Abstract
Research has shown that emotions don't change, but that the behavior used to express them and value them changes over time. According to social mores, communities may differ in their expressions and acceptance of emotions. This study shows that this also applies to the late Middle Ages. In total, more
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than fifty Middle Dutch texts were searched for words expressing envy (invidia) and jealousy (zelotypia), including didactic-moralistic, religious, historical and allegorical texts, chivalric romances, songs, plays and stories about animals. The Middle Dutch texts show that the Christian faith had a major influence on the perception of envy. In the course of the fourth century Christian ideas transformed envy from a bad emotion into one of the seven cardinal sins. Christian writers of Middle Dutch texts make clear that envy comes from the devil. The devil is held directly responsible for the envy of man. It was not seen that man had no influence at all on his own behavior, for when he was strong enough, the devil could not tempt him to envy. The envy of virtue, a common form of envy in the examined texts, is rooted in the Christian faith. Envy of virtue was perceived as envy of the true Christian faith. Inequality appears again and again to be the reason for envy; inferiority and the associated fear and shame of dishonor or loss of reputation. Being inferior in the medieval culture was a major disgrace. Envy is presented in the medieval culture as a negative emotion in all its forms. Envy arises out of fear of judgment by the outside world and is a sin against God. Christian ideas and the importance of honor have clearly made their mark on the Middle Ages. On the medieval concept of jealousy, the Christian faith is less well represented. People were familiar with the concept of ‘good’ jealousy. This emotion should be felt when others spoke wrongly about God, the Christian faith, or when friends have been wronged. Among the positive qualities of jealousy, the ones we still know today, are the preventive and protective forms of jealousy. Preventive jealousy makes a spouse think twice before jumping into an extramarital relationship and protective jealousy ensures that a spouse fights for the relationship. Conceptions of jealousy have changed much less through the centuries than conceptions of envy
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