A brief anyalysis and response to Percy Shelley's "Ozymandias" and a commentary on the temporal nature of the things humans strive for most.

On the surface, Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" is Shelley's representation of the posthumous conception of the Egyptian Pharoh named Ramses II (which in Greek translates into Ozymandias). More importantly however, "Ozymandias" comments on the temporal nature of the things humans strive most for. Regardless of what he thought, Ozymandias' empire eventually ceased to exist. Even a statue he has made to reinforce the possibility of his immortality shatters. This sculpture, a piece of art, is …

…possess more in his work of art than Ozymandias was able to achieve in his entire being. Even though the statue is in pieces, it exists, regardless. It takes more than a statue to attain immortality. Perhaps nature has the best chance; since the sand in the desert will remain long after the statue becomes part of it, as the original reason for the statue's creation must have also resided in this seemingly ever-present sand.