Jealousy is never satisfied with anything short of an omniscience that would detect the subtlest fold of the heart

Jealousy is never satisfied with anything short of an omniscience that would detect the subtlest fold of the heart

In the world of George Eliot, jealousy is a powerful and consuming emotion that can drive individuals to extreme measures. In her novels, we see characters who are consumed by jealousy, unable to find peace or contentment until they have complete knowledge and control over the object of their envy.

Eliot's quote, "Jealousy is never satisfied with anything short of an omniscience that would detect the subtlest fold of the heart," perfectly captures the all-consuming nature of jealousy. It is not enough for the jealous individual to simply suspect or imagine betrayal or deceit; they must know every detail, every thought, every feeling of the person they are jealous of. They seek to possess a level of knowledge and insight that borders on the divine, believing that only then will they be able to truly understand and control the object of their jealousy.