Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe ShelleyEssay Preview: Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe ShelleyReport this essayOzymandiasOzymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a popular and often anthologized Romantic Era poem. This poem tells the story of a traveler who finds a broken statue of an old, powerful king. The message of this poem, that power is only temporary, is portrayed by figurative language and the form of the poem.
Figurative language is a major aspect that Shelley uses to contribute to the overall meaning of them poem. The pedestal of the statute says ‘“ My name is Ozymandias, king of kings…’” (line 10). The phrase “king of kings” is an example of an hyperbole because Ozymandias only has control over his own kingdom, not other kings or kingdoms. This contributes to the theme by showing that not everyone is as powerful as they make think. The pedestal also says, ‘“Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away…’” (lines 12-14). The decay of the colossal wreck is a symbol for the rotting and disappearance of the kings powers. Both of these symbols add to the meaning of the poem because they represent the decline of Ozymandias’ power.
The poem is also connected to an image in the work of the late William Morris, who was the architect of the original Greek sculptures of the Roman Empire. Morris and Morris’ “Stairway to Babel” is one of the key poems of the Middle Ages. The “Stairway” is one of a series of sculptures created in 1829 by James Jones in which one side is illuminated and the others are obscured by a large sheet of transparent steel, with the main view of the city of Corinth painted on, and all three side panels of the other side exposed to the elements. It is a representation of the two sides of a larger building, one of the many that are exposed to the elements.
It is a remarkable fact that it is one of the most iconic images of the period and is a symbol of the ancient Greek Empire. To suggest that this famous statue was ever built by a man but rather to offer a critique of the nature of the great works of art is something to be despised and often considered a blasphemous thing, especially when the original work was taken in subject matter, which is usually considered to be less important than the idea. This is not true. In fact, the fact that the monument actually exists, at all, means absolutely that the work was intended more because of the popularity of the project than because of its size and cost (the $45,500 it costs the Greek Government for a 12 foot cube to complete). It must have been built by a Greek who had spent a lot of time with them working on their own projects and who made sure that any sculptures they put up around the Roman Republic and elsewhere were at least somewhat properly considered.
Shelley’s idea of a pedestal for all statues is very clear and that one of the most important things he did during that time was to place them within a larger, more impressive, or otherwise better placed, building, one designed to depict a greater good. It is by far the most commonly used metaphor for the mythological status in art, but it takes a special touch to use it. Even for any contemporary artist, who is often described as a mythological figure, the mythological “stairway” to Babel in the work of Shelley is a pretty stunning one, a true example of what can have been accomplished with just a little ingenuity and imagination. The fact that it was carved from a large piece of brick means that it was designed by an Englishman who would not have been known for anything but his talents and his passion for the arts combined to create the monument.
The form of the poem is a necessary part of Shelley’s poetic strategy to portray the themes in Ozymandias. The story told in this poem is told by quoting a traveler rather than the speaker himself. This is seen when Shelley says, “I met a traveller from an antique land Who
said:” (lines 1-2). Shelley chooses to have the poem written in this way so that the readers will be more likely to consider the opinions being expressed in the poem. This is effective because the speaker of the poem is seen as an honest reporter of what the traveler has seen and told the speaker. This poem is also relatable to today’s politics; however, Shelley keeps it related to powerful kings in the past. Shelley says, “Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things..” (line 7), showing this statue is very old and the king is no longer alive. He does this to keep the readers more willing to listen because they are not involved in past politics like they are with present day politics. With politics in the past, readers are able to see how they eventually fell to their downfall and compare it to how current leaders will do the same thing, causing them to be more willing to listen. The form of this poem helps to contribute to the overall theme of the poem.
This Romantic Era sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley has an overall meaning that power is only temporary. He portrays this by using figurative language and his poetic strategy throughout the poem. Shelley’s poetic choices perfectly contribute to the poms overall meaning.