Themes
Contrast
From the first line, the sonnet draws comparisons between contrasting elements and states. The poet draws the reader’s attention to a state of decay while also instilling a sense of former grandeur that has gradually withered away by the time of the traveler’s visit. Ozymandias’ inscription suggests there once existed a vast site full of monuments that exuberantly celebrated his empire’s glory, to which he calls upon his rivals, suggesting that they must despair over the sheer grandness of his achievements. However, both the opening lines as well as the conclusion of the sonnet paint a stark picture of the current state of the expanse, indicating only a forgotten ruin with a broken statue of the monarch.
The glorious days are far behind, and there now exists no obvious memory of the past, except for the shattered visage of Ozymandias. Furthermore, Shelley also contrasts the pettiness of human vanity against the cold and impartial nature of time and the untameable forces of nature. Despite the great Pharaoh’s attempts at cementing his existence in the consciousness of world history, the sole remnant of his existence is a statue and its lone inscription. The contrast sheds light on the pettiness of human thought, which values ephemeral notions of grandness despite the inescapable eventuality of death, decay, and departure from memory. Throughout “Ozymandias,” the contrasts present in the sonnet enunciate the depth of its premise and communicate several crucial messages Shelley intends to convey.
Transience of Power
Transience is a palpable theme felt throughout the breadth of “Ozymandias.” Shelley helps the reader fathom an obvious yet profound tenet that remains a lasting principle for all that exists. More specific to the sonnet, is the ephemerality of power, which is something the great Pharaoh did not encompass while inscribing the statue sculpted in his image. The lines, “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” are contrasted by the environs that now exist around the statue, and instead draw focus to the fleeting nature of control, even if imperial.
The concluding portion, “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay, of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.” This reveals that the glorious empire built by Ozymandias is nowhere to be found, except for the vast sandy expanse of the desert. An empire that was the source of Ozymandias’ pride and vanity, has been reduced to a single ruin, suggesting that even the mightiest monuments built as demonstrations of authority do not survive the unforgiving march of time. Despite his claims of eternal supremacy, Ozymandias's empire has crumbled, and his legacy is reduced to near-nothingness. This theme highlights the inevitability of change and the ultimate insignificance of human power in the grand scheme of things.
Hubris and Vanity
Ozymandias is introduced as a figure with an expression of pride and cold vanity. His vainglorious inscription serves as a metaphor for how Shelley explores the destructive effects of hubris and the delusions of self-grandeur. His half-broken statue denotes the inescapable fate of all that must come into being. However, the expression that has survived on the visage still speaks for the extent of the monarch’s vanity and hubris. The inscription further adds to this, calling upon those who witness Ozymandias’ feats to despair in disappointment. Reveling in his imperial exploits, both the inscription and the expressions on the statue denote how sure of himself Ozymandias would’ve been in the past.
Regardless, the fallen statue serves as a warning against the folly of excessive pride and the delusion of immortality. While the great Egyptian monarch left behind massive monuments in memory of an empire he thought infallible, barely anything has survived, except for the two stone columns and his statue described by the traveler. His bloated ego persists only in the shattered statue’s expressions and in the lonesome inscription on its pedestal. A subtle commentary on the futility of human achievement in the unfathomable expanse of time also pervades the extent of the sonnet. Ozymandias is now long forgotten, along with his regal symbols and monuments, all reduced to a lost memory slowly decaying in the midst of the desert’s unforgiving sands.
Time and Decay
Time emerges as a relentless force in the sonnet, eroding the grandeur of Ozymandias' empire and reducing it to near-nothingness. The sonnet vividly explores the theme of time and decay, highlighting the inevitable decline of all things. Shelley describes a once-majestic statue of Ozymandias, now lying in ruins in the desert, its features eroded by the passage of time. The inscription on the pedestal, though intended to immortalize the ruler's achievements, has been rendered redundant merely by the endless churn of time. This imagery of decay serves as a powerful metaphor for the transient nature of human existence and the ephemeral quality of worldly pursuits.
Given that monarchs and persons of power were nearly deified in the hoary past, their fallibility establishes the primacy of time and the natural fate of all mortal beings. Despite Ozymandias's aspirations for eternal glory, his monument succumbs to the ravages of time, ultimately fading into obscurity. Through its portrayal of decay and deterioration, the poem underscores the inevitability of mortality and the fleetingness of human accomplishments in the face of eternity. Moreover, the human desire to escape time and etch oneself onto the extensive tapestry of history is revealed to be all but futile, with the traveler having to piece together what once was through a singular inscription and the arrogant expression on Ozymandias’ sculpture.
Legacy and Memory
"Ozymandias" explores the theme of legacy and memory, highlighting the fleeting nature of fame and renown. Despite Ozymandias's attempts to immortalize himself through his monumental works, his legacy ultimately fades into oblivion. The inscription on the pedestal, intended to preserve his memory for eternity, remains in stark contrast with the surroundings. The sonnet serves as a meditation on the innately human attempt to make one’s mark in history, despite its inevitable decay from public consciousness. While Ozymandias's claims to greatness still survive through his inscription, nothing exists to support its claims. His name is ultimately forgotten, and his achievements are reduced to dust. Through its portrayal of the transience of fame and fortune, Shelley’s sonnet underscores the importance of humility and the recognition of one's own mortality.
While none of Ozymandias’ monuments have survived, his singular inscription bearing his name and his claims to glory, leave behind a feeble trace of a personage from the past. Though not in the way Ozymandias would have pictured it, his name has endured the churn of time and is discovered. However, the monarch's fate is used as a cautionary tale against vanity and ignorance, since the elemental is apathetic toward men’s buildings, statues, empires, and their notions of legacy.
