Which Doth Mock the Meat It Feeds on?

Act 3, Scene 3
'O, beware my lord of jealousy./It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on. ' Iago begins to turn Othello against the 'worthy' Cassio and Desdemona. Suggesting the two have been engaging in an affair, Iago compels Othello to 'Look to [his] wife; observe her well with Cassio'.

What does mock the meat it feeds on mean?

Meaning: jealousy. In "Othello," Iago describes jealousy as a monster which devours its source. "Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock. The meat it feeds on" (Act 3, Scene 3).

What is Iago referring to when he says it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on?

So when he says "O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meet it feeds on," what he's actually saying is "I hope you become jealous and kill your wife, because that would, ironically, fulfill all my plans.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.