Hamlet: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray love, remember.”
William Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* is a tapestry woven with threads of memory, madness, and mortality. Among its many poignant lines, Ophelia’s declaration, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray love, remember,” stands out as a haunting reflection on memory and loss. In this moment, we see Ophelia, caught in the throes of grief and madness, offering a unique perspective on remembrance—one that resonates deeply within the emotional and thematic core of the play.
Contextual Significance
This line occurs in Act IV, Scene 5, during a tragic moment when Ophelia, overwhelmed by the death of her father, Polonius, descends into madness. The rosemary she refers to is traditionally associated with remembrance. In many cultures, rosemary has been used not only for culinary purposes but also as a symbol of fidelity and memory, often placed on graves as a reminder of the deceased. Ophelia’s reference to rosemary is layered; it signifies her own fractured state of mind, as she is both remembering her father and struggling with her own identity in a world turned chaotic.
Literary Devices and Language
Shakespeare employs rich imagery and symbolism in this quote. The use of herbs—rosemary, pansies, fennel, columbines, rue—each carries its own significance, enhancing the emotional weight of Ophelia’s words. For instance, pansies are linked to thoughts, while rue symbolizes regret and sorrow. The juxtaposition of these herbs illustrates the complexity of human emotions surrounding love, loss, and memory. The repetition of “remember” emphasizes the urgency of memory in Ophelia’s disordered mind, suggesting that remembrance is a means of coping with her grief.
Themes in *Hamlet*
Ophelia’s line encapsulates several central themes of *Hamlet*, particularly the concepts of memory and madness. Her descent into insanity can be interpreted as a response to the overwhelming grief and betrayal she experiences. The act of remembering is portrayed as both a burden and a necessity; it is a means of preserving the past but also a source of pain. This duality of memory is a recurring motif throughout the play, as characters grapple with their own histories and the consequences of their actions.
Additionally, Ophelia’s plea to “pray love, remember” speaks to the broader theme of love intertwined with loss. Her love for Hamlet, complicated by familial loyalty and political intrigue, adds another layer to her tragic fate. This plea can be seen as a desperate attempt to hold onto a semblance of connection amid the chaos that surrounds her.
Historical Context
Shakespeare wrote *Hamlet* during the Elizabethan era, a time marked by political instability and societal change. Themes of madness and remembrance can be viewed against the backdrop of the Renaissance’s evolving views on death, the afterlife, and the individual’s place in the world. The cultural significance of herbs, particularly in relation to death and mourning, reflects the era’s intertwining of the natural and spiritual worlds.
Modern Interpretations
In contemporary discourse, Ophelia’s words have been invoked in various contexts, from art to psychology, often highlighting the importance of memory in navigating grief. The quote has been referenced in discussions about mental health, emphasizing how remembrance can serve both as a comfort and a source of anguish. Furthermore, the imagery of herbs has inspired artistic representations, illustrating how Shakespeare’s work continues to resonate with modern audiences.
Relevance to Contemporary Life
Ophelia’s poignant reminder to remember resonates in today’s fast-paced world, where the act of remembrance can often be overshadowed by the immediacy of life’s demands. In a society that frequently encourages moving on from grief, Ophelia’s line serves as a meditation on the necessity of honoring our memories, however painful they may be. It invites reflection on how we cope with loss and the ways in which memory shapes our identities.
Conclusion
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray love, remember,” is more than a mere line from a play; it is a profound commentary on the human condition. Through Ophelia’s fragile yet powerful articulation of memory, Shakespeare invites us to engage with our own experiences of love and loss. The interplay of remembrance, madness, and the natural world in this quote continues to resonate, reminding us that memory can be both our solace and our torment. In the end, Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* remains a timeless exploration of the complexities of the human spirit, inviting us to reflect on what it means to remember and the implications for our lives today.
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Selected Text Explanation
Passage Summary
In this passage from "Hamlet," the themes of grief, madness, and the quest for revenge are poignantly woven together through the interactions between Laertes and Ophelia. Laertes, still consumed by the pain of his father’s death, expresses a fervent desire for vengeance against those he perceives as responsible. His emotional turmoil is palpable as he contrasts his readiness to embrace his friends with a fierce determination to confront his enemies.
The King, attempting to navigate the political and emotional chaos surrounding him, assures Laertes of his innocence regarding Polonius's death, highlighting the tension between personal loss and political machinations. This moment reflects the broader themes of deception and moral ambiguity that permeate the play.
Ophelia’s entrance introduces a contrasting layer of madness and innocence. Dressed fantastically with flowers and straws, she embodies a tragic blend of beauty and insanity, stemming from her father's death and her complicated relationship with Hamlet. Her fragmented speech and songs reveal her grief and confusion, symbolizing the collapse of her mental state under the weight of loss. The references to flowers—rosemary for remembrance, pansies for thoughts, and rue for regret—serve as poignant symbols of her emotional state and foreshadow the play's exploration of memory and mourning.
The interplay between Laertes and Ophelia encapsulates the chaos of their lives in the wake of familial tragedy. Laertes’s desire for revenge is contrasted with Ophelia’s descent into madness, illustrating how grief can manifest in different ways. The passage underscores the interconnectedness of love, loss, and the quest for justice, setting the stage for the ensuing tragedy that will engulf the characters.
Overall, this excerpt is significant not only for its exploration of personal grief but also for its commentary on the broader human experience of loss, the fragility of sanity, and the complexities of familial bonds, themes that resonate deeply throughout "Hamlet."
Original Passage
Select any part of the passage to receive an explanation:
None but his enemies.
KING.
Will you know them then?
LAERTES.
To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms;
And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.
KING.
Why, now you speak
Like a good child and a true gentleman.
That I am guiltless of your father's death,
And am most sensibly in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgement 'pear
As day does to your eye.
DANES.
[[Within.] ] Let her come in.
LAERTES.
How now! What noise is that?
Re-enter Ophelia,. fantastically dressed with
straws and flowers.
O heat, dry up my brains. Tears seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye.
By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight,
Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May!
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is't possible a young maid's wits
Should be as mortal as an old man's life?
Nature is fine in love, and where 'tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.
OPHELIA.
[[Sings.] ]
They bore him barefac'd on the bier,
Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny
And on his grave rain'd many a tear.—
Fare you well, my dove!
LAERTES.
Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.
OPHELIA.
You must sing 'Down a-down, and you call him a-down-a.' O, how the wheel
becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his master's daughter.
LAERTES.
This nothing's more than matter.
OPHELIA.
There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray love, remember. And there is
pansies, that's for thoughts.
LAERTES.
A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.
OPHELIA.
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. O you must wear your rue with
a difference. There's a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they wither'd
all when my father died. They say he made a good end.
[[Sings.] ]
For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.
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