We are living in Vanity Fair. We are currently lusting over material goods and craving everything our hearts desire. It would be a great misconception to think that people learn from other people’s mistakes. It would be a greater misconception to think that all people learn from books.
Thackeray’s Vanity Fair represents the stop in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress where everything to a human’s tastes, delights, and lusts are sold daily. (Wikipedia).
Think of it. Vanity is within us.
Women are too preoccupied in taming their tresses they forget that their heads actually contain brains. Men are too preoccupied in ensuring their status is conserved they forget their responsibilities.
Everyone has at least one thing they are vain about. Don’t you?
And why not?
It is how society is. How celebrities are portrayed and how marriages are made. Comparing themselves to others, people have more than enough to occupy their minds they lose focus of what really matters. What does society prioritize?
Vanity.
Vanity Fair. An everlasting fair where everything to a human’s tastes, delights, and lusts are sold daily. Vanity Fair: where hair dressers are packed and libraries are empty. Vanity Fair: where showing off your Dior shoes matters more than discussing your values. Vanity Fair: where the price tag on your car is the price tag you carry.
People slumber in their non-existence. Sum their net worth and divide their earnings over lunches at expensive restaurants (to post on Instagram and SnapChat) and first-class tickets to Neverland: a place where the lost kids don’t grow old and plastic surgeries are done.
Others who try to take an opposing role are shunned. It is not about beauty, it is about being “polished.” About taking an active part in the materialistic world. About singing with the choir.
Vanity Fair, when will we learn?
On a lighter note, Vanity Fair (the movie) with Reese Witherspoon displays a VERY interesting belly dancing scene in which, apparently, a well known 21st century Egyptian singer travels back in time to sing the song. During the supposed erotic dance, the not-so-sweet voice of Hakeem utters what can only be believed to be peace be upon you (Is Is , Is’salam alaikom). You don’t believe me? Try Youtube.
Satirical? So was Thackeray.
Cheers.
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