Interpretation of Ozymandias

This poem is actually about the story of Egyptian greatest king in 13^th century B.C., Ramses II, who is called Ozymandias by the Greeks. 

In the first sentence, Shelley describes the huge statue of Ozymandias which is in Egypt’s dessert. Nevertheless, in this poem the statue is told in the terrible condition—two vast trunk less legs, half sunk frowning visage, with wrinkled lip—which means that the sculpture is getting ruined. Still, it attempts to show the greatness of Ozymandias through the statue which is made as real as Ozymandias himself. Thus, it seems like the statue tells people seeing it about the grandeur of Ozymandias even though it is now “stamped on the lifeless things”—the both sculptor and Ozymandias died already. 

In the line 9-11, Ozymandias did not only use to be the king of kings, but now he is still the king of kings.  “Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”  My works are by connotation interpreted as his effort to expand the region of power which at the time is from East Syria to North Republic of Sudan, and the current Egypt is the impact of his works in the past. Thus, Shelley uses present tense—“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings”—instead of the past one. This part is the key of the message to be delivered by the poem. It is depicted in this part, however the statue attempted to tell about Ozymandias’ greatness, eventually that great statue will get ruined, destroyed, forgotten, and lonely in the dessert.

So, this poem actually uses Ozymandias as the parable. It is by connotation means that there is nothing in the world which is long lasting exalted, even it is the Greatest Ozymandias. The unknown traveler in this poem is representing the fact witnessing the life and/or the writer perspective admitting that ultimately everything has its end and will be forgotten.

Click the title to read the next chapters.

1. Interpretation of Viva La Vida by Coldplay

2. Interpretation of Ozymandias by Shelley

3. Comparison of Viva La Vida and Ozymandias

4. Syntax, Metaphor, and Moral Value Analysis of Viva La Vida and Ozymandias