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Thistle Thursday
"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."
~ Much Ado About Nothing, Act III, Scene 4, William Shakespeare, 1598
Thistles bloom across the tartan spectrum, appearing in nearly every color imaginable. The fresh green of early spring thistles gives way to a vivid array of floral hues, and not always the classic purple! While the prickly thistle is renowned for its fierce symbolism, many varieties have long been valued for their medicinal properties in folk medicine.
One such plant is Centaurea benedicta, commonly known as St. Benedict’s thistle, blessed thistle, holy thistle, spotted thistle, or blessed knapweed. This green and yellow thistle-like member of the Asteraceae family has been praised for its healing virtues for centuries.
During Shakespeare’s time, herbalists such as Turner, Culpepper, and Gerard extolled the benefits of the blessed thistle, believing it could cure a multitude 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, as his character Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing specifically recommends Cardus Benedictus (blessed thistle) as a remedy for lovesickness.
Today, blessed thistle remains valued for its bitter taste and reputed health benefits. It is commonly used to aid digestion, stimulate appetite, and support breast milk production in nursing mothers.
The plant’s name pays homage to Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of Western monasticism, whose emphasis on healing and the use of medicinal plants was central to monastic life. In medieval times, monks cultivated blessed thistle in their gardens, believing it to be a divine gift with miraculous healing properties! 💚 💛 🤍 💚 🌿
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!