80 They meet at Turner’s plantation and then share their ideas. Northup has
explained his true identity and asked for help. However, Celeste refuses to help him.
4: 15 Celeste
: Itll only be worse ifn Celeste dont go back of her own will.
Northup : You wont be caught. The dogs wont track you. You
are...you are unique. Celeste... Celeste
: You got alternatives, Solomon. Northup :
To return is to die
Datum QL17OSCF In this conversation, Northup tries to convince Celeste to send his letter.
However, Celeste refuses Northup’s request. Celeste chooses to make her freedom remaining as a dream and then, back to her master. Here, convincing Celeste,
Northup flouts maxim of quality by overstatement. The form of overstatement is hyperbole which creates a stronger point in the conversation than the actual state.
Here, the maxim that requires him to say what he has adequate evidence is failed to be fulfilled. Whether Celeste will die or not if she returns, Northup lacks
adequate evidence. What is the intended meaning is that to return after a long time is dangerous for Celeste. She may get beaten or even worse. Using an
exaggeration in the form of hyperbole in this exchange aims to convince Celeste so he would help Northup.
b. Understatement
The next strategy is understatement which includes litotes and giving less information to flout the maxims of Cooperative Principle. This strategy is in the
second highest rank of the strategies, reaches 20 occurrences 27.03 in the
81 movie. Here, the use of understatement is commonly applied for quantity and
manner maxim flouting. The first example is taken from a conversation in which understatement is
applied by Northup as the strategy of manner maxim flouting as follows. The conversation is between Northup and Anne, his wife. Northup is in a
disappointment. 4: 16
Northup : comically forlorn Three weeks. Two days.
Anne : It is the custom. I wonder what youll do without me?
Northup : I wont stay idle.
Anne : Darling,
its good
money.
Datum MN02USCF As the beginning of a conversation, Northup’s statement is rather difficult to
understand. It is obscure since Northup just mentions ‘three weeks two days’ without any definite subject or predicate. The topic of his talking becomes unclear
since he suddenly talks that way. Fortunately, Anne knows well about her husband’s intended meaning. Therefore, the conversation can go smoothly.
In this exchange, Northup flouts maxim of manner. The used strategy is understatement. Here, the understatement is when Northup becomes less
informative than is required. Then, this leads his expression to an obscurity. As a result, Northup breaks the maxim which requires him to be perspicuous. There is
an ambiguity and obscurity of expression which indicates manner maxim flouting in this exchange.
Northup does not intend to lead a misunderstanding, but he tries to express his disappointment through maxim flouting. Saying an incomplete sentence is to
prove that he is indeed disappointed with his wife’s decision of taking a trip to
82 Sandy hill and leaving him at home. Here, his incomplete sentence is what makes
his statement obscure. As explained in the previous subchapter of manner maxim flouting, he may observe the maxim of manner by adding a sentence that leads the
speaker to a definite subject. “It is too long for a trip. Three weeks and two days,” may be an example of being clear in this conversation.
Then, the second example is taken from a conversation in which understatement is used for quantity maxim flouting. The conversation is still
between Northup and Anne. The topic of conversation remains the same, Anne’s trip to Sandy hill.
4: 17 Northup
: comically forlorn Three weeks. Two days. Anne
: It is the custom. I wonder what youll do without me? Northup :
I wont stay idle.
Anne : Darling,
its good
money. Datum QN04USCF
In this conversation, Northup has flouted maxim of quantity. He does not make a contribution that is as informative as is required. Here, the strategy of his
maxim flouting is understatement. He gives too little information that makes his contribution less than required. In this case, Anne’s question should be answered
by some detailed information. Saying “I won’t stay idle” is similar to giving no answer to the question. Besides, the negative statement combining won’t and idle
indicate the use of litotes in this exchange. It is the basic notion of understatement as the strategy of maxim flouting.
The required information is about Northup’s activity later. He can say that he will do many things, such as fishing, cycling, and others to respond to Anne’s
83 statement. In this exchange, it can be seen that Northup flouts maxim of quantity
by understatement. The third example below is the dialog in which Northup has already become
a slave. It contains the use of understatement to flout maxim of quality. The conversation is between Northup and Mistress Shaw. Northup is a slave, and in
this case, Mistress Shaw is a master. Northup comes to Mistress Shaw to pick Patsey up as ordered by Master Epps. Mistress Shaw offers tea to Northup.
4: 18 Northup
: Excuse me, Mistress Shaw. Mistress Shaw : Nigger Platt.
Northup : My apologies. Patsey, Master wishes you to return.
Patsey : Sabbath day. Is free ta roam.
Northup : Understood. But the Master sent me running to
fetch you, and said no time should be wasted. Mistress Shaw : Drink tea?
Northup :
Thank you, Mistress, but I dont dare.
Datum QL11USCV Here, Northup’s statement contains an understatement or litotes. He makes
himself less important by saying ‘I don’t dare’. Although he is indeed a slave at that time, he breaks the maxim which requires him to say what he believes to be
true. He is not actually afraid, but then he keeps the courtesy. He says something that is different from the reality. In this exchange, the use of maxim flouting by
Northup is for the sake of politeness. Actually, answering by saying ‘Thank you, Mistress’ is enough for him to observe the maxim. But then, he does not observe
the maxim by adding his statement with ‘I don’t dare.’ In this exchange, Northup flouts maxim of quality by understatement. The
fact when he says something weaker than the actual state of affair indicates the
