Act IV Scene iv: According to BeeBee Davis

I chose Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 movie version of Hamlet because Branagh included every word from the play into the movie. I chose Ophelia’s descent into madness because of the symbolism of the flowers that Ophelia talks about.

In this scene, Ophelia enters just as the King is calming down Laertes. Ophelia is deranged and begins singing and passing out flowers. Laertes is stunned by her madness and does not want to see her, wishing that her tears could turn him blind. Ophelia sings a sad song of a funeral, says goodbye and leaves. This drives Laertes to want revenge, which drives Claudius to egg him on.

With her Father murdered and being quite sensitive, it is no wonder that Ophelia descended into madness. Her use of handing out flowers is symbolic of her deep grief and sorrow of his passing. This is an indirect way to express her feelings, which is safer than stating her opinions to the Court. One must remember that in this time and place, the fear of insulting someone like a King or Queen could lead to death

The Rosemary and Pansies is for Laertes, for they stand for remembrance (thoughts). Ophelia pleads for her brother to figure out the killer as she tells him to think back over what has been happening. The Fennel and Columbines are for the King, for Fennel stands for flattery and Columbines are symbolic of male adultery and faithlessness. Ophelia flatters the king first and then accuses him of adultery, which is brave of her. The Rue is for the Queen and Ophelia and it stands for adultery and repentance of transgressions for women and suffering. At Shakespeare’s time, Rue was used for abortions (hence why it was tied to adultery). Ophelia then pretends to pick up a daisy, which stands for innocence, but she puts it back, as if to say there is no innocence left in this place. Lastly, Ophelia states, “I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died” (4.5. 184-186). Violets stand for faithfulness or fidelity. This statement is directed at the King and Queen, and is akin to a slap in the face.

The one thing I did not like about this scene was that Ophelia, when talking about the Rue, looks at her brother instead of the Queen. I felt that that was a grave oversight, as this flower is clearly meant for the Queen. The one thing I loved about this scene was that at the beginning, Ophelia is in darkness as she runs, but once she opens the door to the room, she is bathed in light. It made me think she was finally free to say what she wanted to say. When she leaves the room, she is once again in the dark.