Theme Of Jealousy In Roman Fever

A friendship that is built on the foundation of jealousy, envy and competition is a toxic, corrupted relationship. Some people find motivation behind jealousy. It can be healthy and suitable to a certain extent; however, if one trespasses its borders the outcome will be chaotic. The same idea applies to competitiveness. It is awfully dangerous for people to live their lives constantly consumed by rotten emotions, because they only end up hurting and poisoning their relationships with others, and also harming themselves.
Alida Slade, one of the main characters in “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton, has been envious of her so-called friend Grace Ansley for years. Her deep-rooted jealousy continued to actively sprout over the years of their friendship;

Slade’s major problem was that she suppressed her jealousy for years, and let it all blow up in one instant. Despite the spiteful years of her bottled up jealousy, Mrs. Slade was unpleasantly surprised by the quiet outburst of Mrs. Ansley. Their ongoing rivalry led to a miserable conclusion for Mrs. Slade more than it did Mrs. Ansley.
The two women had always competed with one another. Both women headed their friendship through years of rivalry, secrecy, and deceit, which caused the destruction of their relationship.
Both Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley’s daughters are important in the story. Mrs. Slade’s daughter’s personality is similar to that of Mrs. Ansley in the way that she is quiet and submissive to her friend, while Mrs. Ansley’s daughter is more leader like, outgoing, and extroverted like Mrs. Slade. Barbara, Mrs. Ansley’s daughter, who Mrs. Slade appreciates, turns out to be Mrs. Slade’s stepdaughter.
The great controversy caused by Mrs. Ansley’s affair with Mr. Slade renders Mrs. Slade into a state of shock and disbelief. She only suspected her quiet, submissive, kindhearted friend to have feelings for her husband, yet never expected her to be disloyal. Mrs. Slade’s jealousy led her to set a trap that she herself would be caught in. Her fake letter to Mrs. Ansley in the name of Mr. Slade initiated the whole issue, which led to the dreadful