The Hubris of Ozymandias: A Study in Arrogance and Pride

In Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley explores the theme of hubris—the excessive pride and arrogance of a ruler who believes that his empire and achievements will last forever. Through the figure of Ozymandias, the poem critiques the dangers of pride and the folly of thinking that one’s power is eternal.

The poem begins with the inscription on the statue of Ozymandias: "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" This boastful statement reflects the king’s arrogance and self-importance. Ozymandias believes that his achievements are so grand that they will instill despair in other powerful rulers, implying that no one can surpass his greatness. However, the irony is evident: the "works" that Ozymandias is so proud of have long since disappeared, and all that remains is a broken statue in the middle of a desert.

The shattered statue itself, with its "frown" and "sneer of cold command," embodies Ozymandias’s pride and arrogance. His face, now worn and crumbled, symbolizes the ultimate collapse of his once-great empire. The juxtaposition between the king’s boastful words and the ruin of his statue emphasizes the futility of pride. The poem suggests that no matter how powerful a ruler may be, time will inevitably reduce their achievements to dust. Ozymandias’s hubris is a cautionary tale about the dangers of overestimating one’s power and believing that it will endure forever.

In conclusion, Ozymandias serves as a study in arrogance and pride, illustrating the dangers of hubris through the image of the fallen king and his ruined statue. Shelley uses the poem to remind readers that even the mightiest empires and rulers are subject to the forces of time, decay, and the ultimate insignificance of human power.