In "The Year of the Flood," the author Margaret Atwood explores the theme of jealousy through a vivid metaphor. The narrator imagines their jealousy as a swirling yellowy-brown cloud that emanates from within, transforming into a stone that sinks into the ground. This visualization serves as a coping mechanism, helping to externalize and manage their feelings of jealousy. However, it is complicated by the emergence of a plant with poisonous berries, symbolizing that negative emotions can give rise to harmful consequences.

This imagery reflects a struggle with internal emotions and the difficulty of controlling their manifestations. While the narrator tries to channel their jealousy productively, the uncontrollable growth of the poisonous plant signifies that some feelings can produce outcomes that are undesirable, regardless of one’s intentions. Through this powerful visualization, Atwood delves into the complexities of human emotions and their potential to affect our lives in profound ways.