The art of sound pictures (1930)

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS 189 arises when desire is the ultimate purpose of action, for there is a conflict between desire for the object and submission to the superior person who has obtained possession of the desired object. If submission is the ultimate purpose of action, the individual experiences the emotion customarily termed “good sportsmanship.” He feels a generous admiration for the successful rival. The desire which has been realized by the other person only enhances his admiration for that rival’s demonstrated superiority. But, if his regard for his rival is solely superficial and trifling, in comparison with his continued desire for the unattained object, a conflict between desire and submission is inevitable under the controlling whip of the appetitive emotional elements. Since jealousy is unfortunately a very common emotion in everyday experience and is felt frequently by a great majority of people, its use in stories and plays has been somewhat overdone. Certain schools of fiction portray jealousy as a proof of true love. This mistaken theory maintains that a lover can always tell when a woman begins to fall in love with him by observing when she begins to be jealous of other women. There is just enough truth in the theory to keep it alive long after psychology should have disposed of it. It is unfortunately true that, in proportion as a person becomes erotically attractive and pleasing to us, we too often begin to feel a desire to possess him for the sake of enjoying the newfound pleasure in his society. Thus, desire is frequently evoked as a secondary result of “falling in love.” Under these emotional conditions, which are neither natural nor admirable, it is quite true that jealousy manifests itself soon after desire takes control of the situation. But the