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Thistle Thursday
Brush up on your Shakespeare with Act III, Scene 4, from Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare, 1598
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"Margaret: Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.
Hero: There thou prick'st her with a thistle."
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Watch out for those sharp thistles (and double entrendres), except perhaps in this bright and soft green-hued tartan form!
If you need a thistle-based Shakespearean quote (and who doesn't?) this bit of herbal wordplay from the Shakespeare's beloved comedy may entertain your tartan admirers and evoke the emerging colours of spring as well!
During Shakespeare’s time, herbalists such as Turner, Culpepper, and Gerard extolled the virtues of the green and yellow blessed thistle, (Centaureus benedicta) believing it could cure a remarkable range of ailments—from toothaches and dizziness to fevers, the plague, and even the bites of “mad dogs and venomous beasts"!
Shakespeare himself was likely familiar with its reputed powers. In Much Ado About Nothing, the character Margaret recommends Carduus Benedictus (blessed thistle) as a remedy for lovesickness, teasing the play’s famously sparring pair, Beatrice and Benedick, who are engaged in a merry war of wit and love.
Thistles bloom across the tartan spectrum, appearing in nearly every color imaginable. The fresh green of early spring thistles—such as the one known variously as St. Benedict’s thistle, blessed thistle, holy thistle, spotted thistle, or blessed knapweed—stands out with its bright yellow blooms. Though thistle-like in appearance, it actually belongs to the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, and its medicinal virtues have been praised for centuries.
The plant’s name honors Saint Benedict of Nursia, founder of Western monasticism. His monasteries emphasized healing and the cultivation of medicinal herbs, and in medieval times monks often grew blessed thistle in their gardens, believing it to be a divine gift with remarkable restorative powers.
And so, wear your green tartan boldly this spring, and hopefulyl get an admiring eye cast your way (as well as flummoxing the odd mad dog or venomous beasts amongst your acquaintanceship).💚 💛 🤍 💚 🌿
According to the designer, this tartan was inspired by an old bothy blanket. The palette of colours represent the lively earthy tones of the highland landscape.
Shakespeare's references to the thistle, though not extensive, are thoughtfully placed to enhance character development and thematic depth. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Bottom, transformed with an ass's head, instructs the fairy Cobweb to "kill me a red-hipped bumble-bee on the top of a thistle" and bring him the honeybag. This whimsical request not only underscores Bottom's comical transformation but also highlights the thistle's ecological role as a haven for bees. The imagery of the prickly thistle juxtaposed with the industrious bee enriches the play's exploration of transformation and the interconnectedness of nature.
In Henry V, the Duke of Burgundy laments the devastation of France's once-fertile lands, now overrun with "hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs, losing both beauty and utility." Here, the thistle symbolizes neglect and the consequences of war, portraying how the land, much like the kingdom, suffers from mismanagement and conflict. The proliferation of such weeds serves as a metaphor for societal decay, emphasizing the need for restoration and harmony.While Shakespeare's allusions to the thistle are limited, each instance is deliberate, using the plant's characteristics to mirror human experiences and societal conditions. Whether symbolizing resilience, neglect, or the fine line between beauty and pain, the thistle serves as a multifaceted emblem in his works.
In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare makes a direct reference to the thistle’s medicinal properties through Margaret’s line, "Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm." (Act 3, Scene 4). The "blessed thistle," or Carduus Benedictus, was widely believed to have healing properties, particularly for fevers, infections, and even the plague. Margaret’s suggestion is laced with humor, as she implies that the remedy could cure Beatrice’s lovesickness for Benedick rather than an actual ailment.
For more on Shakespearean flower references, click the thistle!