5.OZYMANDIAS

“Ozymandias” is a famous sonnet written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets. The poem presents a powerful message about the temporary nature of human power, pride, fame and material glory. Through the image of a ruined statue in a vast desert, Shelley reminds us that time is stronger than even the mightiest kings and empires.

The poem begins with the speaker saying that he met a traveller from an ancient land. The traveller describes the remains of a huge statue standing in the desert. Only two large, trunkless legs of stone are still standing. Near them, half buried in the sand, lies the broken face of the statue. The face shows a frown, a wrinkled lip and a sneer of cold command. These expressions reveal that the ruler was proud, cruel and arrogant.

The sculptor who made the statue understood the king’s nature very well. He captured the king’s pride and harsh authority on the lifeless stone. Though the king is dead and his empire has disappeared, his arrogant expression still survives through the sculptor’s art. This shows that art can preserve truth even after political power has vanished.

On the pedestal of the statue, the king’s proud words are written: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” These words show the king’s extreme pride. He believed that his achievements were greater than those of all other rulers. He wanted future generations to admire and fear his greatness.

But the poem immediately creates a strong irony. After the proud inscription, the traveller says, “Nothing beside remains.” The king’s great works have disappeared. His kingdom, buildings and glory have all been destroyed by time. Around the broken statue, there is only endless, empty desert sand.

The central theme of the poem is the fall of pride and power before time. Ozymandias wanted to become immortal through his monuments, but time has reduced his statue to a “colossal wreck.” The poem teaches that worldly power, wealth and fame are not permanent. No ruler, however powerful, can defeat time and nature.

The poem also highlights the contrast between human arrogance and the silence of nature. Ozymandias speaks proudly through the inscription, but the desert silently answers him. The lone and level sands stretching far away show the final victory of time over human pride.

In conclusion, “Ozymandias” is a timeless warning against pride and arrogance. Shelley teaches us that empires may fall, monuments may decay and powerful rulers may be forgotten. What truly lasts are truth, art, humility and values. The poem reminds us that valuables do not last, but values do.