Contradictions and Paradoxes Insights into literature and life

What is a contradiction? When two things are said to coexist, but (in fact), they do not line up. When two things are said to coexist, but (in fact), they do not line up. For example, when we say one thing and do another. For example, when we say one thing and do another.

Examples of Contradictions …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.

Why do people contradict themselves? We are ignorant to the fact that we are being contradictory. We are ignorant to the fact that we are being contradictory. We are hypocrites that don’t “practice what we preach.” We are hypocrites that don’t “practice what we preach.”

Think back to those examples of contradiction…. (Ignorance vs. Hypocrisy) …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.

What do you think the world would be like What do you think the world would be like without people contradicting themselves? without people contradicting themselves?

A world without contradiction… More than likely, one of two things would have to occur… More than likely, one of two things would have to occur… 1.) People would always be right. 1.) People would always be right. 2.) Fundamental truths would waiver. 2.) Fundamental truths would waiver.

One more time.. (Always Right, Fundamental Truth) …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When you turn in a late cover letter which indicates that you are a hard worker who “likes to get things done.” …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When your friend tells you your boyfriend is scum and then dates him once you are broken up. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is. …When you tell someone you love them, but you don’t know what love is.

Why do characters in literature contradict themselves? …Because, otherwise, characters are unrealistically boring. …Because, otherwise, characters are unrealistically boring. …Because contradiction brings about character change. …Because contradiction brings about character change. …Because that is all we know. …Because that is all we know.

What can we learn about characters from their contradictions? …That they are ignorant. …That they are ignorant. …That they are hypocrites. …That they are hypocrites. That judgment call is for us to make as readers…However, authors will often make it clear to emit a certain message. That judgment call is for us to make as readers…However, authors will often make it clear to emit a certain message.

What is a paradox? When two things coexist in an unexplained way, seemingly opposite and imposing of one another. When two things coexist in an unexplained way, seemingly opposite and imposing of one another.

*Contradiction vs. Paradox The chief difference is that a contradiction is used to analyze character and a paradox is used to illustrate a point. The chief difference is that a contradiction is used to analyze character and a paradox is used to illustrate a point.

For example… The high road is humility. The high road is humility. To receive, give. To receive, give. Self control is the greatest freedom. Self control is the greatest freedom. The one who works hardest, works the least. The one who works hardest, works the least.

Can you think of a paradox that illustrates a point? Can you think of a paradox that illustrates a point?

“Batter My Heart”, by John Donne 1 Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you 2 As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; 3 That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend 4 Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. 2 I, like an usurp'd town to'another due, 6 Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end; 7 Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, 8 But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. 9 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain, 10 But am betroth'd unto your enemy; 11 Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again, 12 Take me to you, imprison me, for I, 13 Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free, 14 Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. 1 Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you 2 As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; 3 That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend 4 Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. 2 I, like an usurp'd town to'another due, 6 Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end; 7 Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, 8 But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. 9 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain, 10 But am betroth'd unto your enemy; 11 Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again, 12 Take me to you, imprison me, for I, 13 Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free, 14 Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

“Batter My Heart”, by John Donne 1 Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. 2 I, like an usurp'd town to'another due Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. 3 Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain, But am betroth'd unto your enemy; Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again, 4 Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

1.) What was John Donne trying to say? What message was he trying to get across? 1.) What was John Donne trying to say? What message was he trying to get across? 2.) Use the paradoxes in “Batter My Heart” as well as their explanations to prove your answer to number 1. 2.) Use the paradoxes in “Batter My Heart” as well as their explanations to prove your answer to number 1.

The speaker asks the “three-personed God” to “batter” his heart, for as yet God only knocks politely, breathes, shines, and seeks to mend. The speaker says that to rise and stand, he needs God to overthrow him and bend his force to break, blow, and burn him, and to make him new. Like a town that has been captured by the enemy, which seeks unsuccessfully to admit the army of its allies and friends, the speaker works to admit God into his heart, but Reason, like God’s viceroy, has been captured by the enemy and proves “weak or untrue.” Yet the speaker says that he loves God dearly and wants to be loved in return, but he is like a maiden who is betrothed to God’s enemy. The speaker asks God to “divorce, untie, or break that knot again,” to take him prisoner; for until he is God’s prisoner, he says, he will never be free, and he will never be chaste until God ravishes him.

On Contradiction…. “Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” “Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

On Contradiction… “I believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction.” “I believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction.” - George Bataille

On Contradiction… “The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.” “The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.” - Oscar Wilde

On Contradiction… “I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.” “I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.” – Marcel Duchamp

On Contradiction… “That man is a creature who needs order yet yearns for change is the creative contradiction at the heart of laws which structure his conformity and define his deviancy.” “That man is a creature who needs order yet yearns for change is the creative contradiction at the heart of laws which structure his conformity and define his deviancy.” – Freda Alder