"We will all laugh at gilded butterflies..."?

What are gilded butterflies? I presume by the time they are gilded, they are no longer alive, no? Then yes, when something is simply a thing of superficiality, we will laugh, knowing that ignorance is bliss. I am sure if we were to take of the layer, however, and see the true damage, or see a person for who they are and their experiences, it would not be so pleasing.