The New Colossus and the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, originally intended as a memorial to the Franco-American alliance during the Revolutionary War, was transformed into a global symbol of freedom and refuge for the oppressed following the inscription of Emma Lazarus's poem 'The New Colossus' on its pedestal in 1903. This study reveals how Lazarus's sonnet, initially written to fund the statue's construction but later forgotten, redefined the monument's significance, turning it into an enduring icon representing American ideals of liberty and asylum. The research explores the historical context and the deliberate effort by Lazarus's friends to ensure her words were permanently displayed, thereby reshaping the Statue's legacy beyond its original purpose.

Siry, S. E. (2025). The New Colossus and the Statue of Liberty. Transforming America in 1903, 87–95. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003649977-12