Jacob Have I Loved Jealousy Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

I would search the Scriptures, but not for enlightenment or instruction. I was looking for some tiny shred of evidence that I was not to be eternally damned for hating my sister. Repent and be saved! But as fast as I would repent, resolving never again to hate, some demon would slip into my soul, tug at the corner, and whisper, "See the look on your mother's face as she listens to Caroline practice? Has she ever looked at you that way?" And I would know she hadn't. (6.12)

Yup, Louise just cannot let it go. She knows that hating Caroline can't be right, but she just can't help it—call it what you like, but something in Louise just won't let her get rid of the jealousy.

Quote #5

Just before noon Call came by and asked if Caroline or I was going down to the Captain's.

"Sure," said Caroline cheerfully. "Soon as we finish carrying the canning upstairs." High water had more than once washed through our downstairs, and my mother didn't want to take a chance on having the fruits and vegetables she had bought on the mainland and put up for the winter dashed to the floor or swept away. "You coming, Wheeze?"

Who did she think she was, inviting me to go see the Captain? As if she owned both him and Call. Call, who had always belonged to me because nobody else besides his mother and grandmother would have him, and the Captain, who finally through all our troubles and misunderstandings had become mine as well. Now, because of one afternoon of giving away a batch of drugged cats, she thought she could snatch them both for herself. I muttered something angry but unintelligible. (10.4-6)

This is classic Caroline—taking something that belongs to Louise. This time, it's Louise's only friends. If Louise had been more secure in herself and her friendships, she might not have minded Caroline tagging along, but instead, jealousy rears its ugly head yet again.

Quote #6

"The three of us are going to see the Captain."

"Please stop it, Caroline. It's none of your business. You hardly even know him." I was trying to force my voice to remain calm with the result that all the unreleased shrieks were clogging my throat.

"I do know him, Wheeze. And I care about what happens to him."

"Why? Why do you always try to take over everybody else's life?" I thought I might strangle on the words.

She gave me her look which indicated that once again I had lost all sense of proportion. "Oh, Wheeze," was all she said. (13.38-42)

Wow, Caroline sure is patronizing. We totally get why Louise can't stand her sometimes. Louise is having a serious crisis here—Caroline has just suggested that the Captain get married. What? Can't Caroline see how that affects other people? How jealous Louise must be? Nope—she just brushes her sister off and goes about her business.