💅 Gilding the Lily: Extravagance at Its Finest 🌼
Definition:
To gild the lily: To add excessive ornament; to pile excess on excess. This term is a whimsical distillation from Shakespeare’s statement in King John (4.2), “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily . . . is wasteful and ridiculous excess.”
Similar Terms & Synonyms:
- Over-embellishing
- Ostentatious
- Lavish
- Superfluous
- Overdoing it
Antonyms:
- Understated
- Modest
- Plain
- Simplistic
Quotes & Proverbs:
- *“Excesses,” said Neil Gaiman, “like dog poop in a common area, seem superfluous and unwelcome.”
- “Imagine icing on a cake made entirely of icing… It’s OTT (over the top), isn’t it?” - Anonymous Sweet Tooth
- “Save your intricate bows for little girls’ hair. Simplicity is elegance.” - Wisdom from Pinterest
Reference in Literature:
- *William Shakespeare, King John (4.2): “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet… is wasteful and ridiculous excess.”
- Byron’s Don Juan (1818) aptly retains this phrase to emphasize frivolity.
- Erasmus, Adagia: Reflects on “whitening ivory with ink.”
Artistic Reference:
- George Pettie, Petite Pallace: “Painting fine marble” serves as a painting marble cake!
Cultural Tidbits:
- Victor Borges’ elaborate piano playing that concealed rather than revealed his talent exemplifies “gilding the lily.”
- Consider Marie Antoinette’s extravagant fashion and opulent feasts.
Modern References:
- Think The Great Gatsby: An extravagant party for the sake of nothing.
- Baroque drawing rooms with intricate detailing modern life would find overbearing.
Recommended Literature & Media:
- Books:
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare for his scathing view on excess.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, revealing the pitfalls of ornamentation.
- Songs:
- “Golden” by Harry Styles – touching, metaphorically, on excess in emotional investment.
- Movies:
- The Great Gatsby (2013) – a portrait of unabashed opulence.
- Marie Antoinette (2006) – cozies up to the extremes of extravagance.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge! 🎓
### Which idiom is synonymous with “gilding the lily”?
- [ ] Carving the tofu
- [x] Over-embellishing
- [ ] Decorating the moon
- [ ] Coloring the clouds
> **Explanation:** "Over-embellishing" echoes the essence of “gilding the lily,” implying unnecessary additions.
### Shakespeare's original expression from King John refers to:
- [x] Adding excess to what's already perfect
- [ ] Gilding pot lids
- [ ] Washing marble with gold
- [ ] Painting mushrooms
> **Explanation:** Shakespeare remarked “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily” to illustrate adding unnecessary embellishments.
### Which literary figure quoted Shakespeare correctly about this phrase?
- [ ] Dr. Seuss
- [x] Byron in Don Juan
- [ ] J.K. Rowling
- [ ] Ernest Hemingway
> **Explanation:** Byron, in *Don Juan* (1818), correctly stuck the phrase and highlighted its absurdity.
### True or False: The phrase originated in the 18th century.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** The phrase roots back to Shakespeare's works in the 16th century, further perpetuated in subsequent literature.
Remember: Sometimes stripping back reveals truer beauty. Overshine can diminish the inherent grace, whether in language, art, or life. Embrace simplicity whenever possible. ✨
Inspirational Farewell: “Let us strive to gild neither our words nor our lives excessively. Strength lies in the pure and unrefined.”
\ W. T. Wittywords, October 2023
