In Shakespeare's Hamlet, there are
references to four kinds of plants or weeds woven into a garland Ophelia wears when she
drowns. They are buttercups, nettles,
daisies, and long
purples.
Buttercups are symbolic of humility,
neatness and childishness. Those traits that apply to Ophelia first are humility and
neatness. Ophelia is very humble, speaking quietly and bowing to the requests of others.
She never tries to get her own way, but is subservient and helpful to Polonius (her
father) and her King (Claudius). She also tries to quietly return Hamlet's mementos,
things he has given her over time. She does not challenge or chide
him.
We can infer that she is neat as well. In Act Two,
scene one, Ophelia comes to her father having been frightened by Hamlet. As she was in
the sewing room, Hamlet appeared greatly disheveled. If she were not herself a neat
person, this would not bother her in someone else. She reports that his shirt was
unbuttoned, he had no hat, and his stockings were dirty: not pulled up but falling down
around his ankles.
OPHELIA:
O,
my lord, my lord, I have been so
affrighted!(85)
POLONIUS:
With
what, i' the name of
God?
OPHELIA:
My
lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his
doublet all unbraced,
No hat upon his head, his stockings
fouled,
Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle…
(90)
Childishness does not
appear until Ophelia goes mad. It is then that she begins to sing little songs, some of
them bawdy. She is unkempt and wandering around like a child, giving out what her mind
perceives as flowers, when they are really sticks and
such.
The second flower mentioned is the daisy. The daisy
symbolizes purity, innocence, unfaltering love, beauty, patience, and
"simplicity."
Hamlet's sexual innuendos fluster and
embarrass Ophelia during the play in Act Three. This would be because of her purity and
innocence. The other characteristics that apply to Ophelia are loyal love, beauty and
patience. She loves Hamlet and would support him it seems if he did not spend his time
driving her away—believing that she has abandoned him. Hamlet calls her beautiful during
her burial scene, in Act Five, scene one, line
230:
What, the fair
Ophelia!
Ophelia appears
patient, continuing to try to speak with Hamlet, or refraining from getting angry with
him when he speaks so inappropriately to her. Simplicity may be seen indirectly in
Ophelia by comparing her to her father, Polonius. She says what is on her mind and does
not engage in pompous dissertations.
Long purples are
thought to be orchids that grows in England in the spring and summer. The symbolism
associated with orchids that applies to Ophelia is love, beauty, refinement,
thoughtfulness, and "mature charm." We have already discussed love and beauty. Ophelia
is href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/refined">refined—well-bred and
free from vulgarity or coarseness. She is thoughtful of Hamlet, her father, Gertrude,
and Claudius. She is a gentle spirit who will do what she can for those around her, even
Hamlet's "parents" when they worry about their "son." Her charm is gentle, appreciated
even by Claudius who asks Horatio to follow Ophelia when she loses her sanity, to keep
her safe.
Nettles are weeds. They symbolize pain. And
certainly this has been Ophelia's lot, surrounded by so many manipulative, uncaring men.
As a side note, the weeping willow hanging over the water where Ophelia drowns
symbolizes forsaken love, what Hamlet has done with Ophelia's love for him: he has
forsaken the love and the woman.
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