Shakespeare is credited with the creating of the “green-eyed monster” of jealousy. During the Renaissance, colors were used to describe different emotions, and green was matched with envy and jealousy. In the tragedy called Othello, the primary character has seeds of doubt planted by others about his wife. The jealousy that he allows to consume his mind unravels his life one strand at a time. Othello was not defeated by an outside enemy but by a monster within. A striking quote from Act 3 Scene 3: ““O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”

We can all think of circumstances when jealousy has destroyed from within. Friendships, romances, marriages, families, businesses, sports teams, political administrations, and even neighborly acquaintances: there is seemingly no where that it cannot creep when given an opening. Jealousy is slightly nuanced in comparison to envy. Jealousy has been defined as follows:

- hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage

- zeal or vehemence of feeling against some person or thing

- the state of mind arising from the suspicion, apprehension, or knowledge of rivalry. Fear of being supplanted in the affection, or distrust of the fidelity of a beloved person

- resentment or ill will towards another on account of advantage or superiority, imagined or real. It is that which expresses itself in envy or in a grudge

We all certainly understand and have felt this thing called jealousy inside of us. Proverbs and the Bible actually has a lot to say about the topic.