Ozymandias
I met 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.
4-- What message does the poem have in modern day for the author of the poem and the traveller who told him about the statue?
2. How you have power to start off with, but while gloating it, you lose it.
3. He had his past works as if they meant something in the present when they didnt.
4. People who are in a positon of power are often feared by those of lower classes, until you lose that power.
The poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley conveys a timeless message about the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable decline of all human accomplishments. In the modern day, this message holds relevance not only for the author of the poem and the traveller who shared the story, but also for all readers.
To understand the message of the poem, it is important to analyze the themes and symbolism employed by Shelley. The statue of Ozymandias, once a grand symbol of power and authority, now lies in ruins in the vast desert. The shattered visage with its frown, wrinkled lip, and sneer of command suggests that the sculptor accurately captured the arrogance and dominance of Ozymandias during his reign.
The inscription, "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" reflects Ozymandias' pride and hubris, as he believes his accomplishments are unparalleled and will inspire awe and fear in others. However, the irony arises from the fact that "nothing beside remains" of his glorious works, leaving only a "colossal wreck" in a desolate landscape.
The larger message conveyed by the poem is that even the most powerful rulers and their empires are subject to the passage of time. The poem serves as a reminder that regardless of one's position or accomplishments, they will ultimately be forgotten or reduced to ruins. It humbles the reader by implying that all human endeavors, no matter how great, are transient and temporary.
In the context of the author and the traveller, the poem may be seen as a reflection on the folly of seeking power and the insignificance of individual achievements in the grand scope of history. It serves as a cautionary tale against arrogance and a reminder of the impermanence of worldly success. Both the author and the traveller, upon encountering the statue and witnessing its decay, would be confronted with the realization that even the most formidable rulers and their legacies are destined to be forgotten.
Overall, the modern-day message of "Ozymandias" reminds us of the transitory nature of power and the importance of humility in the face of time's inexorable march.