Paradox — Definition and Examples
What is a paradox?
A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that is considered both true and untrue at the same time. Despite this contradiction, both parts of a paradox can be accurate. There are two kinds of paradox: logical and literary.
Consider this paradoxical statement:
This sentence is a lie.
If the sentence is true, then it is a lie; however, if the sentence is a lie, then it is true.
Therefore, the statement is technically both true and false, creating a logical paradox. This is called the liar’s paradox.
The central purposes of literary paradoxes are:
Create humor by showcasing the absurdity of a situation
Express confusion or frustration that indicates an internal or external conflict
Paradox examples
Classic examples of paradoxes can be found in the works of Socrates, Oscar Wilde, and even in Disney movies.
"I know one thing – that I know nothing." – Socrates
Socrates knowing one thing makes it impossible to know nothing.
"I can resist anything but temptation." – Oscar Wilde
Giving in to temptation means it cannot be resisted.
"What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." – George Bernard Shaw
Youth is only available to the young.
"And when everyone's super – no one will be." Syndrome from Disney's The Incredibles
If everyone is super, then when compared to others, they are all the same. Therefore, if everyone is the same, can they all be super?
"I had to come to prison to be a crook." Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption
Prison is supposed to rehabilitate those who have committed crimes.
Another famous paradox is the barber paradox or Russell’s paradox:
If a barber shaves only those who do not shave themselves, does the barber shave himself?
By shaving himself, he’s not the barber. If he doesn’t shave himself, he is one who does not shave and could be one of his customers, so he can shave himself.
Paradox in literature
The following quotes from literary works contain famous examples of a paradox:
Animal Farm by George Orwell: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."
Orwell highlights the paradox that exists with equality. He provides commentary on the idea that even if the animals are equal in some ways, there are qualities that make some of the animals even "more equal."
Hamlet by William Shakespeare: "I must be cruel to be kind."
Hamlet presents a paradox that suggests causing someone pain is for their own good; the recipient of the cruelty will unknowingly benefit from it.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: "To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up."
In his play, Wilde creates a paradox suggesting that it is difficult to act naturally. However, acting naturally should come naturally. By presenting this paradox, Wilde indicates that sometimes being natural is unnatural.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller: “Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn’t really crazy.”
Protagonist Yossarian, a fighter pilot in World War II, wants to get out of bombing missions by pretending to be insane. However, to acknowledge the risks of the missions, one has to be sane and therefore fit for duty.
Oxymoron vs. paradox
An oxymoron is the juxtaposition of two words that have contradictory meanings. While both a paradox and an oxymoron are contradictory figures of speech, oxymorons illustrate this contradiction through the meaning of words. Paradoxes detail contrasting ideas in phrases or whole sentences.
Consider the following examples from Romeo and Juliet:
Oxymoron: "Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical!"
Both pairs of words contradict each other, creating a contrasting image of Romeo. Juliet finds him beautiful yet tyrannical (cruel) and angelical yet fiendish (devilish).
Paradox: "Within the infant rind of this small flower / Poison hath residence and medicine power."
These lines, spoken by Friar Lawrence, are paradoxical. The poison within the flower also has medicinal qualities, suggesting it can help increase someone's health.
The friar connects these two contrasting ideas to highlight the duality of nature. Although contradictory, everything has the possibility of harboring good (medicine) and evil (poison).