Status and Reputation in Ozymandias and Kamikaze Eliana Lazarus 11th Grade

Kamikaze, written by Beatrice Garland, is focused around the Japanese soldiers who self-sacrificed their lives during WW2, whilst flying missile planes into enemy ships. This act was perceived to be one of great bravery and honor, reflecting a strong sense of patriotism and importance of reputation. Contrastingly, Ozymandias, written by Percy Shelley, portrays the insignificance of reputation and legacy through expressing the power of nature. The poem is heavily influenced by Shelley`s radial political views, as well as the events of the French revolution in the 18th century, whereby the monarchy was overthrown. This subsequently urged Shelley to voice his hatred and disapproval towards autocracy through his poem, whilst also expressing the idea of romanticism and appreciation for nature.

Within Kamikaze, reputation is portrayed to be of great significance. This idea is established through the way in which the soldier`s family “treated him as though he no longer existed” and turned their back on him after he had essentially given up his reputation by failing to follow through with the mission. There is a conspicuous element of disappointment and shame which arose as a result of this, leading his family to feel as though “he was...