Irony In Ozymandias

In a tale of ancient Rome, a victorious Roman general passes through the streets of Rome in triumph and glory. The crowd cheers as he passes by in his chariot, but behind him a slave stands whispering this exhortation: “Remember you are mortal”. Percy B. Shelley issues a warning like this one to Great Britain in 1818, using The Examiner as his mouthpiece. This warning is “Ozymandias”, a sonnet reflecting the truth that glory and power cannot last forever. As Britain becomes stronger and more powerful during the Revolutionary War era, Shelley “whispers” the tale of Ramesses the Great to remind Britain that her fate is destined to be the same. In “Ozymandias”, the author uses irony to illustrate the triviality of grandeur and to emphasize the ephemeral nature of power.
On a ruined statue in the middle of a vast desert, an inscription of his few remaining words reveals that Ramesses believes he is incorruptible. He claims that he is “King of Kings” (10); however, this contradicts what we know. Ramesses II is no longer a mighty king, but a fallen pharaoh conquered by the passage of time. Therefore, the irony of his claim illustrates to the reader how Ramesses the Great was truly negligible. Additionally, the king boasts of his many and mighty works in this same inscription. In his contempt and vanity he challenges all to look upon his great city “and despair!” (11). If we look to his kingdom now there would be nothing but ruins, yet Ramesses believes that his handiwork will outshine the sun. The readers’ knowledge of this produces irony that supports the pointlessness of his prideful, selfish works. The irony in the great Pharaoh’s speech strengthens the concept that his rule, pride, and works were meaningless and