Analyse the way in which Shelley presents power in 'Ozymandias'

Shelley presents power as fleeting and transient through his imagery of a forgotten statue in his poem Ozymandias. The imperative command of the deceased ruler 'Look on my Works, ye mighty, and despair' contrasts greatly with the following declarative 'Nothing beside remains' as Shelley conveys an image of a demanding and dominant ruler, whose legacy and subsequent power have been worn away. The use of plosive alliteration in 'boundless and bare' helps to create a harsh verbal reflection upon Ozymandias' arrogant characterisation, and emphasises how he has been forgotten. Shelley's use of iambic pentameter creates a regularity, yet the rhyme scheme differs from the traditional Petrarchan sonnet, using ABABAACD instead of ABBABBA. Shelley’s defiance of a conventional rhyme scheme can be said to represent the corruption of authority his sonnet aims to draw attention to.