# Jealousy and Envy in Household Tales

> Theme guide for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

Envy drives much of the conflict, as seen in the stepmother's attempts to kill Snow-white out of jealousy for her beauty, and the stepmother's envy of her stepdaughter's loveliness in 'The Three Little Men in the Wood.'

## Where it surfaces

- [Little Brother and Little Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/little-brother-and-little-sister): The stepmother's envy of the children's happiness drives her to murder the Queen and attempt to replace her with her own daughter.
- [Rapunzel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/rapunzel): The enchantress's possessive jealousy over Rapunzel's affection for the prince leads her to cruelly separate them.
- [The Three Little Men in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-little-men-in-the-wood): The stepmother and stepsister are driven by envy of the stepdaughter's beauty and good fortune, leading to their cruel actions and eventual downfall.
- [The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-mouse-the-bird-and-the-sausage): The bird's envy of the other bird's description of the mouse and sausage's easier tasks leads to the fatal role swap.
- [The Singing Bone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-singing-bone): The elder brother's envy of the younger's success drives him to murder.
- [The Wedding of Mrs. Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-wedding-of-mrs-fox): Old Mr. Fox's feigned death stems from jealousy and suspicion of his wife's fidelity.
- [First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/first-story): The old fox's suspicion of his wife's fidelity drives the plot, highlighting jealousy as a catalyst for deception.
- [Little Snow-White](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/little-snow-white): The stepmother's envy of Snow-White's beauty drives the entire plot, leading her to attempt murder multiple times.
- [The Two Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-two-brothers): The goldsmith's envy leads him to slander the twins and cause their abandonment.
- [Old Hildebrand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/old-hildebrand): The parson's desire for the peasant's wife and the peasant's jealousy upon discovering the deception drive the plot.
- [The Three Little Birds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-little-birds): The queen's sisters, jealous of her having children, throw the newborns into the river and lie about their births.
- [The Two Travellers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-two-travellers): The shoemaker's jealousy drives him to blind the tailor and later plot against him.
- [The Cunning Little Tailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-cunning-little-tailor): The two older tailors envy the little tailor's success and attempt to sabotage him by releasing the bear.
- [Ferdinand the Faithful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/ferdinand-the-faithful): Ferdinand the Unfaithful is hostile and envious of Ferdinand the Faithful, constantly plotting against him out of jealousy.
- [One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/one-eye-two-eyes-and-three-eyes): The sisters and mother envy Two-Eyes for her normal eyes and later for her magical tree, leading to cruelty.
- [The White Bride and the Black One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-white-bride-and-the-black-one): The stepmother and her daughter are driven by jealousy of the stepdaughter's beauty and good fortune, leading them to deceive and attempt to murder her.
- [The Turnip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-turnip): The rich brother's envy of the poor brother's fortune drives him to attempt murder.
- [The Willow-Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-willow-wren): The other birds' anger at the little bird's trickery stems from jealousy that he outsmarted them in the contests.
- [The Sole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-sole): The sole's envy of the herring's victory leads to spiteful words and punishment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/themes/jealousy_and_envy
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/themes