This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

green monster of right and wrong

English translation: The green monster of right and wrong

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:green monster of right and wrong
Selected answer:The green monster of right and wrong
Entered by: VICTOR ORNGU

23:25 Dec 6, 2023
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
English term or phrase: green monster of right and wrong
Hello everyone,

From the 1964 movie Mission to Venice.

Context: A woman asked Michael, the protagonist, to help her find her missing husband Paul Trégard. She talked to Michael, Michael promised to help her and then she left. Caesar, Mihael's servant disapproves Michael's wish to help her. He says that the woman is a Mata Hari and he saw how she was wrapping him around her finger.

Caesar: But even Colonel Vallier himself is positive that Trégard was a... (Caesar means that, according to Colonel Vallier, Trégard is a traitor).

Michael: And if he's innocent? What if she's right and they are wrong? ("they" refers to the Secret Service of which Colonel Vallier is the head).

Caesar: Oh, yes, the green monster of right and wrong leers while laughing at the innocent. Victor Hugo.

What does "the green monster of right and wrong" mean?

To make my question clearer: What troubles me is this part: "of right and wrong."

When it (of right and wrong) is used with nouns like sense, concept, etc., the meaning is perfectly clear. For example, in "Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained" (the sentence is taken from Google), the meaning of "sense of right and wrong" is easily understandable.

But "the green monster of right and wrong" doesn't make sense to me.

If the video is needed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjc3j6EIBOI&t=537s

The scene in question begins at 8.46

Thank you.

PS: I asked this question on another forum, but so far, no answers.

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/the-green-monster-of...
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 02:42
The green monster of right and wrong
Explanation:
"The green monster of right and wrong" appears to be a metaphorical expression used by Caesar. The color green is often associated with jealousy, but it can also represent evil or corruption. Here, it could be interpreted that the "green monster" represents the corruption or perversion of moral judgment - the struggle between what is considered right and wrong.

This "monster" could be seen as a personification of the conflicts, misunderstandings, and potential harm that can arise from differing perceptions of morality. In other words, it refers to the potential danger or harm that can come from disputes or conflicts over what is considered right or wrong.

However, it's important to note that this phrase does not appear in Victor Hugo's works, so it's not a direct quote from him. It might be an interpretation or adaptation of his themes or ideas.
Selected response from:

VICTOR ORNGU
Nigeria
Local time: 00:42
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, VICTOR.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5The green monster of right and wrong
VICTOR ORNGU
3the green monster who tells right from wrong for us
Susana E. Cano Méndez
3jealousy..jealous..over jealous..distrustful
airmailrpl
Summary of reference entries provided
comment
liz askew
Nerval, green monster, supernatural human Quasimodo
Tomasso

Discussion entries: 18





  

Answers


17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the green monster who tells right from wrong for us


Explanation:
Hi, this is my interpretation.
Hope it helps!

Susana E. Cano Méndez
Spain
Local time: 01:42
Native speaker of: Spanish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Susana.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Barbara Carrara: Meaning?
17 hrs
  -> Well, there is a green monster who decides for us...
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
The green monster of right and wrong


Explanation:
"The green monster of right and wrong" appears to be a metaphorical expression used by Caesar. The color green is often associated with jealousy, but it can also represent evil or corruption. Here, it could be interpreted that the "green monster" represents the corruption or perversion of moral judgment - the struggle between what is considered right and wrong.

This "monster" could be seen as a personification of the conflicts, misunderstandings, and potential harm that can arise from differing perceptions of morality. In other words, it refers to the potential danger or harm that can come from disputes or conflicts over what is considered right or wrong.

However, it's important to note that this phrase does not appear in Victor Hugo's works, so it's not a direct quote from him. It might be an interpretation or adaptation of his themes or ideas.

VICTOR ORNGU
Nigeria
Local time: 00:42
Native speaker of: Nigerian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, VICTOR.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, VICTOR!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
jealousy..jealous..over jealous..distrustful


Explanation:
green monster of right and wrong => green-eyed monster of right and wrong => jealousy..jealous..over jealous..distrustful

What is the meaning of the green monster?
the green-eyed monster
informal. : jealousy thought of as a monster that bites or attacks people. She was bitten by the green-eyed monster. [=she became jealous]

Green–eyed monster Definition & Meaning - Britannica
What does green eyed mean slang?
jealous
Definitions of green-eyed. adjective. suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival. synonyms: jealous, overjealous distrustful.

Green-eyed - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
jealousy
: jealousy imagined as a monster that attacks people. usually used with the. Finally, he suffered from professional jealousy, although, at least in public, he kept the green-eyed monster at bay most of the time.

Green-eyed monster Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

What does over jealous mean?
Extreme jealousy means the jealous person is insecure and for whatever reason, unsure of their loved one. Sometimes the jealousy is unwarranted and might be a red flag of an unstable person. As Greg Scott points out, some very jealous people consider their loved one their property.Mar 2, 2018

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 20:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 36
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


9 hrs peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: comment

Reference information:
I am unable to find your phrase online

I have only heard of the "green-eyed monster" in Othello which = jealousy

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 ore (2023-12-07 09:11:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

there are more hits if you search with "Victor Hugo, good and evil, Quasimodo"


it is possible your translation is incorrect

liz askew
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thank you, liz.


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Tomasso: Agree, lots to read searching by adding Nerval https://www.google.com/search?q=Gérard de Nerval Victor Hugo...
1 day 9 hrs
agree  Anastasia Kalantzi
2 days 12 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 19 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: Nerval, green monster, supernatural human Quasimodo

Reference information:
As mentioned by Barbara and Susanna, (todo nuevo para mi, nunca he leido antes), place to look.....1.2. Le personnel surnaturel
18 Deux ouvrages analysent l’ampleur du phénomène : Claudius Grillet, Le diable dans la littérature a (...)
19Comme chacun sait… et comme le rappelle le narrateur du Monstre vert, le diable est un personnage médiéval. Et il constitue bien entendu, par ses pouvoirs prodigieux et son action maléfique exercée souterrainement sur les êtres humains, un personnage associé à la magie, à la superstition et au surnaturel, qui peuple les contes et les ballades romantiques18. Dans l’univers médiéval, tout phénomène inexpliqué tend à être attribué à Dieu, et plus souvent au diable. Celui-ci en effet ne manque pas d’agents à sa solde, qu’ils soient surnaturels comme les lutins, gnomes, ondins et autres sylphes, ou humains tels les sorcières ou les alchimistes. Max Milner souligne par exemple l’invasion du genre fantastique par le diable et ses affidés, tout droit sortis des ténèbres du Moyen Âge :

un poco largo, mi sispiace Hugo le reprend dans Notre-Dame de Paris, où Claude Frollo est persuadé que sa passion pour Esmeralda n’est que le fruit d’un pouvoir diabolique qu’il lui faut éradiquer. Le romancier en profite pour rappeler quelques superstitions populaires, telle celle du moine bourru, complice supposé de la sorcière Esmeralda. Celle-ci, égyptienne et bohémienne, a d’ailleurs forcément commerce avec les forces du mal. Lors de son procès, elle est accusée d’actes de sorcellerie commis avec l’aide de sa chèvre, assimilée à un bouc, animal suprêmement diabolique. De la même façon, dans l’esprit du peuple, Claude Frollo et Quasimodo sont liés par un pacte diabolique.

27On rejoint, avec le personnage de Claude Frollo, les thèmes privilégiés du roman gothique. En effet, le portrait qui en est fait le rapproche d’Ambrosio, héros du Moine de Lewis. Comme lui, Claude Frollo apparaît comme un modèle de vertu trop sûr de lui qui finit par succomber à la tentation. De plus, si Ambrosio est victime du diable qui a pris la forme de la belle Mathilde, Frollo interprète ses souffrances comme le fruit des manœuvres démoniaques d’Esmeralda, créature de l’enfer. Sa mort, enfin, est la réplique de celle du moine : celui-ci est précipité par Satan du haut d’une falaise, après avoir signé le pacte et vendu son âme ; Claude Frollo est jeté de la cathédrale par Quasimodo, après avoir souri face au supplice d’Esmeralda. Sa mort est d’ailleurs interprétée par le peuple comme l’accomplissement du pacte diabolique passé avec Quasimodo.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2023-12-08 18:42:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

links https://books.openedition.org/pur/29638?lang=en

Green as positive and negative, quote " 49 La couleur verte est très significative ; le Diable traditionnel est rouge. Si l'on en croit la symbolique des couleurs, le
vert est une couleur à double sens ; à la fois positif et négatif. Positif en ce qu'elle évoque la nature, les saisons, la
création (conception orientale). Négatif en ce qu'elle peut représenter la couleur des drogues et des poisons (par
exemple, l'absinthe, également surnommée la fée verte), de la mort (le cadavre est verdâtre, maladif) et de malice
(fées et autres créatures étranges d'une nature imaginaire). Link https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-00516958/document

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days 17 hrs (2023-12-10 17:11:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

copy of link added by ormiston https://books.openedition.org/puse/3340?lang=fr


    https://books.openedition.org/pur/29638?lang=en
Tomasso
United States
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thank you, Tomasso.


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Anastasia Kalantzi
1 day 3 hrs
  -> Merci, like Pagnol, maybe Hugo writes multiple meanings, the naive arm of justice, the naive quasimodo ?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search