In Haruki Murakami's "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage," the protagonist reflects on jealousy as a self-imposed prison. This prison is not constructed by external forces but rather by one’s own emotions and choices. The individual willingly enters this confining space, sealing off any chance of escape, and strangely, no one else is aware of this internal struggle. This metaphor highlights the profound isolation jealousy brings upon a person, as it is a private torment that others cannot see.

The essence of jealousy manifests as an emotional barrier, making it difficult for the individual to break free. The heart becomes hardened, echoing the sentiment that while the prisoner can leave at any time, they remain trapped due to their own inability to let go. This powerful imagery captures the anguish of jealousy, illustrating how it transforms a person’s emotional landscape into something unyielding and impenetrable, thus reinforcing the theme of self-entrapment.