Several male characters in the novel secretly desire a woman unavailable for courtship; this unrequited longing is mostly concealed but engenders jealousy. However, the text demonstrates that the degree to which jealousy and hidden desire have destructive consequences depends on the integrity of the individual. As soon as Neville Landless meets Rosa, he is attracted to her and resents her engagement Edwin Drood. Neville doesn’t make these feelings public, but he speaks openly about them with Crisparkle: “that fellow is incapable of the feeling with which I am inspired towards the beautiful young creature whom he treats like a doll” (100). Neville’s desire for Rosa and jealousy towards Edwin leads to antagonism between the two young men, and it could conceivably even have led Neville to harm Edwin (although he is insistent that he did not do so).

Like Neville, John Jasper is obsessed with Rosa; his infatuation is even more inappropriate since Rosa is engaged to Jasper’s own nephew. Jasper has some success with concealing his feelings (Edwin seems to be blissfully unaware), but Neville, Helena, and Rosa herself notice Jasper’s keen interest. Jasper eventually speaks openly of his feelings, telling Rosa, “even when my dear boy was affianced to you, I loved you madly” (206).