shows the com mon truth about the universal human‘s fact that humans has limit in
every side. Thus, it needs to be wise to decide whether they have to do or not by looking beyond the circumstances.
Furthermore, the last example of the use of paradox is given in datum 41 in order to give wide understanding in examining paradox. It is used to apply a
sentimental context to increase the nuance in the story. JOHN:
“I know that you‟re scared, but you should also be very proud.”
Datum 41 This expression is uttered by John when he forces to shoot the Governor in
order to finish the puzzle which is given by Eurus. In the context, John contradicts
the condition by using the words scared and proud which intend to calm and
encourage the Governor‘s feelings and to decrease the Governor‘s fears. In addition, he tries to show his sympathy by reminding him that what he has done is
his sacrifice for his wife and she must be proud. Yet, the fact is there is no connection between scared and proud. The Governor must still face his fear and
the expression is only words with contradictory meaning with his condition.
b. Irony
Sharing some similarities with paradox, irony also deals with contradiction. However, the contradiction relates to the expression and the meaning underlying
the expression. It means that irony is somehow expressed to state the opposite meaning of what it is said. In that context, irony is applied when someone
expresses things but he delivers the opposite meaning. Thus, in understanding irony, the audience must be aware of the hidden meaning of the expression to
open the mask or the true meaning behind the expression.
Irony is divided into three categories, i.e. verbal irony, dramatic irony, and irony of situation. Moreover, the use of irony intends to shape the critical thinking
of human to analyze deeply through the circumstances. In the Sherlock Holmes TV-Series the Final Problem Episode, the researcher found thirty-eight
employments of irony from sixty-four in totals the use of figures of speech applied by the characters. It shows that irony is the dominant method of figures of
speech to deliver ideas or arguments in this television series in order to create the plot of the story.
The first category of irony is a verbal irony. A verbal irony is an expression which states the opposite meaning of what it truly means. The use of verbal irony
somehow can be seen in the use of a satire which is intended to give wound of someone‘s feelings through a gentle and polite way. The example in datum 05
presents the use of verbal irony as satire. SHERLOCK:
“Oh, I hope we didn‟t spoil your enjoyment of the movie.”
Datum 05 This expression is uttered by Sherlock to Mycroft when he and John
appeared in front of Mycroft after they tested Mycroft with the trick. In this scene, Sherlock expresses an ironical expression which is intended to wound My
croft‘s feelings in a soft expression
, yet he tries to evade Mycroft‘s feeling from falling too deep in bitterness. By expressing it, Sherlock actually does not care at all if
they spoil Mycroft or not because he only cares about the truth that must be revealed by Mycroft. The statement shows the discrepancy of what truly happened
in the reality. Another example of the use of a satire is presented as follows.
EURUS:
“Oh dear. We seem to have lost connection.”
Datum 33 The example of satire in datum 33 occurs when Eurus lost the phone call
between Sherlock and the girl on the plane in the television series. The motive of the expression is merely to hurt Sherlock, yet it is expressed in a soft way. In the
context, Eurus intends to tease Sherlock and she intentionally cuts the connection.
Yet, she says the opposite expression by saying we seem to have lost connection
to Sherlock. It means that the use of irony gives some effects to enhance the story. The next example of a verbal irony is a sarcasm, which intends to obviously
wound someone‘s feelings. It is presented as follows. EURUS:
“You look funny grown up.”
Datum 15 The expression in datum 15 happens when Mycroft tells about Eurus to
Sherlock and John. In the scene, there is the presence of Eurus and she states you look funny grown up
to Mycroft. It intends to wound Mycroft‘s feeling in a deep intention. She means the opposite meaning of what she wants to say by using the
word funny which means ugly i
n that context. Eurus‘ utterance insults Mycroft because Eurus does not like Mycroft in some ways. For further understanding, the
given example of sarcasm is explained in datum 45. MYCROFT
: ―She is very clever.‖ SHERLOCK
:
“I‟m beginning to think you‟re not.”
