power and control Flashcards
(10 cards)
overview
In Ozymandias, Shelley explores the theme of power and control by showing how even the most powerful rulers and empires eventually fall. The poem describes a ruined statue of a once-mighty king, Ozymandias, whose arrogance and desire to be remembered forever are evident in the inscription on the pedestal. The king believed his power was unmatchable, but the image of his shattered statue in a desolate desert shows that time and nature are stronger than any human control. The decay of the statue serves as a reminder that no matter how much someone tries to assert dominance or leave a legacy, their power is temporary and will be overtaken by the forces of nature. Shelley uses this to criticize the idea of absolute control, showing that in the end, time erases all.
: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings”.
One of the clearest examples is the quote: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings”. This is a bold declarative sentence with a biblical tone—“King of Kings” echoes language used for God, showing Ozymandias saw himself as all-powerful and divine. This use of metaphor reflects extreme hubris (excessive pride), which links to the idea of power corrupting rulers. Shelley’s tone here seems mocking, especially as this statement is carved into a statue that is now ruined and forgotten. The fact that he declares himself so confidently, yet has nothing left of his kingdom, shows how powerless he really is. Shelley, a Romantic poet, disliked tyrannical rulers and believed in the power of nature over man, so this line could be a political criticism of figures like Napoleon or King George I
“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”.
Another key quote is “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”. The use of the imperative verb “look” and the exclamation mark shows Ozymandias giving a direct, commanding order to other powerful people. He wants them to be intimidated by his greatness. The tone is aggressive and arrogant. However, Shelley uses dramatic irony because when we, the reader, “look” at his works, there’s nothing left. This clever technique highlights how power is an illusion. The contrast between the powerful tone of the quote and the actual ruins creates a juxtaposition that exposes the emptiness of human pride and political power.
“Nothing beside remains”
The line “Nothing beside remains” is really impactful due to its short, blunt syntax. It acts as a turning point in the poem, a kind of volta, where the tone changes from proud and commanding to empty and reflective. The caesura after “remains” forces the reader to pause and absorb the shock of how little is left of such a mighty ruler’s empire. This reflects how all control eventually fades, and how no one—not even a “King of Kings”—can escape time and decay.
“The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed”
Shelley also uses the line “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed” to comment on power and its influence. The “hand” could be the sculptor’s, and the word “mocked” has a double meaning—it could mean to imitate, but also to ridicule. This suggests the sculptor might have seen through Ozymandias’s arrogance and immortalised his cruelty. The phrase “heart that fed” could mean Ozymandias fed on power and control, which dehumanises him—he’s more of a predator than a leader. This line uses metonymy (where parts represent a whole) to reduce the powerful king to just a “hand” and a “heart,” emphasising how little remains of his identity or power.
“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone”
The image “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone” is full of meaning. The adjective “vast” suggests greatness and dominance, but “trunkless” shows how incomplete and broken the statue is. This visual imagery contrasts the size of the statue with its ruined state, symbolising the downfall of power. The fact that only the legs remain gives the impression of emptiness and absence, which reinforces the idea that even the strongest rulers cannot escape time or decay. The enjambment around this part of the poem helps to build a continuous image of collapse and ruin, reflecting how control slowly slips away.
“The lone and level sands stretch far away”
Finally, the line “The lone and level sands stretch far away” shows how nature has reclaimed everything. The sibilance of “lone” and “level” gives the line a soft, whispering tone, as if nature is quietly erasing the past. The alliteration creates a smooth, flowing sound, which contrasts the harsh, commanding tone of Ozymandias earlier. The endless sand symbolises eternity and how nature and time are more powerful than any human ruler. The structure of the poem ends with this image, giving it a cyclical and eternal feel, showing that human power disappears, but the world goes on.
structure
Shelley uses the structure of the poem to show that power doesn’t last forever. He writes it as a sonnet but breaks the usual rules, which reflects how power can seem strong but eventually falls apart. The story is told through different voices, which creates distance from the ruler and shows how easily powerful people are forgotten. There’s a turning point in the middle where the focus shifts from pride to decay, proving that time is stronger than human control. The poem ends by focusing on nature, not the king, which reminds the reader that all power eventually fades.
context
Shelley wrote Ozymandias during a time of political change, inspired by the ruined statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II. As a Romantic poet, Shelley was against tyranny and believed that nature and time were more powerful than any ruler. The poem criticises leaders like Ramesses and Napoleon, who tried to control others and leave lasting legacies. Shelley uses the broken statue to show that all human power fades, and that those who seek control are eventually forgotten, while nature and time remain.
conclusion
In conclusion, Shelley’s Ozymandias powerfully explores the theme of power and control by showing how even the greatest rulers are eventually forgotten. Through the use of irony, metaphor, and structural devices like caesura and enjambment, Shelley presents Ozymandias as a once-powerful king whose authority has been destroyed by time and nature. The proud tone of the inscription contrasts with the imagery of decay and ruin, showing that no amount of control can stop the inevitable fall of human power. By ending the poem with the image of the “lone and level sands,” Shelley makes it clear that nature, not man, holds the ultimate power. The poem is a timeless warning about the dangers of arrogance and the illusion of lasting control.
