“Envy” is a common emotional psychology of human beings. Based on the theory of imitation, René Girard elevated it to the height of individual existence and regarded it as an important starting point for the unfolding of plots in Shakespeare’s plays. In his opinion, imitation is the key to trigger off human desires, and individuals can only realize their desires by imitating others, thus confirming their own existence. Therefore, imitation is bound to be possessive and the relationship between people is bound to be violent. Based on Shakespeare’s plays, Girard points out that envy arises because someone else realizes desires before his own, and he thus recognizes the deficiency of his own existence. In view of the dual effects of the possessiveness and inevitability of imitation, both sides of the envy fall into endless conflicts and even mental violence. Therefore, Girard further points out that only by being aware of imitation in desire can the infinite cycle between imitation and violence be broken. Although Girard’s interpretation of Shakespeare has some elements of theoretical presupposition, it does have implications for contemporary literary criticism, subject theory, violence and other aspects.