The phrase “rosemary for remembrance” predates Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, but its association with memory and funerals is referenced in the play. The exact quote does not include the phrase, but it is believed to foreshadow Ophelia’s death. Rosemary has been used in funerals and weddings, and was thought to repel evil spirits and cure theft. Recent studies suggest that rosemary stimulates memory and preserves cognitive function.
“Rosemary for remembrance” is a phrase that often refers to the words of the character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The association of rosemary with remembrance, and with funerals, mourning or celebrations, precedes the game of the bard. Undoubtedly, Shakespeare’s words have proved as memorable and influential as the writings of others demonstrate. Interestingly, however, in a scientific context, rosemary and memory share important connections.
Shakespeare’s famous scene from Hamlet features an increasingly deranged Ophelia, who talks, sings and stammers about her father’s death, to her brother, Laertes. Interestingly, the exact quote from the play does not include the phrase “rosemary for memory.” Rather it is: “There is rosemary, that is for remembrance; pray, love, remember.”
There are many interpretations of this scene, but because it occurs just before Ophelia’s death, some scholars believe that the “rosemary for remembrance” idea is somewhat less important. Instead, they argue that Shakespeare uses weed 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 imminent death.
Another interpretation that might make sense is that rosemary is an adherent fragrance. Ophelia’s absence is almost as felt as her presence, and in part drives her brother’s actions. It resembles the tenacity of rosemary’s aroma and how it persists.
Even before Shakespeare’s time, many individuals and cultures attached meaning to this herb. As mentioned, it could be used in funerals or in the care of the deceased. On the other hand, wearing wreaths of rosemary was sometimes fashionable in wedding dresses, so it wasn’t always related to sadness.
This little plant was also thought to repel evil spirits and cure theft. The 15th and 16th century statesman and writer, Sir Thomas More, specifically links rosemary to memory in his writings. He affectionately writes about “running” through his garden without cultivation because: “it is the herb sacred to memory, and therefore, to friendship…”
The veneration of rosemary has certainly continued. Sometimes references to it are meant to evoke Shakespeare. A novel by Agatha Christie, published as both Remembered Death and Sparkling Cyanide, uses the playwright’s quote. There are many other literary allusions to rosemary for memory.
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 a harbinger of misfortune as it was for poor Ophelia. Instead, it could be an aromatic preserver of the thoughts people hold dear.
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