Ozymandias

Phong Vang

Adam Gorz

Ozymandias


In line 10-11, he writes “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair,” there’s irony in this because Shelley says that “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay. / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare (l. 12-13).” Ozymandias talks about his creations and brags about being king of kings, but there’s nothing to show for his work. It’s empty and desolate around his statue. Ozymandias in Greek means Ruler of Air. This Ruler of Air has created nothing at all and he makes it seem like he’s mighty and has created something great. But according to the description of the traveler from Egypt, the statue of Ozymandias is “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies… (l. 4).”