In the quote "Vanity is as old as the mammoth" by W. L. George, the author draws a vibrant contrast in between a classic human quality and the ancient massive to emphasize the enduring nature of vanity. By mentioning the mammoth, a prehistoric animal that roamed the Earth 10s of countless years back, George suggests that vanity has actually belonged of human experience for as long as human beings themselves have communicated with the world and its creatures. This metaphor highlights vanity's deep roots in human history.
Vanity, defined by an excessive pride in one's look or achievements, is represented as a practically primal aspect of human identity, woven into the fabric of human presence. The mention of the mammoth stimulates a sense of the past, linking modern human behavior to the earliest durations of human development and suggesting that our ancestors, like us, might have shown issue for self-image or status, even in the middle of their primitive lifestyles.
Additionally, the option of the mammoth as a point of reference serves to universalize vanity, suggesting it is not restricted by culture, location, or time. Simply as mammoths were once almost ubiquitous around the world, vanity is a near-universal phenomenon, showcasing its perseverance through generations and civilizations.
W. L. George's option to juxtapose human vanity with the ancient mammoth indirectly touches upon the idea that while numerous aspects of human civilization have actually developed and altered dramatically, specific qualities stay consistent. Vanity, in this context, can be viewed as a possibly unchangeable part of humanity or psychology.
Overall, the quote invites reflection on both the natural elements of vanity and its repercussions through history. It challenges the reader to consider how this characteristic has actually affected human habits over centuries and continues to do so today, despite the large modifications in society and environment considering that the age of the mammoths.
