a sad tree, whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands, which they then wear or hand up like a trophy" (Jenkins 544).