envy vs. jealousy?

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115953


Paul wrote :
"1. Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness which someone has
when they think that another person is trying to take a lover or
friend, or a possession, away from them.

2. Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness which someone has
when they wish that they could have the qualities or possessions that
another person has.

1. Envy is the feeling you have when you wish you could have the same
thing or quality that someone else has.
 
2. If you envy someone, you wish that you had the same things or
qualities that they have.
 		
>From the above is quite clear that in GOF and in general Ron is rather
jealous than envious as a person."

Del replies :
I won't ceased to be amazed at how 2 people read exactly the same
thing and come to opposite conclusions :-)

>From what I can see from the definitions you've provided, Paul, I see
Ron as envious, not jealous. Jealousy seems to imply that one wants
not only the same thing as someone else, but they also want to strip
the other from that thing. In other words, they want to *take* that
thing from someone else.

Envy, on the other hand, seems to be when you want to have something
*too*. You don't mind someone else having it, but you wish you could
have it too. And *this* is what Ron does : he doesn't mind Harry
having some things, he just wishes he could have them *too*. For
example, he doesn't resent Harry for being rich, he only wishes he
could be rich too.

In GoF in particular, Ron never says that he wishes he had been the
only one entering the Tournament. He only wishes Harry had *shared*
his secret about how to get past the Age-line with him. When the Twins
mention looking for a way to get past the Age-line, Ron *immediately*
turns to Harry to ask him if he *too* would like to give it a try. In
Ron's mind, it was always about *the two of them* having a chance. He
never even thought of keeping the Twins' eventual discovery from
Harry. And he gets mad when he thinks Harry did keep something from
him. He wishes he had been given the *same* chance. Not that he had
been the *only* one. Envy, not jealousy : I don't mind you having it,
I just wish I could have it too.

Del