Stories happen.
Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is basically a story about jealousy. Yeah, Catherine and Heathcliffe are supposedly this great love story but if you take a hard look at their characters, both are motivated by a mishmash of jealousy, lust and spite. A horrid, polluting combo, which makes me think Miss E was merciful in killing one of them off.
Or how about Snow White? That evil stepmother/queen couldn't stand to have anyone more beautiful than her in the entire kingdom (which, when you think about it, is a really sexist premise for a plot. No one's ever heard of a king going psycho because his stepson was a hotter hottie than he). Poor Snowy's plight is still kicking plots around today. If you haven't seen the trailer for "Snow White and the Huntsmen" yet, do. Now.
And what about Toy Story? Buzz-the-annoying-Space-Toy shows up and blows Woody's ordered world to pieces. Woody's attempts to off Buzz are what start the whole series rolling.
Oh yes, jealousy is a handy little urge for authors. It's human nature to want what we can't have. What are some other stories where the evil J is the prime plot mover?
