Emotion: Jealousy

When you want to write the emotion jealousy, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing instead of telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Jealousy is an intense emotion characterized by feelings of envy, resentment, and insecurity. It often arises from a perceived threat to a person's relationship, possessions, status, or abilities. Jealousy can manifest in a variety of ways, including distrust, suspicion, anger, sadness, and anxiety. It is a complex emotion that can be triggered by a range of situations, such as competition, comparison, or perceived favoritism. Jealousy can be experienced in varying degrees, from mild to extreme, and can have both positive and negative effects on a person's behavior and relationships.

Different Types of Jealousy

Here are some different types of jealousy:

• Romantic jealousy: Feeling jealous of a partner's attention or affection towards someone else.
• Professional jealousy: Feeling jealous of a coworker's success or recognition.
• Sibling jealousy: Feeling jealous of a sibling's accomplishments or attention from parents.
• Material jealousy: Feeling jealous of someone else's possessions or wealth.
• Creative jealousy: Feeling jealous of someone else's artistic talent or success.

Situations Associated with Jealousy

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of jealousy:

• A romantic partner showing interest in someone else
• A friend receiving more attention or praise
• Someone else being more successful or achieving something the character wants
• Feeling left out or excluded from a group
• Perceiving someone as having a better life or more advantages
• A sibling or family member being favored over the character
• Feeling inadequate or inferior compared to others
• A sense of possessiveness or entitlement over a person or thing
• Betrayal or a breach of trust in a relationship

Physical Reactions to Jealousy

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing jealousy might have:

• Clenched jaw, tense muscles, and a rigid posture
• Rapid heartbeat, sweating, and increased breathing rate
• Fidgeting, pacing, or restlessness
• Intense eye contact, staring, or glaring
• Aggressive or passive-aggressive behavior, such as snide remarks or sarcasm
• Possessiveness, such as not wanting the object of jealousy to interact with others
• Obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors related to the object of jealousy
• Self-doubt, insecurity, and feelings of inadequacy
• Increased sensitivity to criticism or rejection

Thoughts Associated with Jealousy

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing jealousy might have:

• Why does he get to have it all?
• She doesn't deserve that. I do.
• I'm not good enough compared to him/her.
• They're getting all the attention and I'm being overlooked.
• I wish I had what they have.
• They're going to take everything away from me.
• I can't stand seeing them together.
• I'm not as talented as they are.
• Why did they get the promotion and not me?
• They're trying to make me look bad.

Atmosphere of Jealousy

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of jealousy in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use descriptive language to set up a scene that evokes feelings of envy or insecurity, such as describing a lavish mansion or a fancy car.
• Create a sense of competition or comparison between characters, such as through a beauty contest or a race.
• Use symbolism to convey the emotion, such as using the color green or a snake (which is often associated with envy).
• Use dialogue to reveal jealous thoughts or actions, such as a character making snide comments or actively trying to sabotage someone else's success.
• Use physical actions to express jealousy, such as a character clenching their fists or gritting their teeth.
• Use metaphors to describe the feeling, such as a character feeling like they are drowning or suffocating under the weight of their jealousy.

Verbs Associated with Jealousy

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of jealousy:

• Covet
• Envy
• Resent
• Grudge
• Lust
• Possess
• Guard
• Distrust
• Compete
• Compare
• Spy
• Sabotage
• Accuse
• Blame
• Rage
• Hate
• Obsess
• Sulk
• Brood
• Plot
• Scheme
• Manipulate
• Betray
• Backstab

Emotions Before Jealousy

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences jealousy:

• Envy
• Resentment
• Frustration
• Disappointment
• Insecurity
• Fear
• Anxiety

Emotions After Jealousy

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences jealousy:

• Resentment
• Anger
• Bitterness
• Envy
• Insecurity
• Betrayal
• Rejection
• Frustration
• Sadness

Telling Jealousy Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion jealousy in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She felt jealous of her friend's new job.
• He was jealous of his brother's success.
• Mary was jealous of her sister's beauty.
• John was jealous of his neighbor's car.

Practical Examples of Showing Jealousy

Here are some examples of showing jealousy in a sentence:

• She couldn't help but notice how he laughed with the other woman, and her heart sank.
• Watching her friend receive praise for her accomplishments, she felt a twinge of envy.
• He clenched his fists as he saw his ex-girlfriend with her new partner, and he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
• She scrolled through social media, feeling a pang of jealousy as she saw her peers traveling to exotic destinations.

Exercises for Showing Jealousy

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing jealousy:

• Write a scene where the character witnesses someone they care about receiving attention from someone else. Show their reaction to this situation and how they try to cope with their jealousy.
• Create a character who is jealous of someone else's success. Show how this jealousy affects their actions and relationships with others.
• Write a scene where two characters are competing for the same thing (job, love interest, recognition, etc.). Show how the jealousy between them affects their interactions and the outcome of the situation.
• Write a monologue from the perspective of a jealous character. Explore their thoughts and feelings about the object of their jealousy.
• Create a scenario where the jealous character is forced to confront the object of their jealousy. Show their internal struggle and how they handle the situation.
• Write a scene where the jealous character is betrayed by someone they trust. Show how their jealousy is amplified by this betrayal and how they react to it.
• Create a character who is jealous of a specific trait or characteristic that they lack. Show how this jealousy affects their self-esteem and relationships with others.
• Write a scene where the jealous character is confronted by someone who is aware of their jealousy. Show how the character responds and whether they are able to overcome their jealousy.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full set of emotions.