“Jealousy is a
strange transformer of character”
Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle
A transformer of
one’s character it surely is. In Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors”, the
Abbess says that the outcries of a jealous woman poison more deadly than a mad
dog's tooth. Shakespeare continues this topic of jealousy in “Othello”, where
Iago says that the green-eyed monster of jealousy mocks the meat it feeds on.
Jealousy brings a lot of pain with it into
this world; it contains more self-love than love and it creates a treacherous
ear. Jealousy and admiration should however not be confused, because admiration
is healthy, but jealousy is like gout, according to Henry Fielding. When
jealousy is in the blood there is never any security against it breaking out on
the slightest occasions, and when least suspected. Maya Angelou, on the other
hand, likens jealousy to that of salt, saying that like salt in food, a little
jealousy can enhance the taste, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under
certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. I agree with her, in this
regard quantity truly matters. Jealousy is a normal emotion which can be
helpful in illuminating our own desires and insecurities. Have you ever tried
to compliment someone else rather than be filled with jealousy? If you are
jealous of someone’s ability or looks, then you have two options: be content
with your own abilities and looks, or put some effort into changing your
abilities and looks. Being filled with jealousy will get you nowhere. So, let
us safeguard ourselves from destructive quantities of jealousy.
How well don’t we
know the following rhyme?
“JEALOUSY MAKES
YOU NASTY”
How true has it
proven itself to be over time?
Let jealousy not be
a stumbling block for you and me!
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