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I'm working on a portfolio project for English. How could I create an illustration/image to show an example of paradox in Romeo and Juliet?

A paradox is an apparent contradiction that is nonetheless true.  A situation can be paradoxical, as can a statement.  Further, an oxymoron is basically a compact paradox, the combination of incongruous or opposing words.  In the first scene, Romeo gives voice to a great many paradoxes and oxymorons in an attempt to capture his warring feelings about love.  He says, in part,



Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,


O anything of nothing first...


A paradox is an apparent contradiction that is nonetheless true.  A situation can be paradoxical, as can a statement.  Further, an oxymoron is basically a compact paradox, the combination of incongruous or opposing words.  In the first scene, Romeo gives voice to a great many paradoxes and oxymorons in an attempt to capture his warring feelings about love.  He says, in part,



Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,


O anything of nothing first created!


O heavy lightness, serious vanity,


Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!


Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,


Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! (1.1.166-171)



For him, love seems to be composed of so many pairs of opposites; it seems good and bad at the same time, and this is likely caused by the fact that he feels an unrequited love for Rosaline.  You could take your pick of many of these contradictions, but the idea that love is a "Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms," or beautiful things combined and muddled together so that they actually become an ugly mess could be interesting.  You could choose many beautiful images and then layer and stack so many together that they cease to be beautiful.  

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