What Are The Symbols Used In Ozymandias

“Ozymandias” is a poem written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The most effective literary device used in “Ozymandias” is the symbolism. The symbols within “Ozymandias” indicate that nothing lasts forever. The presence of these symbols in the poem were effective because of how well they conveyed this same message. The use of symbolism throughout “Ozymandias” was most effective because of how clear the message of transience came through in all of the symbols. The first symbol that is present is in the first line. “I met a traveler from an antique land”. This poem itself is a story within a story, which shows transience. The original story isn’t even around anymore. It has to be retold by someone else who wasn’t there to see anything and who wasn’t

Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shatter’d visage lies”. The ruined statue is symbolic of the lack of permanence that even great and important people have. The King Ozymandias had created this statue as a symbol of how great he was and how everything he did would last a lifetime, and then it didn’t. The statue was wiped out and so was the society which shows transience. Everything that these people stood for and everything they had done was just wiped away with time. Also, these types of statues are normally seen in places that were huge centers of activity and importance at one point. Now it’s worn down and there’s nothing around it but barren desert. The desert around the remains of the statue is also trying to bury the head that was knocked off the statue. This is symbolic of how even though people put in so much effort, everything is transient. Generations after these great and important people have died, people aren’t going to get to experience what they worked so hard to accomplish because nothing is permanent. No matter what these people have done, their works and their legacy is going to disappear because nothing can be permanent. This symbol also showed that everything has transience very clearly because something that seemed permanent was once again wiped out showing that nothing is permanent. It was effective because I could imagine what seeing that

“And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings, Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The pedestal and the statue are ironically symbolic of the transient nature of everything because King Ozymandias was obviously very proud of what he had done. He thought that nothing would ever destroy or get rid of what he had put so much effort into. When in reality something came along and absolutely wiped it away. Whether that outside force was time or some sandstorm in the desert, nothing was left of what he put so much effort into. This serves to further support the message throughout this poem that nothing is permanent. Nothing is allowed to survive forever no matter what it is. This symbol directly shows that nothing is permanent, or that everything is transient because this society and all these works are now gone, even though no one ever thought they would be. This symbol directly shows that nothing is permanent because the statue and pedestal are no longer important and are being wiped out by what is going on around them now. It was a very effective use of symbolism because I have read about places like this before, and that leads me to be able to relate to what is going on and how odd it would be to see this giant statue and remains of a giant society just crumbling