Othello
"O, Beware, My Lord, of jealousy; it is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on." Iago to Othello (3.3) Let's do a close reading if these lines. Think about why Shakespeare depicts jealousy as a green-eyed monster. Why not a blue-eyed monster or a black-eyed monster? How does jealousy tease or make fun of the meat it feeds on? What is that "meat"? When looking at possible essay topics how would you use these lines as evidence to prove your thesis. How does jealousy play into Othello's "uncertain vision"? How does Iago manipulate Othello's inability to distinguish between what is and what seems to be? How does this quote foreshadow Othello's destiny and/or self determination? How does jealousy lead to Othello's irrationality? Desdemona can't imagine any woman cheating on her husband, but you could say she dies at the hands of the "green-ey'd monster". How does jealousy contr