How can I convert a jQuery object to an Element?

You can use the dereferencing operator, or the .get() method to "Retrieve the DOM elements matched by the jQuery object."

Examples:

txtArea[0].value = "something";

or:

txtArea.get(0).value = "something";

The jQuery .get() will do that for you

http://api.jquery.com/get/

Quoted:

Without a parameter, .get() returns all of the elements:

alert($('li').get());

With an index specified, .get() will retrieve a single element:

($('li').get(0));

...we can use the array dereferencing operator to get at the list item instead:

alert($('li')[0]);