Literature Glossary
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Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.
Antithesis
Definition:
In a word, antithesis means "opposite." In a few more words, antithesis is a handy-dandy rhetorical device that you can use to show contrast. Check out these famous first lines from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
Sure, ol' Chuck D could've just said, "Everything was all messed up and confusing during the French Revolution," but by employing a crafty string of antitheses, he creates huge contrast and gives a much more engaging, intriguing, and palpable idea of what that tumultuous time was like.
Antithesis is also a useful tool for argument. Just look at this line from one of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speeches:
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
It sticks with you, right? That's because the antithesis creates balance and helps emphasize the point. It's memorable. And when you're trying to persuade someone to agree with you, being unforgettable is rarely a bad thing.