The strive for absolute power is like sea-water - the more we drink, the thirstier we become, ultimately causing eternal impairment. Poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, in his poem, “Ozymandias,” depicts the visual of an antiquated statue of a king who’s ruthless actions resulted in utter destruction. Shelley’s purpose is to portray the repercussions of individuals’ egocentric actions. The speaker’s utilization of diction, figurative language, and tone articulates the notion that one’s ambition to solidify their dominance will end in a fatalistic downfall. Shelley begins his poem with the visual of a traveller’s depiction of King Ozymandias statue. He frames her sonnet as a tale told by the speaker from “a traveller from an antique land” that enables
