I received an impassioned letter from Sonoko. There was no doubt that she was truly in love. I felt jealous. Mine was the unbearable jealousy a cultured pearl must feel toward a genuine one. Or can there be such a thing in this world as a man who is jealous of the woman who loves him, precisely because of her love?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker feels jealous of a genuine lover despite being the object of affection. He compares his artificial status to a cultured pearl envying a real one.
- In plain terms
- He feels insecure about his artificial love compared to someone genuine.
- What can you take from it?
- Insecurity can arise even when loved, due to perceived lack of authenticity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you be jealous of the one who loves you?
- What makes love genuine?
Another view
This perspective frames love as a competition of value rather than mutual acceptance.
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