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

Weeds and Symbolism in Shakespeare Plays

Nettles (Utrica dioica) by Uwe H. Friese, CC BY 3.0

“ … tis an unweeded garden
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely.”

- Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2

As weeds spring up in a garden that is not being tended to, Shakespeare used weeds to represent neglect, devastation and disorder. The above quote from Hamlet’s first soliloquy describes his view of the world, disordered and polluted due to the marriage of his mother and uncle.

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