The Comedy of Errors
by William Shakespeare
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The Comedy of Errors: Paradox 2 key examples

New! Understand every line of The Comedy of Errors.
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Definition of Paradox

A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition

Key Examples in The Comedy of Errors

Act 1, Scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Lose Myself:

Paradoxically, Antipholus of Syracuse claims that he must “lose” himself in his attempt to “find a mother and a brother” in Ephesus:

So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself

Explanation and Analysis—Hot Because Cold:

In a characteristically circular bit of word play, Dromio of Ephesus paradoxically links Adriana’s “hot” mood to the food she has prepared for her husband, which has grown “cold.” Without stating so directly, Dromio’s paradox registers the marital difficulties that Antipholus and Adriana have faced:

She is so hot because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold because you come not home;

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