90 Besides, by saying you are unique, Northup breaks the maxim which
requires him to say what he believes to be true. It is obvious that Northup is pushing Celeste to do what he asks. Therefore, saying that statement is quiet odd
to be considered as a reliable contribution in the exchange.
e. Metaphor
Using a metaphor is the last strategy used for flouting the maxims. In the movie, Northup has applied this strategy 5 times 6.76. The examples below
contain some metaphors as the strategy of maxim flouting. The first example is taken from a conversation between Northup and
Hamilton. It is when he is still a freeman. Hamilton meets Northup to offer some works.
4: 25 Hamilton : Consider it an opportunity to see the country—
Northup : Its
intriguing... Hamilton :
If there is any way in which you would give consideration to the offer...
Northup : The payment offered is enticement enough, as is my
desire to visit the metropolis.
Datum QL03MTCV In the exchange above, Northup has flouted maxim of quality. He compares
the payment offer with something that has similar characteristics. The word ‘as’ indicates the comparison uttered by Northup. Here, he compares it to his desire
and tries to say that the payment is interesting. As common metaphor, the metaphorical expression in this exchange can change the literal expression. My
desire to visit the metropolis affects the meaning interpreted from the payment offered. If the second sentence is not included in the interpretation, the payment
offered is just merely interesting for Northup. However, since the metaphor is
91 used, the listener can understand that the payment offered is really interesting for
Northup. Moreover, it can be understood that Northup will consider the offer of Hamilton and Brown.
Since Northup says what lacks adequate evidence, he flouts maxim of quality. His desire to visit the metropolis may be more than the enticement of the
payment offered, but still he considers the two things to have a similar characteristic. In this exchange, the strategy used is metaphor that allows a
speaker to compare two things with similar characteristics. Another example of using a metaphor to flout maxim of quality is taken
from the time when Northup argues with Eliza, that is when Northup has lived as a slave. The situation is that Eliza is crying over her children continuously. She is
separated from her children in the sale. Northup tries to calm her down, but then, Eliza gets annoyed.
4: 26 Eliza
: It’s all I have to keeps my loss present. Northup : You let yourself be overcome by sorrow. You will
drown in it. Eliza
: Have you stopped crying for your children? You make no sounds, but will you ever let them go in your heart?
Northup :
...They are as my flesh...
Datum QL07MTCM The statement of Northup in this conversation is a metaphor. He describes
how important his children for him as his flesh. Of course, his children are not his real flesh. However, both his children and his flesh are important for Northup.
Here, he flouts maxim of quality by saying something that lacks adequate fact. Looking at the reality, his children and his flesh are two different things.
Therefore, in his statement, he uses the word ‘as’ to indicate that what he says is
92 just a comparison. Since his contribution is not one that is true, the metaphor
makes him break the maxim of quality. In this exchange, the metaphorical expression of flesh changes the literal
expression of children. Therefore, metaphor is indeed used as the strategy of maxim flouting, in this case is quality maxim flouting.
Lastly, the last example is taken from a conversation when Northup argues with John Tibeats, a chief carpenter. It is also a quality maxim flouting that is
done by metaphor. The context is that Northup is working as a carpenter building a weaving house. At the moment, Northup is nailing on siding. Tibeats tries to
blame him. He tries to argue Tibeats over the board. He runs his hands over the boards while responding.
4: 27 Tibeats
: Make them boards flush. Northup
: They are, sir. Tibeats
: They is no such thing. Northup :
As smooth to the touch as a yearlings coat.
Datum QL08USCF Northup has flouted maxim of quality by using a metaphor in this exchange.
Here, he draws a comparison between the board and a coat. When Tibeats criticizes his work, Northup states his statement as his defense. To say that the
board has been flush and smooth, he uses metaphor as above. Here, he breaks the maxim which requires him to say that has adequate evidence. Besides, he says
what he believes to be false. He believes that the smoothness of the board and the yearling’s coat is different. However, he still uses that expression in his statement.
In this case, indeed the metaphorical expression of a yearling’s coat affects the meaning of the literal expression of the board. The smoothness of the board
93 and the coat is certainly not similar, but then he uses that metaphor to defend
himself against Tibeats. He knows well that Tibeats hates him after he impresses Master Ford with his idea in the river. Comparing the board he works at and a
yearling’s coat makes him flout maxim of quality by metaphor as the used strategy.
To recap, those are some further examples of the strategies for maxim flouting. In the movie, Northup applies these strategies many times to flout maxim
of Cooperative Principle. Tautology, overstatement, understatement, metaphor, rhetorical question, and irony are the alternatives that may be used. The others
data of the use of these strategies are presented in the appendixes of this research.
3. The Reasons for Maxim Flouting in 12 Years a Slave Movie
To identify the third objective of this research, the theory of Leech is used. It is the theory of Illocutionary function. This theory comprises four types of
reason that may lead Northup to do maxim flouting. Those possible reasons are a competitive, convivial, collaborative, or conflictive reason. The most dominant
reason for maxim flouting by Northup is the conflictive reason, while the least dominant reason is the convivial reason.
a. Conflictive Reason
The most dominant reason for Northup in maxim flouting is conflictive reason. It is a reason in which the illocutionary goal conflicts with the social goal.
Related to the fact that Northup is a free man who lives as a slave, certainly there are many conditions when his personal goal conflicts with the social goal. His
