“Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown, / And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,” shows that the ruined and desolate statue in the desert is of a cold and merciless despot. This tells us that “Ozymandias” is not remembered for their works, their feats, or even themselves, but only by their ruined plaque which tells of them. It is important to note, that only descriptors of a ruined statue are given before an actual name. This is important for the final lines, and quickly designates that there is history.’ Lines 2-11 simply establish an image of “Ozymandias” and who this individual may have been. The “antique land” establishes that the rest of the story (what was in that land) is in fact, very old. This conveys that the narrator is being told a story from someone who is well-versed in the world, as the traveler seems to have experienced many more things compared to the narrator. This tells us that the narrator has met an individual, specifically a traveler. This impermanence is used to show that no matter how powerful one becomes, or how influential their works, inevitably, they too will cease to exist under the duress of time.’ Ozymandias establishes the setting of a story from the first line “I met a traveler from an antique land”. The impermanence in Ozymandias is a central theme of the poem, and it is used as a critique of political powers and institutions of influence. That is not to say they are in confliction, just that their central themes are different. That desire is profoundly and undeniably human and is prevalent in both Ozymandias and The Second Coming.’ The impermanence of all things is more prevalent in Ozymandias by Percy Shelley than it is in The Second Coming by William Yeats. This desire can be encapsulated by a single word Occultism. Things like the existence of the soul, the cycle of the universe, the impermanence of the material, and the permanence of the immaterial. There also exists the desire to understand the “hidden world”, which can encompass the supernatural, the mystical, and magic beliefs, practices, and phenomena. Whether to solidify an ideology, to disprove theories, or because of mere curiosity. Artists, theologians, authors, common people, and even scientists seek to know more about the soul. Whether or not one believes in the concept of the soul, there exists a deeper meaning to understand it among many individuals. Their connection to one another, and the ideas that encompass them both. From times of antiquity to those of the present day, there exists the ponderance of the existential and the spiritual.
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