The sense of jealousy in Joyce's Exiles

In his notes to Exiles Joyce pays attention to Spinoza's definition of the emotion or sensation of jealousy, which is described in the Third book of the Ethics ("Concerning the Affects"). While this is not a primary term for Spinoza, it is for Joyce. It might be argued that Joyce takes a strong interest in jealousy because of the complexity of the relationships of love and hatred which it involves, especially if (as is the case in Exiles) the third party in the love triangle, Robert, who acts between the husband Richard and wife, Bertha, is not only potentially a lover to Bertha but already a friend of long standing to Richard. While this love triangle is the dominant element of the play, it is apparent that, at least with regard to the structure of interactions within it, the play does not simply involve a standard love triangle.