Vanity: Vanity definition & vanity meaning
Today most people know of the word vanity which is usually used describing a type of home or business furnishing like bathroom vanity, bedroom vanity or makeup vanity but the original meaning and history of vanity though is different.
Vanity refers to the extreme certainty in one’s own attractiveness or abilities to others. So the beauty you feel or want to be viewed or percepted as is your own vanity. vanity is similar to pride but because of one’s imaginary or real appearance, accomplishments, talents, or skills, it also involves extreme admiration of oneself. It is the state or quality of being vain wherein a person has the feeling for want of substance to satisfy his or her desire.
Vanity also refers to an excessive desire for approval or notice. It is an empty pride inspired by an arrogant smugness of a person’s own decorations or attainments. Other related definitions of vanity are falsity, unrealness, unsubstantialness, and emptiness. Before the 14th century, vanity merely means vainness and does not have such vain connotation. The archaic synonym of vanity is vainglory, which originally means boasting in vain or having unjustified boasting. Vanity was also synonymous with Gloria of Latin term, which roughly means boasting. The early years had used the word “vanity” as a negative criticism.
As the years passed by, vanity had gained exclusive positive meaning in people. In most religions today at its modern sense, vanity is regarded as form of self-worship that rejects God or the High Power for the sake of the person’s own image. Because of this, the person dissociates the graces of God. Stories of Narcissus, Lucifer, and other evil figures are related as aspects of vanity in most religions. In philosophical sense, vanity refers to pride and egoism but, according to Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings, “vanity is the fear of appearing original”. Interpreting this writing, vanity may refer to lack of pride but not necessarily originality.
According to aphorisms of Mason Cooley, “Vanity hungry is spiteful. Vanity well fed is benevolent”. In teachings of Christian religion, vanity is regarded as one of the seven deadly sins and an example of pride. Even from an earlier list of eight sins, vainglory is considered as an independent sin of pride. In Orthodox Church, vanity is one of the eight diabolical and sinful passions. The fight against vanity is a major responsibility of each Orthodox Christian. Vanity has several symbolism’s. In Biblical terms, vanity is represented by the Whore of Babylon while in Western art, vanity is symbolized by a peacock. In material allegory, vanity is regarded as one of the minor vices.
During the Renaissance period, vanity was consistently represented as a naked woman, sometimes reclining or seated on a couch. The woman attends to her hair with mirror and comb while the mirror is held by a putto or a demon. Other symbols of vanity during the period include a purse, gold coins, jewels, and figures of death. An inscription on a scroll reads a quote from the Latin translation Book of Ecclesiastes. The quote reads as Omnia Vanitas or All is Vanity in English language. This phrase represents vanity as a type of still life and not referred as an obsession to one’s appearance. Instead, the phrase describes the extreme fruitlessness of efforts of humankind in this world.