"Ozymandias"

In the poem “Ozymandias,” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, a theme that nothing lasts is developed throughout the poem. In the first line of the poem Shelley uses the words, “antique land” (721), to refer to Egypt. Egypt was the land of Rames II, longtime Pharaoh, otherwise known as “Ozymandias.” In using theses words Shelley is suggesting that Egypt is now old and not new, thus the newness of it has not lasted forever. In the second line, “two vast and trunkless legs of stone,” (721) suggests that there is no longer a body to go with the legs that was once there, the statue had crumbled leaving just the stumps for legs. The third line, “a shattered visage lies,” (721) the face is on the ground in pieces. The first three lines together describe the fallen statue, which did not obviously last forever. But it seems like Ozymandias had the attitude that he was better than all because of the quote on the statue, "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair” (721) The quotation read that he was great and powerful, yet his statue is now in a heap in the ground, ironic that his legacy can live on but the statue, a symbol of him, was destroyed.