“Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi: Summary and Critique

Introduction: “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

“Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi first appeared in Feminist Review (No. 11, Sexuality) in the summer of 1982, published by Palgrave Macmillan Journals. It explores the intersections of jealousy, psychoanalysis, and gender, interrogating how jealousy manifests differently across sexes and is deeply embedded in patriarchal structures. Moi critiques the reductionist tendencies in sociological, psychoanalytic, and popular discourses on jealousy, arguing that these interpretations are often shaped by ideological assumptions about sexual difference. By engaging with Freud’s layered analysis of jealousy and Klein’s theories on early childhood development, Moi highlights how jealousy is socially conditioned and varies in expression: depressive and self-critical in women, aggressive and paranoid in men. This work is pivotal in feminist literary theory as it underscores the importance of contextualizing psychological phenomena like jealousy within the frameworks of gendered social norms and historical power dynamics.

Summary of “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

1. Historical Perspectives on Jealousy
   Toril Moi explores the under-examined but pervasive theme of jealousy in academic and cultural discourse, emphasizing its normalization in historical contexts. Drawing on Freud, she highlights how jealousy often leads to extreme emotional states like violence and madness: “Jealousy is a notoriously dangerous passion” (Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 53). Moi critiques the lack of comprehensive scholarly focus on jealousy, attributing it to cultural shifts that render jealousy an unfashionable topic.
2. Jealousy and Sexual Difference
   The essay examines how cultural and academic interpretations of jealousy are shaped by gender assumptions. Sociologists like Edward Westermarck and Kingsley Davis associate male jealousy with ownership and societal rules regarding property, particularly the sexual possession of women (Moi, p. 55). Conversely, clinical psychiatrists and popular writers often depict women as more emotionally jealous, reflecting societal biases.
3. Psychoanalytic Layers of Jealousy
   Moi leverages Freud’s three layers of jealousy—normal, projected, and delusional. Freud argues that jealousy stems from unconscious conflicts, often tied to repression and rivalries: “Normal jealousy… is compounded of grief… and of enmity against the successful rival” (Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 57). Moi critiques Freud’s male-centered case studies, suggesting they fail to fully address female jealousy’s complexity.
4. Klein’s Insights on Early Development
   Melanie Klein’s theories on infant relationships emphasize the role of the mother in shaping early emotional experiences, including jealousy. Moi notes that women’s jealousy often reflects these early precedipal dynamics, where the mother is simultaneously an object of love and hostility (Moi, p. 59). In contrast, men’s jealousy is often oedipal, tied to rivalries with the father figure.
5. Social Context of Jealousy
   Moi argues that jealousy is not merely psychological but deeply entrenched in societal structures. Women’s dependency on men and the double standards surrounding male infidelity create a fertile ground for feminine jealousy. Moi contends, “Jealousy is not a stable, unchanging phenomenon; it changes with society” (Moi, p. 66).
6. Gendered Expressions of Aggression
   Jealousy manifests differently between genders. Men’s jealousy often leads to aggression against partners, while women’s jealousy is more likely to target rivals or manifest as depressive feelings (Moi, p. 65). Moi critiques the patriarchal framing of women as inherently more jealous, arguing that societal conditions, not biology, fuel these patterns.
7. Concluding Reflections
   Moi concludes that jealousy, particularly in patriarchal contexts, reinforces existing power imbalances between men and women. While men’s jealousy often dominates through violence or control, women’s jealousy is pathologized, reflecting societal norms that devalue women’s emotional responses (Moi, p. 68).

