‘Viva La Vida’ & ‘Ozymandias’: We Are Just Mortals

So….

As I told you on November 2018 that I will be talking about Ozymandias and Viva La Vida.

Here, on March 2019, I present to you…

A Deep- But-Not-Really Review of Viva La Vida & Ozymandias!

This review will be divided into some parts of meaning, syntax, etc. So scroll to the end of the post to see the other parts.

Ozymandias? What is it? A name? Wait….. It sounds like an ancient name. Or… Let me guess… Kind of Greek’s word

That’s my first thought when a letter of a poem with the title Ozymandias was handed to me. And when a paper with Viva La Vida lyrics on it was handed it to me. I smiled.

“Oh yeah… I know this song. Coldplay, huh?”

And… yup! Ozymandias is a Greek name.

But whose name? A famous person?

OK. Let’s get to the result of my discussions with my friends…..

What is Ozymandias and Viva La Vida?

So…… Ozymandias and Viva La Vida are two famous creations that were really famous in their era even till now (for those who are interested in Literature and History, of course). Viva La Vida is a song produced by Coldplay in 2008, and it is the first British Music that can hit first place of 100 Hot Digital Songs and won for the Song of the Year at Grammy Award in 2009 while Ozymandias….. is Shelley’s best known poem which first was published in aim to compete with her friend, Horace Smith.

Ozymandias sonnet tells the story of Egyptian greatest king in 13^th century B.C., Ramses II, whose works gave effects to the recent condition of Sudan. This poem is connotatively means that there is nothing in the world which is long lasting exalted, even it is the Greatest Ozymandias.

Let’s look at the lyrics of the poem.

In this poem, there is a traveler who made a trip in Egypt is unknown. The unknown traveler in this poem is representing writer perspective admitting that ultimately everything has its end and will be forgotten. It can be shown in the sentence

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

In addition, Viva La Vida is also a song represent the life of King Louis XVI who was fighting for his religion but the in the end, he was forgotten by what he had fought for.

Look at the lyrics…

“I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!

OK. So that's all for the introduction.

Are you interesting to read the next?

Click the title to read the next chapters.

1. Interpretation of Viva La Vida by Coldplay

2. Interpretation of Ozymandias by Shelley

3. Comparison of Viva La Vida and Ozymandias

4. Syntax, Metaphor, and Moral Value Analysis of Viva La Vida and Ozymandias