In Katherine Paterson�s Jacob Have I Loved, there is a strong feeling of jealousy between the main character, Louise and her younger twin sister, Caroline. From the day of their birth, Louise has been envious of all the attention her sister has gotten. She feels left out, neglected, and taken for granted by her parents, grandmother and everyone else on small Rass Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Caroline deprived her of all her dreams and the love of those she cared for. Because of these feelings, Louise slowly sees her jealousy turn into hate and knows that she can�t live with her twin any longer.

As soon as they were born, Caroline stole the show. Louise was born first, a nice, healthy baby. She was cleaned and set aside because a problem arose with the second child. Caroline had some difficulty being born and demanded everyone�s care and attention. From then on, whenever Caroline was ill, they all were extremely cautious because they valued her life so. Caroline�s interests and needs were always put before those of Louise being that she was almost lost to them.

Louise had always dreamed of going to a boarding school and continuing her education inland. She saved up some of her hard earned money secretly for this purpose. When the chance came along for one of the twins to go, Caroline was chosen as a matter of course so she could continue her singing lessons without anyone asking if Louise would like to. Louise�s one friend was "stolen" from her by her sister. During their childhood, Caroline never had anything to do with him but as they grew older, she captured the heart of the only man Louise thought she would have ever married.

Alone in a world where she felt she didn�t belong, Louise finally leaves her island to find a place she feels at home in. Away from the water she was born to live on, she meets the man she loves. Without her twin, Louise feels like her own person. Not like Caroline�s sister. By leaving, she learns that she is loved and more treasured by her parents than Caroline.

" Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.... ". For years Caroline was loved by everyone except her sister who should have loved her the most. Because she was held so dear by all, every pleasure, wish, and luxury was granted to her. Louise just sat in the shadows while Caroline bathed in the light that was parcially hers.