The Despair of Ozymandias: The Futility of Treating Mortals as Gods
The sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), Ozymandias, highlights the ultimate insignificance of man in the face of eternity.
“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
At the time of Ozymandias’ rule, such a line would seem common sense to the average peasant or noble being towered over by the great king.
But, like all mortals, Ozymandias dies. And then, throughout the ravages of time, his works decay into rubble, losing any and all mightiness they once exuded.
The average man walks over, and, towering over that which once would tower over him, feels a different kind of despair.
Rather than fear, he feels a despair of pity towards the long-deceased king.
The Idols of the Past, Preset, and Future
Imagine how the people of the past may have worshipped a king to a point where uttering his name in any tone that lacks the slightest bit of reverence was enough to gain a death sentence.
Now appreciate the level of casualty in which you can utter this same king’s name without even so much as a hint of reverence.
Such a man was a master of the moment, but now the moment has gone and passed, and there are new masters in his place.
Though you may not revere a dead man of the past, there are most likely men and women you revere today.
Your grandparents had idols, and those idols have either died or are slowly dying.
Your parents have idols, and those idols have either died or are slowly dying.
And you have idols. And perhaps they are young, but like all idols, they will eventually age and die the same.
Ozymandias’ Despair Is…
Ozymandious’ despair is not that we are towered over by mighty tyrants who seemingly control our lives more than we do.
But that those same tyrants have just as little control.
And that these mortals, whom we often entrust with the foundation of our lives, are ultimately shaky and untrustworthy.
By the function of being mortal, the most powerful of us still cannot attain the same immortal reverence and foundational stability as God.
No matter how mighty our works are, they will eventually be torn asunder by the ravages of time.
And all that will remain of us is a paltry facsimile of what we once were.
Remember this fact if you’re ever tempted to trade God for fame.
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Bible Quote of the Day
Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
— Isaiah 45:20
