The words printed beneath the statue state, “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair” (Shelley 10-11). Shelley, similar to Lazarus, uses the element of personification to characterize the statue. The subject is similar to that of “The New Colossus,” because it is described as a powerful statue. “Ozymandias” is a poem about a decayed statue. The tone of the poem is idealistic because Lazarus describes a statue that represents a righteous and perfect America. This golden door is representative of an ideal America where good opportunities are plentiful and easily accessible. The statue itself is personified with the dialogue, “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door” (13-14). By titling the poem as “The New Colossus,” Lazarus is comparing this statue of freedom to a statue of light and hope. The analogy to the Greek sun god, Colossus, relates the statue to a famous figure known for radiance. She describes it as “Mother of Exiles” (6), portraying the statue as a maternal, loving, and nurturing figure that welcomes those who have come to her from places of struggle. Lazarus herself was part of a family who immigrated to the United States, which explains why she would have a positive and idealistic opinion of the statue. The Statue of Liberty is now recognized as a symbol of freedom and refuge for people of all nationalities and homelands. This method of personification is effective to get across Lazarus’s own opinion about the statue, because the dialogue explains how maternal and welcoming the statue is and what she represents. The statue’s words are “cried…with silent lips” (9-10). Lazarus writes six of the fourteen lines of the poem as personified dialogue of the statue. The most prominent way that Lady Liberty is personified is through the use of dialogue. In her poem, Lazarus uses personification as a figurative element to paint a literary picture of the statue. This statue is a powerful symbol of freedom and welcome, and Lazarus describes it as “a mighty woman” (4). In “The New Colossus,” Lazarus is describing the Statue of Liberty.
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