Hamlet

Ophelia has a number of flowers during her final scene. She hamds out daisies, rosemary, pansies, fennel, columbine, rue, and violets.

What are the traditional meanings of these flowers? Do they still mean the same things in contemporary times?

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Last updated by jill d #170087
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A daisy symbolizes purity and innocence.

Rosemary symbolizes remembrance.

Pansies represent thoughtfulness.

Fennel represents worthiness.

Columbine is symbolic of sensuality.

Rue symbolizes sorrow.

Violets are symbolic of mourning.

As you can see, today's representations are much the same as in Shakespeare's day.

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray,

love, remember: and there is pansies. that’s for thoughts.

There’s fennel for you, and columbines: there’s rue

for you; and here’s some for me: we may call it

herb-grace o’ Sundays: O you must wear your rue with

a difference. There’s a daisy: I would give you

some violets, but they withered all when my father

died: they say he made a good end,–“