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What Does "Rosemary for Remembrance" Mean?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

“Rosemary for remembrance” is a phrase that most often references the character Ophelia’s words in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The association of rosemary with remembrance, and with funerals, mourning or celebrations, predates the bard’s play. Undoubtedly, Shakespeare’s words have proven memorable and influential, as shown by the writings of others. Interestingly, though, in a scientific context, rosemary and memory do share important connections.

Shakespeare’s famous scene from Hamlet features an increasingly unbalanced Ophelia, who talks, sings, and babbles about her father’s death, to her brother, Laertes. Interestingly, the exact quote from the play doesn’t include the phrase, “rosemary for remembrance.” Rather it is: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember.”

Shakespeare often used the language of flowers in his plays, including the phrase "Rosemary for remembrance."
Shakespeare often used the language of flowers in his plays, including the phrase "Rosemary for remembrance."

There are many interpretations of this scene, but since it occurs shortly before Ophelia’s death, a number of scholars believe that the idea of “rosemary for remembrance” is of somewhat lesser importance. Instead, they argue that Shakespeare uses the herb to allude to the common convention of placing it on the bodies of the dead. In this way, he is able to foreshadow Ophelia’s impending demise.

In "Hamlet," Ophelia says, "There's rosemary. That's for remembrance."
In "Hamlet," Ophelia says, "There's rosemary. That's for remembrance."

Another interpretation that might make sense is that rosemary is a fragrance that clings. Ophelia’s absence is felt almost as much as her presence, and it partially drives the actions of her brother. She resembles the tenacity of rosemary’s aroma, and the way it lingers.

Even before Shakespeare's time, many individuals and cultures assigned meaning to this herb. As mentioned, it could be used in funerals or in the care of the dead. On the other hand, wearing wreaths of rosemary was sometimes the fashion in bridal wear, so it wasn’t always connected with sadness.

This little plant was also thought to repel evil spirits and cure thievery. 15th and early 16th century statesman and writer, Sir Thomas More, specifically ties rosemary to memory in his writing. He writes fondly of it “running” about his garden without cultivation because: “it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and therefore, to friendship…”

Veneration of rosemary has certainly continued. Sometimes references to it are meant to evoke Shakespeare. An Agatha Christie novel, published as both Remembered Death and Sparkling Cyanide, uses the playwright’s quote. Many other literary allusions to rosemary for remembrance exist.

Fascinating recent research may scientifically verify a connection between rosemary and remembrance. Several studies evaluating aromatherapy suggest that the herb actually stimulates memory and may preserve some cognitive function. If these studies are accurate, a sprig of rosemary is not the harbinger of doom that it was for poor Ophelia. Instead, it may be an aromatic preserver of the thoughts people hold dear.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent LanguageHumanities contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent LanguageHumanities contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

MrsPramm

@pleonasm - If the studies linking it to preserving memories are correct they might end up putting some of the properties of rosemary into pills that can enhance your cognitive function in general. You can already get a variety of different natural boosts for your brain, like fish oils.

With a built in motto that rosemary is for remembrance, I'm surprised no one has jumped on this kind of thing before. Of course, it would be just as easy for people to get rosemary from the herb section in the supermarket, but that wouldn't make as much money.

pleonasm

@croydon - I know if you're studying for a test you're supposed to chew a particular flavor of gum while studying and the same flavor when you're taking the test, in order to trigger memories.

I wonder if you could get something flavored with rosemary instead in order to help jog your memory in more than one way.

croydon

They say that scent is closely matched with memory anyway, which is why smelling something familiar can trigger a rush of memories. And rosemary is a very strong smelling, distinctive herb, so it doesn't surprise me that it can stimulate memory.

I wonder, though, if it only stimulates memories that are associated with it or if it stimulates memory in general.

I always put a few sprigs of rosemary on my grandmother's grave, because she used to say it was one of the symbols of remembrance, so I strongly associate the smell with her. Perhaps this is also because she cooked with it all the time.

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    • Shakespeare often used the language of flowers in his plays, including the phrase "Rosemary for remembrance."
      By: Claudio Divizia
      Shakespeare often used the language of flowers in his plays, including the phrase "Rosemary for remembrance."
    • In "Hamlet," Ophelia says, "There's rosemary. That's for remembrance."
      By: davehanlon
      In "Hamlet," Ophelia says, "There's rosemary. That's for remembrance."