Ozymandias Quote Analysis

Throughout effective leadership, whether for humanitarian purposes or personal gain, a leader must prioritize their ability to demand respect and maintain the dominance required to lead. For instance, in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston Smith alongside the rest of the citizens of London are being constantly surveilled and threatened into government compliance. While passing through the streets, Smith reads the words “War is Peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength” scrawled across a poster in harsh letters. During this quote, Orwell hints to the government using slogans to manipulate the public. By preaching ideas that are contrary to social norms, they shake the basis of personal thought. In combination

During the period after the statue had been built, Ozymandias confidently exclaimed,”My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” While bragging over the erection of the statue, Ozymandias further inflates his ego through referring to himself as the “king of kings,” (Shelley) further separating himself from other royal figures. Moreover, in continuing, he demands,”Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” While Ozymandias had been admired amongst the common people, this quote is directed towards “mighty” figures such as those in royalty and similar positions of power. Ozymandias then demands that they submit to worshipping him, and establishes superiority amongst people of every social class. This assertion of dominance is ultimately is the reason for Ozymandias’ ability to retain power until

During this chapter, Minerva discovers her father’s second family living on the property and slams his new jeep into the ford in the driveway through a blazing rage. While deserting the property, she states on page 88,”From the corner of my eye I saw him, a figure growing smaller and smaller until I left him behind me.” (Alvarez) Throughout the novel, her father’s position as the single man of the house during a patriarchal era lead her to view herself as weak by comparison. However, upon finding out about his infidelity, Alvarez uses the imagery of his figure in the rearview mirror to mimic his leverage over Minerva. While Minerva had been raised as inferior to her father, much like that of a government leader, her view of him growing “smaller and smaller” mirrors the loss of dominance he once had over her. Moreover, Minerva’s remark that she “left him behind” her serves to establish that in the future Minerva’s actions will no longer be guided by her father, rendering him a useless figure and an ineffective