In “Ozymandias”, the author fabricates a debris filled setting full of emptiness of what was once Ozymandias’ immense statue illustrated through the use of imagery, irony, and diction. This is turn constructs the inclusive main theme of the insignificant accomplishments humans build only to be abandoned and left to decay after our irreversible demise. Firstly we are introduced into this debris filled setting meeting another traveler who introduces us to what’s left of Ozymandias’ statue, a fierce ruler who once ruled a “mighty” kingdom. The first piece the traveler points out is a pair of “trunkless legs of stone”; this image represents the fallen Ozymandias’ and serves to show the reader of the first sign of decay on this particular statue.
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More evidence in the poem suggests that the civilization was one of the strongest at the time “; My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” As “nothing beside remains”, this ironically creates a setting with a scattered, broken statue that proclaims that none shall defy or detest against the leaders rule when in fact, time overtakes that “mighty” power Ozymandias was known for. (Shelley 1) Also “, the implication of the poem’s ironic comment on the transience of human power and accomplishment is that the truth is not, as Ozymandias and perhaps the sculptor believed, the product of first perception.” (Freedman 2) This implies that most humans live in the present which in turn creates an ironic situation as we accomplish so many things but those same justices will decay over time and will be left to make fun of all the insignificant things we have made. Time is the cocoon while Ozymandias’ civilization is the insect inside, thus making a “, transformation of Ozymandias’ boast into an ironic epitaph which points out to us that history not only confounds propriety by bringing down the mighty, but confounds verbal formulations themselves.” (Janowitz 6) This confinement is the action of time; as we live in the present our accomplishments will be left into the dust as time will move forward, making our power useless as it will expire and will be left to decay. Also it is discovered at the end of the poem that this “ironic disharmony between the inscribed boast and the leveling sands that follow and erode it” serve as the main ironic theme prevailing the whole poem which further induces that time will prevail over any accomplishment humans achieve. (Freedman
More evidence in the poem suggests that the civilization was one of the strongest at the time “; My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” As “nothing beside remains”, this ironically creates a setting with a scattered, broken statue that proclaims that none shall defy or detest against the leaders rule when in fact, time overtakes that “mighty” power Ozymandias was known for. (Shelley 1) Also “, the implication of the poem’s ironic comment on the transience of human power and accomplishment is that the truth is not, as Ozymandias and perhaps the sculptor believed, the product of first perception.” (Freedman 2) This implies that most humans live in the present which in turn creates an ironic situation as we accomplish so many things but those same justices will decay over time and will be left to make fun of all the insignificant things we have made. Time is the cocoon while Ozymandias’ civilization is the insect inside, thus making a “, transformation of Ozymandias’ boast into an ironic epitaph which points out to us that history not only confounds propriety by bringing down the mighty, but confounds verbal formulations themselves.” (Janowitz 6) This confinement is the action of time; as we live in the present our accomplishments will be left into the dust as time will move forward, making our power useless as it will expire and will be left to decay. Also it is discovered at the end of the poem that this “ironic disharmony between the inscribed boast and the leveling sands that follow and erode it” serve as the main ironic theme prevailing the whole poem which further induces that time will prevail over any accomplishment humans achieve. (Freedman