CAPITAL SIN 6 : ENVY "ALLEGORY OF ME"
#Envy@FA

Envy (Latin : invidia) refers to the intense desire to possess or have something that someone else possesses. It is the feeling of discontentment that arises when one sees another person possessing something desirable that they do not have, and the desire to take it away from them or have it for oneself. Envy can arise in many forms, such as envy of another's possessions, achievements, or even personal qualities such as beauty, talent or intelligence.
Bertrand Russel said that envy was one of the most potent causes of unhappiness, bringing sorrow to committers of envy, while giving them the urge to inflict pain upon others.
According to the most widely accepted views, only pride weighs down the soul more than envy among the capital sins. In the Christian tradition, envy - like pride - has been associated directly with the devil…

In art and mythology, several symbols of envy appear regularly :
Green: The color green is often associated with envy and is commonly used to represent the sin in art and literature.
Snakes: Snakes are sometimes used as a symbol of envy, representing the deceptive and treacherous nature of the sin.
Eyes: Eyes are often used to represent envy, as the sin is often associated with looking with covetousness upon that which belongs to another

"Envy" is also a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Giotto di Bondone, completed in the early 14th century. In the painting, Envy is depicted as a green figure with a serpent-like body, symbolizing the poisonous nature of envy. She is shown wearing a crown of thorns and holding a snake in her hand, further emphasizing her malevolent and destructive nature. The

painting is part of a larger cycle of frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy, which depict the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
In art, envy appears as a yellow or green monster throughout all epochs, gnawing at those affected from the inside. Just like in Giotto's fresco, where its tongue shoots out of its neck like a snake, which turns once around its own axis and directs its venomous fangs back towards the eyes of the envious.
And ultimately, they are burned by their internal fire.

In the composition "Envy Me", the attentive viewer may recognize some elements from the Giotto painting.
But is there not something more ? It is not only a more contemporary advertisement for a perfume called "Envy Me" (the brand does not matter in this context).

Does the message not go beyond the concept of Envy ?
Is it not actively encouraging people to desire what others have, which is a central aspect of envy ?
Is it not only actively promoting a perfume, but the act of envy as something desirable : "Envy Me".
The name itself, "Envy Me," suggests a desire for others to feel envious of the person wearing the perfume. This desire for others to feel envious can be seen as a manifestation of the sin of Envy. The use of attractive models or celebrities in the advertisement can create an idealized image that others may feel envious of, perpetuating the cycle of envy.
And is instilling envy in someone else not worse than envy itself ?

With the words of Breughel :
"Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, auri sacra fames" This translates to:
"What do you not force mortal hearts to do, accursed hunger for gold"
The saying in old Dutch is "Als de ene het verbruyt, soo lacht d'ander uyt," which can be translated to mean "When one person wastes away, the other laughs."

For more information : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BZbodklWa7Q_k1cwv1Efjs9c-aRD_88r/view?usp=drive_link