Foreshadowing In Ozymandias

Ozymandias “Ozymandias”, written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, was published in 1818, by the Examiner. The poem was Shelley’s way to safely express his opinion of the oppressive King George III. Thru verbal and dramatic irony, Shellys poem evokes the feeling of amusement and foreshadowing. Shelly infuses verbal irony throughout the poem, to make his readers laugh. Ozymandias wants everyone to see and know about his achievements. “Look on my works, ye mighty and despair!” (Line 11) This quote shows us that Ozymandias was extremely proud perhaps even tyrannical. Looking through history we see that Ozymandias was another name for Rameses II. Thus proving he was prideful of his works and tyrannical and he wanted everyone to know about his “works.” Also this quote is an example of an oxymoron, because Rameses might be telling the "mighty" to "despair" as a kind of warning, saying something like "Don't raise your hopes, your works will eventually be destroyed or fade away, with nothing to recall them but a dilapidated statue half-buried in the sand." But in reality his statue is the one buried in the sand.

There are accounts of his honor hewn on stone, statues, remains of palaces and temples, thus confirming his immense ego. Also his declaration of, “King of Kings” is false because there is only one King of Kings. The statement just shows us that Rameses was a tyrannical king, who desired power that would make people fear him. By using verbal irony the author makes the reader laugh because he shows us how foolish and arrogant Ozymandias is, just like King