Jealousy. We all feel it, in one way or another. It can be towards something, somewhere or someone and even though we do not necessarily mean to act on it, the jealousy can make us blind. An example of this can be found in the 2006 short story The Dress by Julia Darling, where exactly these themes are dealt with. Here we get introduced to a divided family, where one sister risks her relationship with the other, as she drowns in her own desire. This essay will include an analyzation of the relationship between the sisters and symbolism as well as the contrasts that can be found in the text.
The relationship between the two sisters, Rachel and Flora, is very tense and it is clearly shown in the text, that something lies hidden beneath the surface. Rachel’s first instinct, when her dress goes missing, is anger, making it seem like this is not the first time her sister has pulled a trick like this. “Usually Rachel locked her room and guarded her things carefully […]” (page 2, line 38). This quote clearly shows that there is a lack of trust between the two of them, and by the look of Floras actions, this is not without reason. There is a clear lack of communication between the two of them, which could be connected with the lack of trust. “[…] glancing over her shoulder to make sure there was no one else there.” (Page 2, line 40-41). Instead of simply asking her sister if she could borrow the dress she chooses to let the desire win and steals the dress, despite of what her sister might do, as she, in this moment, feels confident and strong; just the way Rachel would be.
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