Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. EX less is more Paradox is a statement or a group of statements that leads to a contradiction or deifies logic or reason

EX a locker that when open leads to a large room

Examples of paradox in A Tale of Two Cities.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." is a paradox because it seems like it contradicts its-self. Was it the best of times, or was it the worst of times. In fact that whole paragraph is a paradox because it contradicts its-self in every sentence. Was it the age of wisdom, or was it the age of foolishness. Was it the epoch of belief, or was it the epoch of incredulity. Was it the season of light, or was it the season of darkness. Was it the spring of hope, or was it the winter of dispair. Did they have everything before them, or nothing before them. Were they going direct to heaven, or were they going direct the other way.

The character Sydney Carton is a paradox in himself, because he goes from a worthless man to a man who saves Darnay's life. Jerry Cruncher is also a paradoxial character because he claims to be a honest tradesman, but he digs up graves at night and lies to his son. Jarvis Lorry is also a paradoxial character because he claims to be a businesses man, but he ends up crying at Lucie's wedding. Mrs. Pross is a paradoxial character because you never expect her to kill anyone, but then she ends up assisting Mrs. Defarge's death. Also some themes in this novel are paradoxial, like shadows and darkness, and the rulling class vs the lower class. If you think about it even France and England are paradoxial because, one is insane with revolution and one is content with a monarchy.