The Flowers of Ophelia free essay sample

William Shakespeare uses different types of imagery to symbolize major themes and characters in his plays. Garden and flower imagery is a major theme in one of his most famous plays, â€Å"Hamlet†. Gardens are used to describe the atmosphere, while flowers help us understand the characters, especially Ophelia. Flowers play such a large role in this play and without this imagery we may not have been able to understand some major points discussed. When most people hear the word â€Å"garden†, they think fields of green surrounded by beautiful flowers where you can sit and enjoy a Sunday afternoon picnic. As described in â€Å"Hamlet†, garden has a much different meaning. â€Å" ‘Tis an unweeded garden, / That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely. † (1. 2. 135-37) This quote said by Hamlet in his first soliloquy is explaining how he feels about his surroundings. As Hamlet is upset and angered over his fathers death and his mother remarriage, he feels that the world and people around him are an unweeded garden. We will write a custom essay sample on The Flowers of Ophelia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In other words, Hamlet feels that he is surrounded by living things that are not being tended to. Floral imagery comes into the play when Laertes lectures Ophelia on the relationship between her and Hamlet. He compares Hamlet’s love for her as â€Å"A violet in the youth of primy nature. † (1. 3. 7) By stating this, Laertes is explaining to Ophelia that their love is not permanent, but like a violet; a flower that dies as quickly as it blooms. The symbolism of flowers and gardens are used to show the different characteristics of Ophelia. A large aspect is how her brother, Laertes is constantly trying to give her advice. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven 1. 3. 45-8) Ophelia appreciates that Laertes is continuously giving her advice, but feels that he should step back and concentrate on taking his own. She uses garden imagery by saying it is a thorny path to heaven, meaning it is not as easy as it seems. The imagery and symbolism continues as Ophelia is scolded by her father, Polonius. Polonius tells Ophelia that she speaks like a  "green girl†. This is explaining that she talks as a flower who has not bloomed yet; unknown to the world around her. After the accidental death of Ophelia’s father, Polonius, Ophelia turns mad. Ophelia enters the castle with her whole figure and hair entwined with flowers. She begins to show her insanity by sitting upon the floor and playing with the flowers in a childish way as she sings. Another floral symbol is shown in Ophelia’s song, â€Å"Larded with sweet flowers; / Which bewept to the grave did go / With true-love showers. † (4. 5. 37-9) She is singing of her fathers burial who would be covered in flowers while put into the grave. With loosing her mind, Ophelia hands out flowers to all those around her. She speaks directly of the symbolic meaning of those flowers, which is important of who she is giving each flower to. There’s rosemary, thats for remembrance, pray, love, remember: and there is pansies, that’s for thoughts. † (4. 5. 173-5) It can be thought that Ophelia would be handing rosemary to Hamlet, in which she does not want him to forget about her. In feeling her disappointment that Hamlet is not present, the pansy would symbolize her thoughts of him there. There’s fennel for you, and columbines: there’s rue for you; and here’s some for me: we may call it herb-grace o’ Sundays: O, 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: hey say he made a good end, (4. 5. 78-83) Ophelia continues to pass out flowers as stated in the quote above. Fennel is a symbol of flattery as columbines are a symbol of infidelity. As passing these flowers to the King, it would’ve been considered an insult in Elizabethan times. It was brave of Ophelia to at first flatte r the King and then accuse him of adultery, especially because he has the power to take her life. Rue is a symbol of regret. This herb was given to the Queen would symbolize her bitterness and could’ve been thought to be a symbol of her regretting the marriage of Claudius. As for the daisy which was not given to anyone, can show the loss of innocence at this point in the play. The violet shows Ophelia’s faithfulness to her father. The reappearance of the violet is interesting in that it is the first flower Ophelia is compared to and the last flower she speaks of. Flower imagery continues to coincide with Ophelia up to her death. As Queen Gertrude describes Ophelia’s last moments, Ophelia is described as a flower herself. There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; There, with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead-men’s-fingers call them; There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hand, an envious sliver broke; When down the weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like a while they bore her up: Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes, As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element: but long it could not be, Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. (4. 7. 168-84) The Queen’s speech is describing how Ophelia went to the brook with garlands of flowers intending to hang them on the boughs of a far out tree. As Ophelia was climbing, a branch broke beneath her causing her to tumble into the brook. At first, her clothes kept her afloat. â€Å"As one incapable of her own distress† (4. 7. 180) Ophelia was unable to get herself out of the brook, therefore, she downed. The willow leaves mentioned by the queen can symbolize mourning. Ophelia’s sudden death is mourned by all who are present at her burial. The â€Å"long purples† that Gertrude compares to â€Å"dead-men’s-fingers† refer to the plant we know as the purple orchid. This metaphor can be used to described the lifeless hands of Ophelia reaching up, trying to save herself from the brook. Further more, the excessive amount of flowers present, each with their own symbolic meaning, can be describing the many emotions that Ophelia was experiencing throughout the play, up to her death. It can easily be said that Shakespeare could’ve described Ophelia’s emotional state in a number of words. The Flowers of Ophelia free essay sample As described in â€Å"Hamlet†, garden has a much different meaning. â€Å" ‘Tis an unweeded garden, / That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely. † (1. 2. 135-37) This quote said by Hamlet in his first soliloquy is explaining how he feels about his surroundings. As Hamlet is upset and angered over his fathers death and his mother remarriage, he feels that the world and people around him are an unweeded garden. In other words, Hamlet feels that he is surrounded by living things that are not being tended to. Floral imagery comes into the play when Laertes lectures Ophelia on the relationship between her and Hamlet. He compares Hamlet’s love for her as â€Å"A violet in the youth of primy nature. † (1. 3. 7) By stating this, Laertes is explaining to Ophelia that their love is not permanent, but like a violet; a flower that dies as quickly as it blooms. The symbolism of flowers and gardens are used to show the different characteristics of Ophelia. We will write a custom essay sample on The Flowers of Ophelia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A large aspect is how her brother, Laertes is constantly trying to give her advice. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven 1. 3. 45-8) Ophelia appreciates that Laertes is continuously giving her advice, but feels that he should step back and concentrate on taking his own. She uses garden imagery by saying it is a thorny path to heaven, meaning it is not as easy as it seems. The imagery and symbolism continues as Ophelia is scolded by her father, Polonius. Polonius tells Ophelia that she speaks like a â€Å"green girl†. This is explaining that she talks as a flower who has not bloomed yet; unknown to the world around her. After the accidental death of Ophelia’s father, Polonius, Ophelia turns mad. Ophelia enters the castle with her whole figure and hair entwined with flowers. She begins to show her insanity by sitting upon the floor and playing with the flowers in a childish way as she sings. Another floral symbol is shown in Ophelia’s song, â€Å"Larded with sweet flowers; / Which bewept to the grave did go / With true-love showers. † (4. 5. 37-9) She is singing of her fathers burial who would be covered in flowers while put into the grave. With loosing her mind, Ophelia hands out flowers to all those around her. She speaks directly of the symbolic meaning of those flowers, which is important of who she is giving each flower to. There’s rosemary, thats for remembrance, pray, love, remember: and there is pansies, that’s for thoughts. † (4. 5. 173-5) It can be thought that Ophelia would be handing rosemary to Hamlet, in which she does not want him to forget about her. In feeling her disappointment that Hamlet is not present, the pansy would symbolize her thoughts of him there. There’s fennel for you, and columbines: there’s rue for you; and here’s some for me: we may call it herb-grace o’ Sundays: O, 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: hey say he made a good end, (4. 5. 78-83) Ophelia continues to pass out flowers as stated in the quote above. Fennel is a symbol of flattery as columbines are a symbol of infidelity. As passing these flowers to the King, it would’ve been considered an insult in Elizabethan times. It was brave of Ophelia to at first flatter the King and then accuse him of adultery, especially because he has the power to take her life. Rue is a symbol of regret. This herb was giv en to the Queen would symbolize her bitterness and could’ve been thought to be a symbol of her regretting the marriage of Claudius. As for the daisy which was not given to anyone, can show the loss of innocence at this point in the play. The violet shows Ophelia’s faithfulness to her father. The reappearance of the violet is interesting in that it is the first flower Ophelia is compared to and the last flower she speaks of. Flower imagery continues to coincide with Ophelia up to her death. As Queen Gertrude describes Ophelia’s last moments, Ophelia is described as a flower herself. There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; There, with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead-men’s-fingers call them; There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hand, an envious sliver broke; When down the weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like a while they bore her up: Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes, As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element: but long it could not be, Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. (4. 7. 168-84) The Queen’s speech is describing how Ophelia went to the brook with garlands of flowers intending to hang them on the boughs of a far out tree. As Ophelia was climbing, a branch broke beneath her causing her to tumble into the brook. At first, her clothes kept her afloat. â€Å"As one incapable of her own distress† (4. 7. 180) Ophelia was unable to get herself out of the brook, therefore, she downed. The willow leaves mentioned by the queen can symbolize mourning. Ophelia’s sudden death is mourned by all who are present at her burial. The â€Å"long purples† that Gertrude compares to â€Å"dead-men’s-fingers† refer to the plant we know as the purple orchid. This metaphor can be used to described the lifeless hands of Ophelia reaching up, trying to save herself from the brook. Further more, the excessive amount of flowers present, each with their own symbolic meaning, can be describing the many emotions that Ophelia was experiencing throughout the play, up to her death. It can easily be said that Shakespeare could’ve described Ophelia’s emotional state in a number of words.