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

Theoretical Term/Concept	Definition/Explanation	Source/Reference in Text
Normal Jealousy	A jealousy type derived from grief over potential loss, narcissistic injury, and rivalry.	Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 57
Projected Jealousy	Jealousy stemming from repressed impulses toward infidelity, projected onto one’s partner.	Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 57
Delusional Jealousy	Pathological jealousy with origins in repressed homosexuality, manifesting in paranoia.	Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 58
Precedipal Dynamics	Early infant experiences with the mother, encompassing love and hostility.	Klein, qtd. in Moi, p. 59
Oedipal Complex	A stage of sexual differentiation where boys and girls face distinct emotional conflicts.	Freud and Klein, qtd. in Moi, p. 60
L’Amour Captatif	A possessive form of love seeking total control over the loved object.	Lagache, qtd. in Moi, p. 64
L’Amour Oblatif	A self-effacing love that idealizes the loved object as supreme and unquestionable.	Lagache, qtd. in Moi, p. 64
Paranoid Position	A developmental stage where infants see objects (like the mother) as good or bad.	Klein, qtd. in Moi, p. 59
Depressive Position	A stage where infants internalize loved objects and experience guilt for harming them.	Klein, qtd. in Moi, p. 59
Gendered Aggression in Jealousy	Men’s jealousy often leads to partner violence; women’s jealousy targets rivals or depresses them.	Moi, pp. 65-66
Jealousy as Social Construct	Jealousy varies across cultures and reflects societal norms, ideologies, and power dynamics.	Moi, pp. 65-66
Homosexual Component of Jealousy	Freud’s theory that jealousy often involves repressed homosexual desires or projections.	Freud, qtd. in Moi, p. 58
Sexual Property Model	The notion that jealousy is tied to societal rules about ownership and control of women.	Kingsley Davis, qtd. in Moi, p. 55
Masculine and Feminine Jealousy	Masculine jealousy is aggressive and paranoid (oedipal), while feminine jealousy is depressive (precedipal).	Moi, pp. 59-60

Contribution of “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi to Literary Theory/Theories

• Integration of Psychoanalytic Frameworks in Feminist Theory
  Moi bridges Freud’s psychoanalytic theories of jealousy and Melanie Klein’s developmental psychology to reveal gendered differences in emotional experiences, enriching feminist interpretations of psychoanalytic literature (Moi, pp. 57-60).
• Critique of Patriarchal Norms in Emotional Constructs
  By exposing how jealousy is influenced by patriarchal ideologies that treat women as property, Moi contributes to feminist critiques of emotional and social norms embedded in literature (Moi, p. 55).
• Precedipal Dynamics in Feminine Jealousy
  Moi’s application of Klein’s theory to feminine jealousy emphasizes early emotional and mother-daughter relationships, highlighting precedipal influences that often go unexplored in traditional psychoanalytic and literary readings (Moi, pp. 59-60).
• Reframing Jealousy as a Social Construct
  Moi underscores that jealousy is not an inherent or universal emotion but shaped by cultural and historical contexts, offering a critical lens for examining literary characters and themes across different societies (Moi, pp. 65-66).
• Distinction Between Masculine and Feminine Jealousy in Literature
  The analysis of jealousy as oedipal (masculine) versus precedipal (feminine) offers a nuanced framework for interpreting character motivations and plot structures in literature (Moi, pp. 59-60).
• Intersection of Gender, Power, and Emotions in Narrative Analysis
  Moi reveals how jealousy in literature often reinforces or challenges societal power dynamics, particularly in narratives centered on infidelity or romantic conflict (Moi, p. 66).
• Critique of Reductionism in Popular and Scholarly Discourses
  Moi critiques the simplistic gender essentialism prevalent in sociological, psychiatric, and literary interpretations of jealousy, advocating for more nuanced readings (Moi, pp. 54-55).
• Contribution to Feminist Literary Criticism
  Moi’s essay demonstrates how psychoanalytic theories can be reinterpreted to align with feminist goals, challenging traditional male-centric narratives in literature (Moi, p. 68).

Examples of Critiques Through “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

Literary Work	Critique Through Moi’s Framework	Key Theoretical Concepts Applied
Othello by William Shakespeare	Othello’s paranoia and violent jealousy reflect the masculine, oedipalized jealousy Moi identifies as aggressive and paranoid. Desdemona’s role as an object of possession ties to patriarchal norms of sexual property.	Masculine Jealousy (oedipal), Sexual Property Model (Moi, pp. 55, 64)
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert	Emma Bovary’s feelings of dissatisfaction and jealousy towards others stem from a precedipal sense of lack and loss of love, aligning with Moi’s insights on feminine jealousy.	Feminine Jealousy (precedipal), Precedipal Dynamics (Moi, pp. 59-60)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	Tom Buchanan’s jealousy of Gatsby exemplifies masculine aggression and the patriarchal desire to control Daisy as a sexual property, while Daisy’s passive role reflects societal expectations of women.	Masculine Jealousy, Gendered Aggression in Jealousy (Moi, pp. 55-56, 65)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë	Catherine and Heathcliff’s tumultuous relationship can be analyzed through Moi’s distinction between l’amour captatif and l’amour oblatif, with jealousy fueling possessiveness and destruction.	L’Amour Captatif, L’Amour Oblatif (Moi, pp. 64-65)

Criticism Against “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

• Overreliance on Psychoanalytic Frameworks
  Moi’s analysis heavily relies on Freudian and Kleinian psychoanalysis, which some critics argue is outdated and lacks empirical support for its theories on gender and jealousy.
• Limited Intersectional Perspective
  The essay does not sufficiently address how race, class, or sexual orientation intersect with jealousy, focusing predominantly on gender within patriarchal contexts.
• Potential for Essentializing Gender Differences
  While Moi critiques essentialist views, her analysis of masculine (oedipal) and feminine (precedipal) jealousy risks reinforcing binary and deterministic views of gendered emotional experiences.
• Underdeveloped Social and Historical Contextualization
  Moi acknowledges the role of social and historical factors in shaping jealousy but does not deeply explore specific historical or cultural variations, limiting the scope of her sociological insights.
• Neglect of Alternative Theoretical Perspectives
  The essay does not engage extensively with non-psychoanalytic theories, such as cognitive or evolutionary psychology, which could offer broader explanations for jealousy beyond psychoanalysis.
• Lack of Practical Literary Applications
  Although Moi outlines robust theoretical insights, the essay could include more explicit applications of her framework to specific literary texts to demonstrate its critical utility.
• Ambiguity in Addressing Morality and Agency
  Moi’s analysis of jealousy as shaped by patriarchy does not fully explore the moral or individual agency aspects of jealousy, leaving certain ethical questions about actions driven by jealousy unresolved.

Representative Quotations from “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Jealousy is a notoriously dangerous passion and constitutes a well-recognised motive for crimes of violence, particularly of a gynocidal nature.”	Moi emphasizes the destructive power of jealousy, linking it to violence, especially against women. This frames jealousy as both a personal and societal issue, with implications rooted in patriarchal structures.
“Most authors who have written on jealousy are extremely interested in the question of sexual difference.”	This sets up Moi’s exploration of how jealousy is perceived and analyzed differently for men and women, signaling her critique of essentialist views on gender and jealousy.
“For Darwin, wives obviously do not belong to the race of ‘man,’ and therefore only men are jealous.”	Moi critiques Darwin’s androcentric perspective, which aligns jealousy with male ownership, reflecting patriarchal ideologies that deny women agency and autonomy in relationships.
“Jealousy will provoke a depressive reaction in women, and an aggressive or even paranoid reaction in men.”	Moi draws on psychoanalytic theories to differentiate the emotional expressions of jealousy between genders, linking it to societal expectations and psychological development stages.
“Women in patriarchal society must learn how to live with feelings of loss and lack of self-esteem.”	This underscores the structural inequalities women face in patriarchal systems, where societal norms diminish women’s value outside relationships, perpetuating internalized feelings of inadequacy.
“Freud distinguishes between what he calls three layers of jealousy: 1) competitive or normal, 2) projected, and 3) delusional jealousy.”	Moi uses Freud’s framework to provide a nuanced psychoanalytic understanding of jealousy, bridging theoretical and emotional dimensions of the phenomenon.
“The jealous man directs his aggression towards the beloved woman, and in extreme cases (crime passionnel) he may kill her.”	This highlights the extreme manifestations of male jealousy as influenced by patriarchal notions of possession, contrasting it with the depressive tendencies often seen in women’s jealousy.
“The problem seems to be feminine jealousy, since there is no reason to assume that Freud was wrong in his outline of masculine jealousy.”	Moi critiques Freud’s androcentric bias while acknowledging his insights into jealousy, using this to frame her own analysis of feminine jealousy and its precedipal roots.
“Jealousy is not a stable, unchanging phenomenon; it changes with society.”	Moi situates jealousy within social and historical contexts, rejecting universalist explanations and emphasizing its variability based on cultural and structural shifts.
“The jealous woman turns her aggression towards her own ego, and this, of course, leads to depression.”	Moi explores the internalized nature of feminine jealousy in patriarchal systems, contrasting it with the externalized aggression seen in male jealousy, thereby critiquing societal expectations and gender norms that shape emotional responses.

Suggested Readings: “Jealousy and Sexual Difference” by Toril Moi

1. Moi, Toril. “Jealousy and Sexual Difference.” Feminist Review, no. 11, 1982, pp. 53–68. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1394827. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
2. Moi, Toril. “Representation of Patriarchy: Sexuality and Epistemology in Freud’s ‘Dora.'” Feminist Review, no. 9, 1981, pp. 60–74. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1394915. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
3. Moi, Toril. “From Femininity to Finitude: Freud, Lacan, and Feminism, Again.” Signs, vol. 29, no. 3, 2004, pp. 841–78. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1086/380630. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.