... the King, thus there is at many points a case of paradox. Even though choosing Hamlet to refer to is a slight paradox in itself there is much scope for formalist criticism (of which paradox is a part) in Hamlet, after all the theme of the plot as Shakespeare wrote is "cowards die many times ... be distinguished: (a) particular or "local"; (b) general or "structural". Examples of the first are concise statements that verge on the epigrammatic- such as Hamlet's line: "I must be cruel to be kind". The second kind is more complex. For example the ultimate of these types of paradox lies at .....

• Word Count: 1750
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate