Competitive Reason The Reasons for Maxim Flouting in 12 Years a Slave Movie
100 the third rank, as collaborative reason. Although he tries hard to get his freedom,
he remains live as a good person. Even he is a slave; he gets along with the society he lives in. Therefore, for some occasion, maxim flouting is lead by this
reason. The uses of this reason are presented in the following exchange. The first conversation containing convivial reason to flout maxim of
Cooperative Principle is between Northup, Hamilton, and Brown. It is when Northup is still a freeman and received the offer of Hamilton and Brown to join
their performance. At the time, Northup has just finished his performance with Hamilton and Brown. The payment they earn is not as good as the first
performance so Hamilton and Brown get disappointed. 4: 34
Hamilton : Not an additional tip from a one of them. They expect to be entertained for nothing.
Brown : And not satisfied a bit despite giving them more than
what they paid for. Northup :
Its the national mood. Theres too much grief to make room for frivolity.
Datum QL04MTCV In this conversation, Northup breaks maxim of quality. His statement lacks
adequate evidence. Related to the national mood or not, Northup is not sure about it. What leads him to do the maxim flouting is that he tries to calm Hamilton and
Brown after they fail getting much money from their show. Northup avoids being sad and tries to think wisely, so Hamilton and Brown are not burdened with the
fact and can feel better. Here, since Northup is the new additional member, getting little money from
the show may be actually more disappointing for Northup. However, he does not want Hamilton and Brown to suffer such feeling of guilt. Then, as a result, his
101 illocutionary goal coincides with the social goal in this exchange. His
illocutionary goal is to act wisely and the social goal is to calm the others. Northup does a quality maxim flouting to unite these different goals. In
conclusion, the reason for maxim flouting is a convivial reason in which Northup tries to diminish his disappointment and bring happiness to the others.
The next example is taken from the conversation between Northup and Judge Turner. It is when Northup lives as a slave. Judge Turner is the owner of the
plantation where Northup works at. Judge Turner gives Northup an order, but then Northup can keep the money for himself.
4: 35 Judge Turner
: You play the fiddle? Northup :
I do.
Judge Turner :
Willard Yarney, a planter up the bayou, celebrates his anniversary in a three weeks time.
I will hold out your name to him. What you earn is yours to keep.
Northup : Sir.
Datum QN25USCV In this exchange, Northup has flouted maxim of quantity since he is
confused about how to express his feeling. He breaks the maxim which requires him to make his contribution as informative as is required. For a slave, what Judge
Turner does is incredible. Northup is so grateful for that. Because he is so grateful, an expression of thanking seems not enough. Even saying ‘Thank you
very much, sir’ so many times cannot represent his gratitude. As a result, saying ‘Sir’ in a melancholic way is chosen to express that. It becomes more expressive
with a deep look in the eyes. Here, a convivial reason arises a quantity maxim flouting.
102 In that case, thanking is the hidden meaning of Northup’s expression. The
fact that Northup tries to deliver his gratitude is convivial. His illocutionary goal which requires him to thank for the others’ kindness coincides with the social goal
which requires him to have good personality. These different goals are gained together at the time when Northup flouts maxim of quantity.
Lastly, the last example to present maxim flouting led by convivial reason is a conversation between Northup and Margaret’s husband. It is exactly right after
Northup gains his freedom after 12 years being a slave. They meet each other at the first time.
4: 36 Margaret
: He is my husband. Northup :
Husband? Margarets Husband : It is very good to meet you, sir.
Northup :
We have much acquainting to do.
Datum RL09OSCV In this exchange, Northup flouts maxim of relevance because he is happy to
come back home after a long time. His statement in the exchange above is meant that he is also good to meet Margaret’s husband. Saying his statement above
indicates that the reason for the maxim flouting is convivial since his illocutionary goal coincides with the social goal.
His illocutionary goal is to express how his feeling is. Here, his feeling is the feeling of happiness meeting his family. On the other hand, the social goal is
to greet the others properly. Since the goals complement each other, it becomes the reason for maxim flouting in this exchange. Both the illocutionary goal and
the social goal are realized at the same time.