Datum 45 The dialogue in datum 45 occurs when Sherlock, Mycroft, and John are on
the puzzle scene given by Eurus. In the context, Sherlock states the expression to wound Mycroft in a direct way. That expression means that Mycroft is stupid
because he does not think the consequences of his actions by letting Eurus makes them such a toy in that puzzle. It merely intends to show his anger towards
Mycroft. The second category of irony is dramatic irony that has a different
implication from verbal irony. A dramatic irony lies on the incongruity between the speaker says and what the author means. It is used to convey author‘s attitudes
in illuminating the characters in a story. The given example is described 55. SHERLOCK
:
“Yes, but why isn‟t she answering her phone?”
JOHN :
“You never answer your phone.”
SHERLOCK :
“Yes, but it‟s me calling.”
Datum 55 The dialogue in datum 55 is the scene of Sherlock when making a phone
call to Molly Hopper in order to finish the puzzle given by Eurus. In the context, a dramatic irony is applied to illuminate
Sherlock‘s character to the audience. It is aimed to perceive that Sherlock is an egoist because he never cares about Molly‘s
feeling towards him. It can be seen from the expression that he never answers Molly‘s call, yet he is mad when Molly does not answer his call. Thus, it is clearly
conveyed that the use of dramatic iron y is more to deliver the author‘s way or idea
in illuminating characters through the nature of a person or the utterances uttered by the characters.
On the other hand, a dramatic irony somehow occurs when the audiences realize something that the characters do not notice. The following example is
given to examine it.
MYCROFT : ―Doctor Watson. Why would he do that to me? That was
insane‖
JOHN
: ―Uh, yes, someone convinced him that you wouldn‟t tell the truth unless you
were actually wetting yourself.”
Datum 7 The dialogue between Mycroft and Doctor John Watson occurs when John
asks Mycroft to come to Sherlock‘s flat in order to reveal the truth about Eurus. In
the scene, John mentions the word someone in his sentence. In that context, Mycroft does not know what actually happens to him and who someone is, yet the
audiences know the condition that Mycroft is tricked by Sherlock and John in
order to dig information and someone actually refers to Doctor John Watson.
Thus, through the sentence in the dialogue, the audiences realize something that is not noticed by the characters. It means the audiences have more knowledge than
the characters through the character‘s utterances or actions. The last category of irony is irony of situation which happens when there is
a discrepancy in some conditions that will seem appropriate. Yet, it is used to give extended or intended meaning. The use of irony of situation is presented in datum
34. MYCROFT:
“How have you done this? How is any of this possible?”
EURUS :
“You put me in here, Mycroft. You brought me my treats.”
Datum 34 The expression in the dialogue in datum 34 occurs when Mycroft, Sherlock,
and John are in the same frame to clear the puzzle given by Eurus. Through the utterances, both used a discrepancy in their utterances in order to offend each
other. Mycroft‘s utterance expresses to show his anger toward Eurus. He actually
does not only ask about Eurus‘s action, but he wants the explanation about her
action because it does not make any sense since they are brother and sister. On the other side, Eurus offends his utterance by saying the opposite meaning of what
she says. In that context, she aims to remain Mycroft that everything happened is caused by him and he is supposed to not to ask her. Hence, both prefer to choose
irony of situation to deliver their arguments rather than stating it directly. The following example is given for further understanding in examining the use of
irony of situation. SHERLOCK:
“What‟s she doing?”
JOHN : ―She‘s making a tea.‖
Datum 54 It is a dialogue between Sherlock and John when Sherlock is waiting for
Molly Hopper to answer his call to clear the puzzle from Eurus. In that context, Sherlock states the opposite meaning of what he actually said. The intended
meaning from his statement is that he does not only ask what Molly Hopper is doing, but he also intends to ask the reason she does not answer his call.
Considering those examples, the researcher assumes that irony is considered as a powerful method to communicate ideas more than what is truly said in order to
build a valuable meaning in the context. Also, it needs careful examination to reveal the actual meaning from the discrepancy statement.
c. Litotes
