Understanding paradox in writing
This sentence is obviously false. This self-referential assertion is an illustration of a paradox—an inconsistency that addresses rationale. In writing, paradoxes can inspire humor, represent topics, and incite readers to think basically.
Paradoxes can serve a wide range of capacities in writing, from revealing facts about characters and planting signs for the reader to from expressing topics and adding humor. The following are a couple of instances of paradoxes in writing:
In William Shakespeare’s misfortune Hamlet, the nominal character says, “I should be pitiless to be kind.” How would someone be able to be both remorseless and kind? This is a genuine illustration of how a paradox can add profundity to characters: Hamlet accepts that by killing Claudius, he is at last doing the proper thing by avenging his dad’s homicide.
In George Bernard Shaw’s play Man and Superman, the hero Jack Tanner says, “The brilliant guideline is that there are no brilliant standards.” This paradox overturns the fundamental principle of treating others as you might want to be dealt with and represents Shaw’s own scorn for show.
Oscar Wilde’s utilization of paradoxes in The Importance of Being Earnest add comedic impact. The ingenue character Cecily Cardew says, “To be characteristic is quite a troublesome posture to keep up.” The paradox communicates that posing is unnatural, however keeping up the presence of being regular is additionally a demonstration.
In Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll utilizes paradoxes to define the standards of the silly world and to add humor. In one section, the March Hare inquires as to whether she needs more tea, regardless of the reality she hasn’t had any tea: “‘I’ve had nothing yet,’ Alice answered in an insulted tone, ‘so I can’t take more.’ ‘You mean you can’t take less,’ said the Hatter. ‘It’s extremely simple to take more than nothing.'”