Sonia Ferrer

What does green mean?

            In Hamlet, there are a variety of different word usages that differ from what one would interpret them as meaning today. For example, the word green is used throughout the play, as are different terms that refer back to the word green, such as herbs. What significance does this have? Today, the word green is usually used to describe the color of something, but, for the most part, in the play, it is not. For example, in the beginning of "Hamlet", the king states, "Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death/ The memory be green, and that it us befitted/ To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom... (I.ii. 1-3)." Here, the definition that is used today to define green does not make sense. In the OED a different definition was given for it. It states, "Unaltered by time or natural processes, fresh, new. a. Of a wound: Recent, fresh, unhealed, raw (OED, Internet database. s.v. "green," 10a)." This definition makes more sense in the context of the sentence. In other words, what the King is stating is that King Hamlet's death is fresh, therefore, their emotional state has not been healed yet. Another instance of green in the play is the following, "Affection? Pooh! You speak like a green girl,/ Unsifted in such a perilous circumstance./ Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? (I.iv. 100-102)." In this passage, Polonius is speaking to his daughter Ophelia about her thoughts on Hamlet. Again, the usual definition for green does not fit here, nor does the other definition that was given. The OED gave yet another definition. This definition is as follows, "to detect any signs of gullibility (OED, internet database. s.v. "green" 2h)." Again, this definition does make sense in the sentence. In other words, Polonius is telling Ophelia that she is gullible for believing that Hamlet truly feels something for her.

            Here are two instances in which the word green has a very different meaning from what one uses today. Also, the word green is symbolism of something, and that is jealousy. The OED states that, "...the eye of jealousy (OED. Internet database. s.v. "green" 3a)." So, green symbolizes jealousy, which is a recurring theme throughout the play. The King was jealous of King Hamlet; therefore, he killed him and married his wife. So, the presence of green may be foreshadowing events to come.