This means that the poem is narrated by an unnamed speaker who is recounting their encounter with a traveler who has seen the ruins of Ozymandias's statue.
The speaker essentially acts as a conduit for the traveler's story, relaying the traveler's vivid description of the crumbling statue and the inscription upon it. This creates a sense of objectivity and distance, allowing the reader to focus on the powerful message about the transience of power and the ultimate futility of ambition.
Here's a breakdown of the poem's point of view:
* First-person narrator: The poem begins with "I met a traveler from an antique land," establishing that the speaker is recounting someone else's experience.
* Indirect dialogue: The speaker doesn't directly speak to the traveler, but reports what they heard about the statue: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone / Stand in the desert..."
* Emphasis on the inscription: The speaker focuses on the inscription, which directly conveys Ozymandias's message of power and ambition.
* Implied message: The poem's message about the fleeting nature of power is not explicitly stated by the speaker, but is conveyed through the traveler's experience.
By using a first-person narrator, Shelley allows the poem to be more impactful and relatable. The reader can connect with the speaker's experience of hearing the traveler's story and share in the awe and reflection that the inscription evokes.