Willows

__Willow Flower Symbolism__
The Willow is a flower that represents [|mourning], [|forsaken love], and [|freedom]. Shakespeare uses the willow in Act 4 Scene 7 to symbolize the [|death of Ophelia]. This flower represents Ophelia very well, symbolizing both her love for Hamlet that was never ment to be, the mourning she experiences after her fathers death, and the freedom from Hamlet's (apparent) madness. This flower sets a mood for tragety because of it's depressing characterizations.

There is a willow grows askant the brook that show his hoar leaves in the glassy stream. Therewith fantastic garlands she did make of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples... (Hamlet 4.7.190-193)

__Potential Recipeint(s)__
There are a couple of people that Ophelia could have given a willow flower to in Act 4 Scene 5. One of these people was Laertes, who is grieving over the recent death of his father, Polonius. Ophelia might think that Claudius needs to be mourning the death of King Hamlet, so he would recieve a flower for this reason as well. Both of these people deserve to have the willow flower. However, Ophelia could also be mourning the death of Polonius as well, so she could potentially keep the willow for herself, and not give it to anyone else. There is also the possibility that she would hold out the flower to Gertrude, but then pull it back as an insult to Gertrude, saying quite plainly that the Queen should have mourned the death of her first husband longer than she did.