Question

Difficulty: EasyTextual Analysis of Prescribed Non-African Drama

Read the extract from William Shakespeare's prescribed Non-African drama, *Othello*, and answer the question that follows:

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."

Who speaks these lines, and to whom are they addressed?

  1. Iago to OthelloAnswer
  2. B
    Othello to Desdemona
  3. C
    Cassio to Roderigo
  4. D
    Brabantio to Othello

Answer

Iago speaks these lines to Othello.
In Act III, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's *Othello*, Iago speaks these famous lines to Othello. By metaphorically describing jealousy as a 'green-ey'd monster', Iago subtly implants seeds of suspicion regarding Desdemona while feigning concern for Othello's emotional well-being.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the literary text and context of the excerpt.
The quote uses the metaphor of the 'green-ey'd monster' to describe jealousy in Shakespeare's *Othello*.
Recognizing the dramatic context establishes which characters are present during this pivotal scene (Act III, Scene 3).
2
Determine the speaker and the listener based on character roles and plot developments.
Iago uses reverse psychology to warn Othello against jealousy, deliberately stoking Othello's doubts about Desdemona's fidelity.
This key interaction marks the turning point (temptation scene) where Iago begins his psychological destruction of Othello.

Key Concept

Character Attribution and Textual Context in Prescribed Shakespearean Drama
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