Jealousy In Lord Of The Flies

Jealousy is an evil thing. One of the seven deadly sins, it is notorious for what it can make people do. Even Shakespeare referred to it as the “green-eyed monster”. I was fairly close with this creature, but calling it a monster gives it too much credit. No, a monster is too crude, too overbearing. Jealousy, for me, is something much smaller. It was like an underlying thought stuck in the back of my head. A minute itch that never ceased its irritation. My fingers would scramble frantically, digging into my skin, releasing a burning sensation that provided an impermanent satisfaction. Much like a mosquito bite, every time I entertained Jealousy, the sensation intensified. And, like a mosquito bite, the only cure was abstinence. It came with every friendship, with every interaction.
Friendships were never far off the line of envy, contempt, and adoration. Despite what others may say, it was nice to be alone. In the safety of your own room, in the comfort of your own belongings, in the cage that you created, at least then I couldn’t disappoint myself. However, complete solitude was a pipe dream. I was surrounded by people: relatives, family, and friends. Throughout the years my relationships never amounted to anything more than conversations about recent radio tunes, new novels, or current cartoons. I was complacent. Complacent with distancing myself, complacent with watching my friends branching out, it was better to be complacent than to play along with Jealousy. The more time I spent with someone, the more envious I grew, the more flaws I tried to find, and the more imperfections I fabricated in order to bring them down to my