For my blog assignment
I read "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This work is a short poem about a
statue in the desert. It is a sonnet and consists of fourteen lines. The poem
begins by explaining that there is statue in the desert that a traveler has
seen. The traveler tells the speaker that all that still stands of the once
great statue are the two enormous legs. Part of the head lies nearby in the
sand, but there is nothing else around it. The traveler goes on to say that
there is an inscription on the statue that reads, “My name is Ozymandias, King
of Kings.” It seems that he is just describing what he has seen, but he is
actually making a comment about not only the ancient world of the king, but
also the world in the present day.
The
statue is a depiction of the pharaoh Ozymandias, better known as Ramses II. He
is the pharaoh mentioned in the Bible book of Exodus, and was an extremely
powerful and highly praised monarch to Egypt. He clearly had this statue made
to immortalize himself and glorify his power. The magnificence is dimmed for
the reader, however, knowing that the statue is now in ruins in an empty desert.
One of the last lines of the poem states, “Look on my works ye Mighty, and
despair!” This is incredibly ironic considering that there is now nothing left
of his great works in the desert to “look on.” The poem can then act as a reflection of how fleeting life and material things are. If even a great pharaoh such as Ozymandias was victim to time, then we all too must be. He was a powerful monarch and even his extraordinary statue could not withstand the powers of time. This poem can be read as a warning against arrogance and the illusion of invincibility. It is easy to imagine that Ozymandias believed that he would never die, and certainly would never fall from his status as pharaoh. Only looking back are we able to see the whole story and knowing that, we should attempt to guard ourselves against our own pride.
I like the imagery of the statue and how that depicts the main idea of this poem. I've learned in a previous analysis of Shelley that he was rebellious and atheist; this almost seems to me like a representation of how no man on earth can be immortalized. Even in Ozymandias's efforts to preserve himself for future worlds to "despair" him, his efforts almost come off as a joke in the way that his head is severed from his body. It's as if nothing in his power could stop the inevitable passage of time; and with the passage of time comes the loss of knowledge of the past.
ReplyDeleteI went and read the poem to get a further idea of what the poem was about. I found the inscription “Look on my works ye Mighty, and despair!” to be extremely ironic as well. Combined with the shattered remains, this quote expresses the insignificance of even the most powerful people over the passage of time; however, the author states that the "passions" are still "stamped on those lifeless things," representing that a person may have influenced people and still be remembered after their death. Although they may have left some influence, their role in relation to society as a whole may be miniscule and forgotten over the passage of time.
ReplyDeletePride is certainly a prevalent theme throughout the poem. Ozymandias showed his pride as a ruler by having a statue made to memorialize him, even after he was gone. He wished for people to look upon him as a great ruler and see the incredible works that he had done within his kingdom; however, time destroyed what was left of his legacy. The people who used to look upon him with fear now look at him with humor and pity. Time is prevalent over all forms of pride, even that of a once great ruler.
ReplyDeleteThis poem was quoted in the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Very cool poem commenting on the inevitable fall of those too powerful. But I also like that even though the memory is not quite as it was, some memories "yet survive." So that even when a person is gone, some of their impression can be left behind. We can not live forever, regardless of how powerful we are, but we can leave a legacy.
ReplyDeleteI think that this analysis is really interesting. I think that the irony of the poem is very clear given that the statue rests in pieces. Playing devil's advocate, however, I feel that statue is still showing the glory and ego of the pharaoh even though it may not be what he originally expected. I agree with Hailey, as quoted above, that we leave legacies and must be aware of what those will be.
ReplyDeleteThe first image that popped into my mind when you described the statue was the four-toed, one leg statue from LOST. Wish I could make some great comparison between the two, but it's been too long since I watched that show to remember what the point of the statue was.
ReplyDeleteVery good analysis. I agree with you - that fame and glory are fleeting things that we shouldn't get so worked up about. (I believe the tired saying that "you never see a hearse with a U-Haul behind it" fits in here somewhere.) At the same time, if we make such an impact on the world that we are remembered after our death, then we are, in a sense, leaving fame and glory behind. But we can't take it with us. And is it better to spend your time building a huge statue of yourself or spend your time building your reputation to those around you? Considering the state of the statue in this poem, I would argue the latter.
Hannah Aycock
I agree with your analysis of this poem. The irony of Oxymandias claiming to be the "King of Kings," all powerful, and immortal, to extent, yet all that remains of his statue is ruins is very fitting. In the Bible, God is considered the "King of Kings" and Lord over all, so I think this poem could also be interpreted that man should not try to go beyond his (or her) means and become God. It can also be said, though, that his presence lives on until not even the legs and the head of the statue are visible.
ReplyDeleteHailey, thanks for bringing up the fact that this poem is quoted at the closing of the Olympic ceremonies--I didn't know that! That seems to me so against everything else about the Olympics, which is gaining glory and being the highest achiever. Anyway, beautiful image in this poem. I like that it's set in the desert, because think about the texture of sand. It can shift and has no shape, much like time.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I would read this poem and get the impression that Ramses II thought he would never die, though that seems to be the popular opinion. Maybe creating a statue in his honor was actually his way of coming to terms with his own mortality? Leaving a great big statue that would outlast his body after he died? I mean, the statue's still visible, right? The author's still impressed by its size, right? Maybe the Pharaoh knew what he was doing.
ReplyDeleteI love the last line of this analysis."[...] we should attempt to guard ourselves against our own pride." This is so true throughout every history book ever written. So many great and powerful leaders let power go to their heads, and others suffered because of it.
ReplyDeleteOften, we are the catalyst of our own downfall.
I find this poem by Shelley to be quite different from her others. The whole poem is based around the one metaphor explaining the downfall of humans. The power that leads to that downfall could be derived from politics or from one's personal power within. That versatility is what I love about literature; its meaning adapts to those reading it.
ReplyDelete- Emily Alves
Well , I commented on this blog and a bunch more other day, and now they are gone!! What I focused on the first time though, was how I actually admire Oxymandius for his outspoken opinion of himself, and I think, despite the irony of there being less than ruins remaining to speak for him, the statue is quite enough. Had he not left that tribute to himself, I never would have heard his name. There are plenty of men who have died whose names I will never hear, but here he left proof to desert travelers that one who considered himself mighty did once exist. That says more than a single tombstone would in a yard of hundreds more.
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