In My Last Duchess, Browning presents power as an unstoppable, controlling force that corrupts the wielders, this is suggested through ‘(since none put by The curtain I have drawn for you)’. The illusion to powers corrupting nature is presented through secrecy, “curtain”, this suggests a cover – perhaps suggesting how the Duke is covering his misdeeds. Furthermore, the personal pronoun “I” suggests the narcissistic nature of the Duke, he is controlling her even after death. Perhaps Browning uses brackets to represent how the Duke is trying to disguise his possessive controlling nature, as if he’s using his power to manipulate the messenger. The idea of redacting his inner demons is reinforced through the monosyllabic words, he is trying to show simplicity, but he is in fact a complex manipulator. In Ozymandias, Shelly also presents the idea of the pain and corruption forged as a result of power, but Shelly also contrasts this with the temporary nature of power in the face of the overwhelming force of nature. In Ozymandias, Shelly describes power as an illusion – a blink in history that is dwarfed at the face of nature, despite the belief its seemingly unstoppable presentation, ‘whose frown, And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command’. The semantic field of disgust is used to reinforce the hostile and callous nature of Ozymandias, which represents the destructive nature of power. The pejorative ‘frown’ suggests the hostile nature of the ruler, which is reinforced through ‘cold’ which presents his lack of empathy which is backed up by ‘command’ which shows the obsessive and dictator like approach of Ozymandias. This shows that in both poems, the idea of power causing pain and hatred is present throughout. In My Last Duchess, Browning suggests power as an absolute force that can end and control all forces, ‘This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together’. The use of ‘all smiles stopped together’ shows his overwhelming force, he has the control to end life, but he is too afraid to say it. The ambiguous language doesn’t specify his actions, and advanced rhetoric is reinforces this. The sibilance forms a sinister tone, but also a soft sound, almost like he silenced her. Browning conveys the idea of power as a strong force, but something that is hidden, in contrast Shelly in Ozymandias suggests that those wielding power brandish it for all to see, that’s is almost like a medal, ‘my name is Ozymandias, king of kings: look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’. The 3rd person perspective shows his arrogant and narcissistic nature, just like the Duke in My Last Duchess, but the attitudes changes with ‘King of Kings’ which shows his desire to share his power, unlike the Duke which hides from it. The metaphor conveys his elevated status, with the religious imagery presenting him as a God, linking to the divine right of kings. Furthermore, the imperative ‘look” implies he wants people to see him, to fear but adore him, with the exclamation emphasising the commands aggression and forcefulness. The idea of eternal power is also presented, ‘is”, the present tense conveys that it’s forever lasting. However, this is contradicted by ‘nothing beside remains’, which shows Shelly wishes to show this view is incorrect and arrogant, that power is nothing against nature and to believe it is absolute is foolish and incorrect.