I me a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
The poem 'Ozymandias' by Percy Bysshe Shelley explores the themes of transience, power, and the inevitable decline of human achievements. Written in 1818, during the Romantic era, the poem reflects Shelley’s fascination with history, nature, and the hubris of rulers who seek immortality through monuments and conquests.
The poem recounts a traveller’s tale of encountering a broken statue in a desolate desert. The statue, once grand, now lies in ruins, with its shattered visage and pedestal bearing the inscription: “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The irony is stark—the works the inscription boasts of have vanished, leaving only sand and decay.
The historical context of *Ozymandias* draws from the Greek name for Pharaoh Ramses II, a ruler known for his immense architectural projects and military conquests. Shelley critiques the arrogance of leaders who believe their power is eternal, contrasting it with the inexorable passage of time that erodes even the mightiest legacies. - potentially a comment on the power of the British Empire at the time.
Shelley’s sonnet also embodies Romantic ideals, emphasizing nature's dominance over human endeavours and the ephemerality of material grandeur. Through *Ozymandias*, Shelley delivers a timeless reflection on the fragility of human pride and the enduring power of nature and time to outlast all human constructs.
My Last Duchess:
- Abuse of power and authority.
- Pride and arrogance in figures of authority.
- The impermanence of control and human achievements.
Storm on the Island:
- Nature’s dominance over human creations.
- The vulnerability of humanity against larger forces.
The Prelude:
- The overwhelming power of nature.
- Human insignificance in the face of time and natural forces.
