In the poem “Ozymandias,” Percy Shelley emphasizes the concept of time ruling over all materialistic things, whether a person, political regime, statue, or civilization in its entirety. In lines 12-13, the essence of time is clarified as the passage states, “No thing beside remains. Round the decay of that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bare.” Within the poem, the “Colossal Wreck” which is an immense, dilapidated statue of Ozymandias, the Greek name for Ramses II, symbolizes time (line 13). Although no individual is immune to time, this suggests that objects can transcend time. The idea that nothing endures forever is reiterated by the vivid account of Ozymandias’s broken-down statue, which is symbolic of the short-lived nature of diplomatic
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Not only does the fragmented statue display the decay of time, but it also tells a story of time gone by. Indeed, the statue of Ozymandias is the “Traveller” mentioned in the very beginning (line 1). The mention of a traveller is the promise of a story, and the traveler does not disappoint. It is noted that the traveler is from an antique land. The term “antique” suggests that the statue’s homeland is ancient history, which makes the statue’s existence appear both rare and valuable (line 1). The figurine’s “shattered” head did not morph the sneering visage seen on the statue’s face (line 4). In lines 3-4, one can get a sense of what Ozymandias’s disposition was like. An angry connotation is associated with the words “sneer” and “unwrinkled lip” that describes the monument’s expression (line 5). The passion so accurately shown through the statue’s physique suggests Ozymandias thinks pretty highly of himself and what all he has achieved as a king. Paradoxically, the stones are a lifeless medium, yet through the longevity of art, they give life to the passions that still survive. Although the name Ozymandias is long forgotten, the type of ruler he might have been can be assumed from his sculpture’s …show more content…
The only things that genuinely survive are the artist’s records of the king’s passion, carved into the stone. In line 11, the word “works” could be in reference to other statues, works of art, or monuments commissioned by Ozymandias. Being an ambiguous line, the phrase “ye Mighty, and despair!” has a bit of a double meaning (line 11). The King’s intention was to boast that no one’s works will be as extensive or grand as his, but the line contains an ironic twist. In fact, people ought to despair because their works will eventually turn to rubble, exactly like in Ozymandias’s
Not only does the fragmented statue display the decay of time, but it also tells a story of time gone by. Indeed, the statue of Ozymandias is the “Traveller” mentioned in the very beginning (line 1). The mention of a traveller is the promise of a story, and the traveler does not disappoint. It is noted that the traveler is from an antique land. The term “antique” suggests that the statue’s homeland is ancient history, which makes the statue’s existence appear both rare and valuable (line 1). The figurine’s “shattered” head did not morph the sneering visage seen on the statue’s face (line 4). In lines 3-4, one can get a sense of what Ozymandias’s disposition was like. An angry connotation is associated with the words “sneer” and “unwrinkled lip” that describes the monument’s expression (line 5). The passion so accurately shown through the statue’s physique suggests Ozymandias thinks pretty highly of himself and what all he has achieved as a king. Paradoxically, the stones are a lifeless medium, yet through the longevity of art, they give life to the passions that still survive. Although the name Ozymandias is long forgotten, the type of ruler he might have been can be assumed from his sculpture’s …show more content…
The only things that genuinely survive are the artist’s records of the king’s passion, carved into the stone. In line 11, the word “works” could be in reference to other statues, works of art, or monuments commissioned by Ozymandias. Being an ambiguous line, the phrase “ye Mighty, and despair!” has a bit of a double meaning (line 11). The King’s intention was to boast that no one’s works will be as extensive or grand as his, but the line contains an ironic twist. In fact, people ought to despair because their works will eventually turn to rubble, exactly like in Ozymandias’s