OPHELIA'S SATIRICAL DIADEM is a well-documented commentary on the meanings of the herbs in HAMLET and how they are used by Shakespeare to cleverly and almost covertly bring into relief the sexual corruption that pervades every aspect within the court of Claudius and profoundly affects Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. Almost every event that takes place in HAMLET is connected in some way to an herb or flower. Some of the meanings are simple and straightforward. Others are more difficult to interpret but with proper research in hundreds of volumes, many of them ancient herbals, the intended meaning of such obscure flowers as the Long Purple become clear and indisputable.