Shakespeare makes at least two references to the 'green eyed monster'. The first is in Othello, when Iago says "O beware my lord of jealousy: it is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on". In the Merchant of Venice jealousy is again mentioned "cats, lions, togers and all the green eyed tribe mock the meat they feed on".
It is thought that Shakespeare was making particular reference to the way a cat will cruelly play with a mouse, bird etc before it kills it. It will be tender towards the mouse, carrying it, gently tapping it, offering it the chance to escape only to recapture it again etc. But ultimately it hates the mouse and will kill it.
So when Shakespeare describes the green eyed monster he is talking not just about the love hate relationship that cats have with their prey, but also how a person who is jealous of their lover will have a 'love hate' relationship with that person. Because they love them, they also hate them and so they have become that green eyed monster
No comments:
Post a Comment