Irony in Ozymandias Shelly produces a wonderful piece of irony in Ozymandias. When looking at Ozyma
ndias we should look at the Greek breakdown of the name. "Ozy comes from the Greek 'ozium,' which m
eans to breath, or air. Mandias comes from the Greek 'mandate,' which means to rule," notes Biterman
in his analysis of the poem. The fact that the derivative of the great Ozymandias's name is Ruler
of Air is where the irony begins. When one looks upon what was written on the base of the statue an
d then to what has become of that statue and all that surrounds it one sees how ironic that name rea
lly is. It is easiest to begin from the inscription on the base of the statue as it gives us the bes
t insight into the man it represents. 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mi
ghty, and despair!(lines 10-11)' This quote infers his belief that no one will ever surpass his wor
ks. One might even conclude from this that he would even challenge God himself. We then can go bac
k and look at how Shelley described the statue. His description tells us what condition God leaves
the model of this mocking fool: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near the
m, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold
command.(lines 2-5)" The condition of the statue in itself shows that Ozymandias was not the great
est ruler there ever was. In looking at the condition of the statue and his words after you really d
o see the irony of the situation. All which this great king accomplished and what he once was has e
roded into the sand leaving nothing but "two vast and trunkless legs of stone." God allows only the
legs and words to stand so that he might prove a point. The point Shelly tried to raise in the poe
m was that God will outlast all those who attempt to make a mockery of him. Shelly writes, "Tell tha
t its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The han
d that mocked them, and the heart that fed.(lines 6-8)" On this point I would have to agree with Jo
e Kelly in his belief that Ozymandias's heart fed on the passions of his people. If he had nurtured
his people instead of oppressing them their passion would have been with maintaining his memory, in
stead of destroying it. There is a great deal of irony in Ozymandias' shattered visage on the sand.
The king who so terrified those he commanded for so long no longer has any power, yet, his face stil
l tries to dominate all he sees. The very actions that brought to him a period of glory also brought
the destruction of what he worked so vigilantly on. Once finished the reader can look back and rea
lize how ironic the entire situation is; at one point this ruler was (or believed himself to be) the
most powerful man to have ever lived, and now people look at his lifeless shrine and realize the tr
uth. As long as this poem goes on being read Ozymandias will live on.
Works Cited Biterman, Aaron
J. " Analysis of Ozymandias." Dec. 2000. 23 Mar. 2003 &http://chelm.freeyellow.com/ozymandias1.html<
. Kelly, Joe. " Mighty Works in Shelley's "Ozymandias"." 23 Mar. 2003 & http://www.cofc.edu/~kellyj/
explication.html<.
irony ozymandias shelly produces wonderful piece irony ozymandias when looking o
zymandias should look greek breakdown name comes from greek ozium which means breath mandias comes f
rom greek mandate which means rule notes biterman analysis poem fact that derivative great name rule
r where irony begins when looks upon what written base statue then what become that statue that surr
ounds sees ironic name really easiest begin from inscription base statue gives best insight into rep
resents king kings look works mighty despair lines this quote infers belief will ever surpass works
might even conclude this would even challenge himself then back look shelley described description t
ells what condition leaves model this mocking fool vast trunkless legs stone stand desert near them
sand half sunk shattered visage lies whose frown wrinkled sneer cold command lines condition itself
shows greatest ruler there ever looking condition words after really situation which great king acco
mplished once eroded into sand leaving nothing vast trunkless legs stone allows only legs words stan
d might prove point point shelly tried raise poem will outlast those attempt make mockery shelly wri
tes tell sculptor well those passions read survive stamped these lifeless things hand mocked them he
art lines point would have agree with kelly belief heart passions people nurtured people instead opp
ressing them their passion would have been with maintaining memory instead destroying there great de
al shattered visage sand king terrified those commanded long longer power face still tries dominate
sees very actions brought period glory also brought destruction worked vigilantly once finished read
er back realize ironic entire situation ruler believed himself most powerful have ever lived people
lifeless shrine realize truth long poem goes being read will live works cited biterman aaron analysi
s http chelm freeyellow html kelly mighty shelley http cofc kellyj explication htmlEssay, essays, te
rmpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, te
st answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers