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Paradox
paradoxes resolving in a way that reveals a deeper truth, further
DEFINITION examination reveals a logical paradox to be so thoroughly self-
contradictory that it defeats its own meaning (instead of revealing
What is paradox? Here’s a quick and simple definition:
an unexpected meaning based on how the language is
interpreted).
A paradox is a figur
figuree of speech that seems to contradict itself,
but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel
of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration The classic example of logical paradox is the statement "This
that "Life is much too important to be taken seriously" is a statement is false." The statement is logically impossible to resolve: if
paradox. At first it seems contradictory because important the statement is true, then it is false; and if the statement is false, then
things are meant to be taken seriously, but Wilde's it is true.
paradoxical suggestion is that, the more important Put more broadly: rather than using language figuratively to construct
something is, the more important it is not to take it seriously. a new and unexpected meaning (as in literary paradox), logical
paradox actually uses language nonsensically to create the
Some additional key details about paradox: appearance of meaning which upon further review is revealed as
hopelessly contradictory and therefore lacking.
• People often use the word paradox simply to express their
astonishment at something unexpected or enigmatic, but this is a
misuse of the word. Par
arado
adoxx vs. R
Rela
elatted T
Terms
erms
• In the study of logic, paradoxes have a slightly different meaning Literary paradox is easily confused with two other figures of speech,
than the one we cover in this entry. Logical paradoxes are antithesis and oxymor
ymoronon. This section outlines how paradox differs
statements that actually do contradict themselves, and are from each of these terms.
therefore unresolvable. • Antithesis: An antithesis is a figure of speech in which two
• The word paradox comes from the Greek "paradoxos," meaning contrasting or opposing ideas are juxjuxttaposed with one another.
contrary to expectation, or strange. Neil Armstrong used antithesis when he stepped onto the surface
of the moon in 1969, saying, "That's one small step for a man, one
Par
arado
adoxx Pr
Pronuncia
onunciation
tion giant leap for mankind." The sentence emphasizes the incredible
contrast between the individual experience of taking an ordinary
Here's how to pronounce paradox: par
ar-uh-docks step, and the extraordinary progress that Armstrong's step
symbolized for the human race.
Lit
Liter
erar
aryy P
Par
arado
adoxx in Dep
Depth
th
◦ Unlike paradoxes, antitheses are not contradictory, nor do
The special ability of the figure of speech called paradox—which is to they seem to be. Rather than contradiction, antitheses focus
simultaneously seem self-contradictory and yet also reveal on opposition between two things.
unexpected meaning—often depends on words that can be
interpreted in more than one way. For instance, in Shakespeare's ◦ Further, whereas antithesis generally involves the use of
Hamlet, when Hamlet tells his mother "I must be cruel, only to be
Hamlet par
arallelism
allelism (two or more parallel grammatical structures at
kind," he's using a paradox to express that his behavior, while it may the sentences level), paradox does not.
appear to be cruel, is actually a form of kindness—but that's only if • Oxymor
xymoron:on: An oxymor
ymoron
on is a specific type of paradox—one that
you interpret kindness to include harsh actions that may be better for boils its contradiction down to just a few words. The most
everyone in the long run (Hamlet also turns out to be wrong since, by recognizable oxymorons are two word pairs, such as "sweet
the end of the play, pretty much everyone is dead). This type of sorrow," but they can extend across a phrase as well.
paradox, also called verb
erbal
al p
par
arado
adoxx or lit
liter
erar
aryy p
par
arado
adoxx, is the
type we'll focus on in this entry. ◦ While an oxymoron is usually made up of just two words, a
paradox can be expressed in many different ways, as a
Lit
Liter
erar
aryy P
Par
arado
adoxx vs. LLogic
ogical
al P
Par
arado
adoxx concept or a description of a situation.
Literary paradox is distinct from logical paradox, in which ◦ So when, in Romeo and Juliet
Juliet, Juliet tells Romeo that "parting
the meaning of a statement is contradictory in a way that cannot be is such sweet sorrow," the oxymoron "sweet sorrow" suggests
resolved into sense-making. Here are the differences between literary a deeper paradox at play: that Juliet's pain at parting with
and logical paradox in more detail: Romeo even for a night is cause for joy, since it testifies to the
strength of their love. However, this same paradox could also
• Initially: Literary paradoxes often seem unresolvable, while logical be expressed without the use of the poetic oxymoron, for
paradoxes often don't immediately seem contradictory. instance if Juliet were simply to say something like "my
• Upon further eexxamina
amination:
tion: While further thought leads to literary sorrow makes me happy."

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Par
arado
adoxx in Geor
Georgge Or
Orw ell'ss 1984
well'
EX
EXAMPLES
AMPLES In his dystopian novel 1984
1984, George Orwell imagines a totalitarian
Paradox appear in all sorts of writing, from literature, to speeches, to government designed on purpose to have contradictory claims at its
song lyrics. The examples below show some of each. very core. These contradictions are examples of paradox:

War is peace.
Par
arado
adoxx E
Exxamples in Lit
Liter
eraatur
turee Freedom is slavery.
In literature, paradoxes can create humor, express the confusion or Ignorance is strength.
frustration of a seeming impossibility, or make clear the absurdity of
an unexpected situation. The general population of this dystopian future seems numb to the
contradiction inherent in this phrase, and this is part of why Orwell
sees this society as so dangerous. In it, language no longer has
Par
arado
adoxx in William Shak
Shakespe
espear e'ss Hamle
are' Hamlett
meaning on its own—rather, the ruling party has gained and
As Hamlet interrogates his mother, Gertrude, in Act 3 Scene 4 of maintained power to wage constant war, enforce absolute obedience,
Hamlet, after mistakenly killing Polonius, he uses a paradox to explain
Hamlet and nurture general ignorance precisely by annihilating meaning in
why he has committed such violent actions and why he has been language so that there is nothing left for any citizen to hold on to or to
berating his mother for remarrying Claudius (the brother of Hamlet's trust.
father). With this paradoxical statement, Hamlet is attempting to
persuade his frightened mother that although he seems wicked in Par
arado
adoxx in W
Walt
alt Whitman'
Whitman'ss ""Song
Song of Myself
Myself""
this moment, his intentions are good.
In this poem, Walt Whitman famously welcomes the idea that he
I must be cruel, only to be kind. might be indulging himself in paradoxes, writing "Do I contradict
myself?/Very well then, I contradict myself/I am large, I contain
Hamlet's phrase sums up a wider paradox at play in many stories, as multitudes." Paradox is, in fact, a major feature of the poem, as you'll
characters wrestle with the question: is it alright to commit acts that see in this excerpt:
seem morally wrong, in support of causes that seem morally right?
I have said that the soul is not more than the body,
And I have said that the body is not more than the soul...
Par
arado
adoxx in William Shak
Shakespe
espear e'ss Romeo and Julie
are' Juliett
And I or you pocketless of a dime may purchase the pick of
In the first scene of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet
Juliet, the earth,
Romeo has not yet met Juliet and is still heartbroken over his first And to glance with an eye or show a bean in its pod
crush, Rosalind. Shakespeare expresses the whirling confusion of his confounds the learning of all times...
emotions in this moment with a series of oxymor
ymorons
ons and paradoxes.
Whitman's writing proposes values that are at odds with those of his
Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, culture, and the paradoxes here help to highlight the radical nature of
Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! his ideas. Whitman believes that all people, however poor (or
Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? "pocketless of a dime"), are capable of 'buying' whatever they please
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. ("the pick of the earth"). He states that the sight of something as
Here's much to do with hate but more with love. insignificant as a bean can reveal more knowledge than a lifetime of
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! schooling. Whitman's paradoxes invite the reader to reconsider what
O any thing, of nothing first create! he or she believes to be important.
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Par
arado
adoxx in Geor
Georgge Bernar
Bernard Shaw'ss Man and Superman
d Shaw'
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! In his play Man and Superman, Shaw uses his protagonist Jack
This love feel I, that feel no love in this... Tanner to express many of his own unconventional ideas about
society. One of the tenets in a book carried by Tanner comes in the
The first paradox suggests Romeo's seemingly contradictory wish that form of a witty paradox:
a love that is "blind" should nevertheless see a path to accomplish its
desires. The second paradox references a central theme of the play: The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.
the idea of love and hatred coinciding (remember that the play is
about children from warring families falling in love?). The third This statement undermines the sanctity of the traditional "golden
paradox expresses Romeo's exasperation that such beautiful things rule" (i.e., "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you"),
could come together to make such a mess. After a number of suggesting a more flexible worldview. It creates a paradox, however,
oxymorons—which express Romeo's sense of confusion in love—the since a golden rule against golden rules would seem to defeat its own
final paradox is Romeo's expression of sorrow that his feeling authority! This makes it similar to the classic "liar's paradox" from
of love is unrequited. logic: "this sentence is a lie."

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Par
arado
adoxx in R
Ralph
alph W
Waldo Ellison'ss Invisible Man
aldo Ellison' sentiment that also echoes the paradoxical blending of love and hate
In In
Invisible Man,, Ellison's protagonist grapples with what it means to
visible Man in Romeo and Julie
Juliett.
be black in predominantly white, racist America. He is haunted by the
paradoxical advice of his grandfather, who tells him to "overcome 'em You've gotta be
with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree 'em to death and Cruel to be kind in the right measure,
destruction..." In other words, the grandfather suggests that the best Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign,
way to break the power of the white majority is precisely to submit to Cruel to be kind means that I love you,
it. Another paradox arises when the protagonist is promoted to chief Baby, you've gotta be cruel to be kind...
spokesman of the Brotherhood in Harlem, and Master Jack describes
the position:
WHY WRITER
WRITERSSU
USE
SE IT
"You will have freedom of action—and you will be under
strict discipline to the committee." Paradoxes are helpful for capturing the sometimes bewildering
duality of life. A writer might choose to employ paradox for various
This restrained freedom creates a paradox, which ultimately leads the reasons, including:
protagonist to decide to leave behind all institutions, as he comes to • To highlight the complexity of a certain situation, or point out the
realize that all groups will require him to sacrifice his freedom and fallacy of a widely-held, preconceived notion.
identity to their cause.
• To allude to an apparent contradiction and suggest that it might
reveal a greater truth if it can be resolved.
Par
arado
adoxx in Speeches
• To point out, challenge, or satirize contradictions in the world.
Paradox also appears in great political speeches, whose key phrases
have survived the test of time in the public imagination. • To craft a word puzzle that draws the reader in and demands their
attention.
Par
arado
adoxx in FFrranklin Delano R
Roose
oosevvelt'
elt'ss Inaugur
Inaugural
al Addr
Address,
ess, Mar
March
ch 4, • To add humor to a work by making a witty observation.
1933
In his first inaugural address, Roosevelt spoke about the challenges
facing the United States as a result of the Great Depression. One of OTHER RESOURCES
the most famous lines from his speech is so memorable in part
because it creates a paradox: • Par
arado
adoxx Wikipedia PPag
age:
e: this entr
entryy is specific to paradox as a
literary term, but you can also find the link to a general entry on
So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing paradox.
we have to fear is fear itself... • Americ
American
an Rhe
Rhettoric: this site catalogues ex
examples
amples of literary
devices like paradox in famous speeches from history, and even
With this optimistic message, Roosevelt hoped to unite the struggling provides free audio clips of the speakers in action.
nation against a common enemy (fear), all the while asserting the
invincibility of the American nation. Every challenge facing the nation • Youtube eexplana
xplanation:
tion: this video offers a thorough and clear
could be defeated, Roosevelt argued, as long as its citizens could definition of paradox, with helpful literary examples.
believe in themselves and vanquish fear.

Par
arado
adoxx in Song
HO
HOWWT
TO
O CITE
A well-placed paradox can make song lyrics memorable and give
ML
MLAA
them a greater depth of meaning, asking listeners to think twice as
they sing along to a catchy tune. Lorenz, Ben. "Paradox." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 5 May 2017. Web. 21
Apr 2020.
Par
arado
adoxx in Elvis Cos
Costtello
ello''s "Cruel tto
o Be Kind" CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Elvis Costello borrows a turn of phrase from Shakespeare's HamletHamlet, Lorenz, Ben. "Paradox." LitCharts LLC, May 5, 2017. Retrieved April 21,
cited above, in his song "Cruel to Be Kind." Like Hamlet, the singer 2020. https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/paradox.
here is trying to argue that a little cruelty can be a sign of love, a

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