Understand culture essays

Understand culture essays Dictionary. com defined culture as the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought, so language is just the one element of the culture. It doesnt mean if you dont know the language of that culture, you would not understand that culture. You can know it in many different ways, so I disagree. If you want to know this culture, you dont have to know the language in this culture. You can see the introduction of the culture which is in your language if it is possible or you can100 see the products and acts which were made in that culture. For example, the old Egypt had been disappeared thousand years ago, no baby can speak the old Egypt language, but the scientists still can know most old Egypt culture. The scientists investigate the cultural relics, such as the mummies. And the buildings, such as pyramids. Then know assembly the old Egypt culture. After that, they begin to investigate the characters. They try to translate their, therefore they can read their recordation and know what was going on in their history. If carol wants to know her native culture,200 you got many different ways to know. Firstly, she can ask her parents or some older relations in her family, because the older people has been in this culture a long time, they should know the culture more than the you ng people. Secondly, she can read the books about her native culture, that would be the easiest and the most directly way to get the information. The books would introduce the culture comprehensively. Thirdly, if Carol is so lazy, she can just look some products and acts which are made in their culture. she can more or less get some 300information form them. However, I think language is still a very important part to understand a culture. If you know the language of the culture, you probably know the culture entirely. Because language of the culture can express its ...

Bankruptcy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bankruptcy - Essay Example Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is also known as straight bankruptcy in which an individual or a corporation will discharge the filing defaulter in exchange for giving up assets. Therefore, the chapter 7 is legislated specifically for people who cannot afford or who are unable to pay their debt. Accordingly, one chief reason people choose to file chapter 7 is that if one qualifies, he or she can then afford the monthly reimbursement for the items they wish to keep. This is unlike chapter 13 because those who file chapter 7 debtors are often ready to credit score more quickly because they aim to complete bankruptcy suit swiftly (Gambrell & Associates, n.d.). As with Chapter 13 on the other hand, the debtor is demanded to reimburse all or part of his/her debts in terms of reduction of upcoming income within a stipulated period of 3-5 years as per chapter 13 arrangement. Much of the debt that is not reimbursed as set out in the agreement or a plan of reorganization will have to be wiped out or discharged. This is unlike in chapter 7 where bankruptcy does not discharge much of the mortgage, for if debtor desires to keep an item product e.g. an apartment or a car as security for a loan, he is required to prolong these payments. However, under chapter 13, nearly all long-term debts and mortgages have to be paid in their usual monthly reimbursement either during or outside the plan, apart from for the payments that were due ahead of the case filing (Gambrell & Associates, n.d.). Chapter 9 deals with municipalities and a municipal is required to demonstrate its eligibility to be a debtor in pursuant of section 109 (c) and such eligibility to file for chapter 9 is often contested by creditor (s). Such is different with chapter 11 whereby eligibility is never challenged as a party is supposed to be eligible for filing save for insurance companies, stockbrokers, insured banks, and commodity brokers. Another