Jealousy Vs. Envy

Are you jealous of someone or do you envy them? While these words continue to be used interchangeably, riling the English language purists in no small measure, it is a common grammar exercise where school students are asked to get a write up done on the difference between the two words, so that jealousy and envy may never be used in the same context ever again. So, now here are the differences between the meaning and usage of the two words.

Jealousy and Envy as Displayed Emotions

The difference between them treads a pretty fine line here. Both emotions vaguely deal with the fact that there is something that another person possesses - perhaps a tangible product or perhaps an intangible quality. But it is in the nature of the possession and the way you see it that makes all the difference. Let's look at each word one by one and see the correct context in which one is supposed to use them.

Jealousy
In this debate, we shall discuss the former first. Jealousy is a word derived from jaloux, a word from the French language, which is derived further from Lower Latin. When one is jealous, one feels some sort of lack in oneself. A jealous person has a fear of losing something or losing to someone, owing to a lack of some sort of necessary quality. A jealous person feels so, because he thinks himself to be inadequate in certain respects. The person one is jealous of is perceived to have the qualities that the jealous one desires and pines to have, because the lack of it leads to his feeling of low self-esteem.

Jealousy has been a rampant subject in all arts - music, literature, theater and films. The topic is popular because at some point or the other, every one of us has been jealous of other people's quality and felt inferior or insufficient and hence it is an emotion which many of us can relate to.

When one partner is jealous of the others looks, qualities or financial position, it often leads to resentment and negativity, all of which contribute to spoiling a healthy relationship. Jealousy often leads to suspicion, speculation of the partner's activities and thus mistrust and hence ruins a relationship. Therefore it is an emotion one needs to keep in check.

Envy
The way I see it, envy is not exactly a negative emotion and is something that springs out of being human irrespective of it being one of the seven sins! Envy is a feeling one feels when one hasn't got some quality or product, but doesn't feel a sense of loss or inferiority. When a person is jealous, he feels that he stands to lose his lovers or end his friendships because of the inadequacy, while there is no sense of impending loss in envy. A person who is envious of the other simply desires to have what the latter does, but not feel insecure about the loss of those that he loves. Envy is a simple feeling of pining - no strings attached.

Envy is seen as a deadly sin, but only when one goes overboard with it. Envy may often lead to hatred and feelings of Schadenfreude, which can become negative and lead to harming oneself and others. The way I see it, envy is normal given the unending human pursuit of happiness.

The two are pretty much the same till a point, but jealousy leads to insecurity and fear of loss, while envy if taken too far, often leads to hatred or spite.