Part 26: Ophelia gives crowns instead of grasping & hoarding one
According to Gertrude, Ophelia crowned willow branches with coronets (small crowns) of flowers, perhaps in the same spirit her giving away flowers and herbs to the court: QUEEN: There is a willow grows askant the brook That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream. Therewith fantastic garlands did she make Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples [....] There on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds Clamb’ring to hang… 4.7.190-198 Coronets? Why does this detail matter? There are men in Ophelia’s Denmark (Claudius) and from Norway (Fortinbras) who have killed, or are very willing to kill, to keep or grasp at a crown. Claudius is a man willing to kill his own brother and king to gain his crown, willing to kill his nephew, and watch his own wife poison herself without stopping her, just to keep his crown. Fortinbras is willing to enter battle where thousands will die so that he can achieve his victory, and later, he hopes, his crown: HAMLET: Witness this army of s...