Ophelia's Flowers

Ophelia by Alexandre Cabanel, 1883

Ophelia's Bouquet

  
"There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. 
 Pray you, 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 of grace” o' Sundays.
- Oh, 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."

- Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

Daisies and Pansies

The Daisy and Pansy are two flowers that are associated with Ophelia in Hamlet. Learn more about their meaning and symbolism and other places where Shakespeare used them in his work.

Daisy (Bellis perennis)

 

Source: André Karwath, distributed under a CC-2.0 license

 

“When daisies pied, and violets blue,

And lady-smocks all silver white,

And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue,

Do paint the meadows with delight,”

- Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act V, Scene 2

Strewing Herbs

Part of the purpose of a medieval and Elizabethan garden was to provide the household with strewing herbs. In medieval dwellings floors were carpeted with rushes, reeds or straw, for insulation and to provide bedding for members of the lower household. They also served to soak up spillages and dropped food. However, these floor coverings were only cleaned out and replaced once or twice a year, so to counteract the accumulated odours fragrant herbs were scattered (strewn) on top of them, releasing their scents when they were walked upon. Some of these herbs also acted as insect and pest repellants.

Shakespeare Fragrances and Perfumes

Here are a few ideas on how to create your own Shakespeare inspired fragrance, with the herbal oils and flower essences that are associated with a play or with an individual character. Let's start with the tragic heroine Ophelia.

Ophelia by Ernest Hébert