“To be or not to be, that is the question” – This famous line from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” uses antithesis to contrast the ideas of existence and non-existence, emphasizing the weight of the decision facing the character.

Antithesis has been Shakespeare ‘s favorite literary device. “To be, or not to be” is the opening phrase of a speech given by Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. This soliloquy brings out the opposite ideas together: to live or to die. Hamlet, in the above quotation, is contemplating two very serious ideas.

Antithesis in literature “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...” —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Familiar antithesis examples: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” “No pain, no gain.” “Out of sight, out of mind.”