Analysis of The Rise of Conflicts Due To The Non-Observances of Gricean Maxims in 'Desperate Housewives' TV Series.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……… i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………..iii
ABSTRACT ………iv
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Background of the Study ..……….….……… 1
Statement of the Problem ..……….……….4
Purpose of the Study ……….……….4
Methods of Research ..……….5
Organization of the Thesis ..………5
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…...…...6
CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF THE RISE OF CONFLICTS DUE TO THE NON-OBSERVANCES OF GRICEAN MAXIMS IN DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES TV SERIES...14
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION ………45
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………..50
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iv
ABSTRACT
Dalam penulisan tugas akhir ini, saya menganalisis mengenai bidal, yang merupakan semacam panduan dalam bertutur. Saya mengambil data dari sebuah serial televisi yang berjudul Desperate Housewives. Desperate Housewives adalah sebuah seri drama yang mencampurkan komedi dan misteri. Dalam acara televisi tersebut, saya mendapati bahwa para tokohnya acapkali melakukan pelanggaran terhadap suatu bidal tertentu baik disengaja maupun tidak disengaja dan masing-masing tokoh memberikan suatu implikatur yang berbeda.
Pelanggaran tersebut mengakibatkan terjadinya konflik antartokoh. Tokoh tersebut adalah Bree, seorang ibu yang perfeksionis dan selalu berusaha menjaga martabatnya. Tokoh yang kedua adalah Susan, seorang janda yang sering panik dan banyak melakukan kesalahan. Ia berusaha menutupi berbagai kesalahan yang diperbuatnya. Yang ketiga adalah Lynette. Dia adalah ibu dari anak-anak yang sangan nakal. Ia memiliki dilema antara menjadi seorang wanita karir yang selama ini telah ia dapatkan, atau menjadi ibu rumah tangga biasa. Yang terakhir adalah Gabrielle. Dia seorang model yang mempunyai suami kaya raya namun merasa tak puas dengan kekayaan tersebut sehingga berselingkuh dengan tukang kebunnya.
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v
Dengan adanya latar belakang tersebut, keempat tokoh ini sering melakukan pelanggaran terhadap bidal. Pelanggaran inilah yang sering menyulut terjadinya konflik antara mereka dan orang-orang yang berkomunikasi dengan mereka.
Salah satu temuan yang saya peroleh dari analisis mengenai bidal dalam film Desperate Housewives ini ialah bahwa bidal relevansi acapkali dilanggar dikarenakan upaya menghindari pembicaraan atas topik yang terlalu sensitif sehingga pada akhirnya menyebabkan timbulya konflik.
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APPENDICES
Data 1
Disc One, Title One, Chapter Three (0:19:47)
Bree : First of all, your father can’t eat onions. He’s deathly allergic. And I won’t dignify your navy bean suggestion. So... How’s the osso buco?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation and
quantity
Andrew : Who asked you to spend three hours on dinner?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Andrew : Tim Harper’s mom gets home from work, pops open a can of pork and beans and boom, they’re eating. Everyone’s happy. flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity
Bree : Are you doing drugs?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation Bree : Change in behavior
is one of the warning signs, and you have been as fresh as paint for the last six months. That certainly would explain why you’re always locked in the bathroom. flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity
Andrew : Shut up! Mom, I’m not the one with the problem here, all right? You’re the one always acting like she’s running for a mayor of step ford.
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
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Data 2
Disc One, Title One, Chapter Four (00:26:26)
Rex : I want a divorce. I just can't live in this, this
detergent commercial anymore. flouts the maxim maxim of manner and relation
Bree : Um, I think I’ll go get your salad for you.
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation Bree : Great. Everything is
just great.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality Bree : If you think I’m
going to discuss the
dissolution of my marriage in a place where the
restrooms are labeled “chicks” and “dudes”, you’re out of you mind.
flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity Data 3
Disc One, Title One, Chapter Four (00:31:28)
Bree : Yes, well, I feel badly about that. I told you, Mrs. Huber came, and I got distracted. It was a mistake.
flouts the maxim
maxim of quantity
Bree : What’s that suppose to mean?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Rex : It means I’m sick of you being so damn perfect all the time I-I’m sick of the bizarre way your hair doesn’t move. I’m sick of you making our bed in the morning before I’ve even used the bathroom. You’re this plastic suburban housewife with the pearls and spatula who says things like “we owe the Henderson a dinner.” Where the woman I fell in love with...who used to burn the toast and drink
flouts the maxim
maxim of quantity
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milk out of the carton. And laugh? I need her. Not this cold, perfect thing you’ve become.
Bree : These need water. flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Data 4
Disc One, Title Two, Chapter One (00:06:34)
Bree : We sat on skyline drive and drank a bottle of apple wine, and when we finished it, you turned to me and you said, if you marry me, Bree Manson, I promise to love you for the rest of my life. And even though I was engaged to Ty Grant, and even though my father did not like you, I said yes.
flouts the maxim
maxim of quantity
Bree : You’re going to cancel the meeting with that divorce lawyer, and we’re going to find ourselves a marriage counselor. flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity Data 5
Disc Two, Title One, Chapter Three (00:15:26)
Andrew : Brian’s. flouts the maxim
maxim of quality Andrew : Where’d
you say dad was again? In Philadelphia?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Bree : Well, It’s just temporary, and... flouts the maxim maxim of quality Data 6
Disc Two, Title One, Chapter Four (00:25:39)
Andrew : You just humiliated me in front of my friends! flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity Bree : I’m staying for the
show. I’m dying to see what all the fuss is about. I’m curious, Andrew, as you fantasize about this woman, do you ever stop
flouts the maxim
maxim of quantity
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and think how she come to be on this run away? That’s someone’s little girl and that someone probably had a lot of dreams for her, dreams that did not include a thong and a pole.
Andrew : It’s not going to work, okay? I’m not budging
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Bree : God only knows what she’s had to deal with in her life...abject poverty, drugs, domestic violence, maybe even molestation.
flouts the maxim maxim of relation and quantity Data 7
Disc Three, Title One Chapter Two (00:09:30)
Rex : You’re going to ruin her whole future over a little rough housing?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
Rex : Mrs. Starks, what Andrew did was clearly wrong, but in his defense, his mother and I are going through severe marital problems. flouts the maxim maxim of relation Data 8
Disc One, Title One, Chapter Three (0:21:57)
Lynette : Well, to be honest...It’s the best job I’ve ever had!
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Data 9
Disc Two, Title One, Chapter Two (00:12:15)
Susan : Mrs. Huber, with all due respect, you’re crazy.
violates the maxim
maxim of relation
Mrs. Huber : I think you recognize it. I found it in the ruins of Edie’s home.
flouts the maxim
maxim of manner
Susan : Well, that’s not.... flouts the maxim
maxim of manner and
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Susan : Mrs. Huber, with all due respect, you’re crazy violates the maxim maxim of relation Data 10
Disc Two, Title One, Chapter Six (0:39:37)
Susan : Good evening, Mrs. Huber.
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation Susan : I don’t know what
you’re talking about, Mrs. Huber.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Susan : Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Susan : You are a piece of work. You know that?
violates the maxim
maxim of relation Mrs. Huber : Oh, Susan,
let’s not be unpleasant. We can go back to the same friendly relationship we’ve always had.
violates the maxim
maxim of relation
Susan : I will keep my lawn looking nice, and I will make sure that my music isn’t played too loud, and if I get some of your mail heck, I’ll run it right over, ‘cause that’s what good neighbors do. But from now on, when I run into you on the street and I say “good morning, Mrs. Huber” or “how are you, Mrs. Huber?” Just know that inside, I am quietly but decidedly hating your guts.
violates the maxim
maxim of quantity
Susan : Good evening, Mrs. Huber.
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
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Data 11
Disc Three, Title One, Chapter Two (00:12:21)
Mike : I know how this looks, but there’s nothing between us. Kendra’s just an old friend.
violates the maxim
maxim of manner and
quality
Mike : Yeah, you know… flouts the maxim
maxim of quantity Mike : It’s hard to explain. flouts the
maxim
maxim of quantity Mike : Look. I promise
I’ll make this up to you. And.. you look amazing.
flouts the maxim maxim of quantity and relation Data 12
Disc Two, Title One, Chapter Three (00:17:09)
Gabrielle : Oh, for God’s sakes, Carlos, It’s Yao Lin’s.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Gabrielle : No, she dusts with them. See? Socks instead of rags.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Data 13
Disc Two, Title Two, Chapter Two (00:15:47)
Gabrielle : No, no, Juanita. I’m not going to the
supermarket. I’m going to the lingerie store.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Gabrielle : I’m going to be a while. I might get a facial.
violates the maxim
maxim of quality
Juanita : I’m just saying that children give your life a purpose. You get so busy taking care of them that you don’t have any time to wonder if you’re happy.
violates the maxim
maxim of quantity
Gabrielle : You know, Juanita, this is not one of this is so like you. I invite you on a nice shopping trip, and you find ways to upset me?
flouts the maxim
maxim of relation
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Gabrielle : No, you know, and for the record, I’m not one of these women who have a hole in her heart that can only be filled by a baby. I like my life a lot. It’s very fulfilling.
violates the maxim
maxim of quantity and
quality
Data 14
Disc Three, Title One, Chapter Three (00:21:44)
Gabrielle : What? Uh, yes. No, um…is that how she heard it?
flouts the maxim
maxim of manner
Gabrielle : I just wanted to help out.
violates the maxim
maxim of relation and
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
In life, people always have conversation with others. Conversation is one of the ways to convey what people want or think of. Conversation is “an informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc by spoken colloquy or an instance of this association or social intercourse, intimate acquaintance, the ability to talk socially with others”. <Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary>
Everything in life has their own rules. When someone breaks a certain rule, it may result in discomfort. This is applicable for a conversation. Even though human beings have the freedom of speech, a conversation has its own rules to be followed. However, sometimes people are not aware of the rules of conversation, which in some cases, is likely to become the source of conflicts. This may happen because when someone asks a question, the answer might be out of his or her expectation. The answer may contain an ambiguity, an overlap of information, an irrelevant response, or information that lacks evidence.
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Consequently, one must follow the rules of conversation to prevent one from having a wrong interpretation.
Such a language phenomenon leads me to discuss Conversational Implicature. Conversational Implicature is included in Pragmatics. Pragmatics itself is the study of speaker's meaning dealing with utterances. In this area, there is a principle which is needed to have a delicate conversation, which is called Cooperative Principle. In Cooperative Principle, there are some rules of speaking which are called Gricean Maxims. If the speaker and hearer are aware of the rules of conversation, they will take their conversation into serious consideration by applying the Cooperative Principle.
This particular topic is interesting to be analyzed because people often fail to observe Gricean Maxims in their conversation. This affects both the speaker and the hearer in getting a delicate conversation. Gricean maxims are not only important for analyzing conversations in our daily lives but also applicable for analyzing conversations in television series.
In this thesis, I would like to focus on the non-observance of the Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives television series, especially through the characters’ utterances. Specifically, I would like to discuss the types of the Gricean maxims failed to be observed, the effects and the purpose of failing to observe the Gricean maxims in the television series. Non-observance occurs when one does not obey a certain Gricean maxim. The non-observance of Gricean maxims does not only lead to comedy, but also give a negative effect. That is, the emergence of conflicts or tense atmosphere.
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After watching the television series, I am interested to know further the importance of conversations in the daily life of the housewives, the way they are speaking with others. In this particular television series, Gricean maxims play an important role to make the television series interesting. In Desperate Housewives, there are utterances in the characters' conversations that are not observed (the Gricean maxims) for some reasons, which result in the rise of conflict.
From the five housewives in the television series, I would only like to analyze four of them, who become the central characters. I would like to analyze the conversation done by the four of them.
One of the characters whose utterances I will analyze is Bree. She is pictured as a conservative lady. As such, she often has to speak implicitly.
Therefore, she often fails to observe certain Gricean maxims because she has to maintain her image.
The next housewife, Susan, is depicted as a clumsy and panicky woman. She does things without much thinking. Because of those characteristics, she always does mistakes.
In order to cover up her mistakes, she often fails to observe certain Gricean maxims. It causes conflicts between her and the people who communicate with her.
The third character is Lynette, a woman who is torn apart between her desire to be a career woman and her responsibility to look after her children.
Accordingly, she usually fails to observe the maxims to show that her life is amazing without having a great career, even though deep inside, she feels the contradiction.
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The last character is Gabrielle. She is a spoiled, shopaholic, materialistic housewife who has a rich husband and a big house with luxurious things. Yet, she does not feel satisfied with her condition because her husband rarely accompanies her. Thus, she finds her satisfaction by having an affair with her gardener.
In doing so, she often does the non-observance of Gricean maxims to cover up her cheating.
The significance of my topic is that I want to prove that when Maxims are not observed, they might end u with the occurrence of conflicts, which I want to prove by using Desperate Housewives.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In my thesis, there are five problems to be analyzed:
1. Which type of the non-observance of the Gricean maxims do the interlocutors do in Desperate Housewives?
2. Which Gricean maxims do the interlocutors fail to observe in Desperate Housewives?
3. Why do the interlocutors fail to observe the Gricean maxims?
4. What is the implied meaning of their non-observance of the Gricean Maxims?
5. How does the failure to observe the Gricean maxims give rise to conflict(s)?
1.3 Purpose of the Study
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1. show the type of the non-observance of the Gricean maxims the interlocutors do in Desperate Housewives.
2. show the Gricean maxims the interlocutors fail to observe in Desperate Housewives.
3. explain why the interlocutors fail to observe the Gricean maxims.
4. analyze the implied meaning of their non-observance of the Gricean Maxims.
5. explain how the failure to observe the Gricean maxims gives rise to conflict(s).
1.4 Method of Research
I take four steps in gathering my data. First, I watch the Desperate Housewives from DVD and write down the speech situations of the four housewives. Then, I select the conversations that contain non-observance of the Gricean maxims. Finally, I analyze them based on the type of the non-observance of the maxims and the type of maxims failed to be observed.
1.5 Organization of Thesis
This thesis consists of four chapters, preceeded by the Preface and Abstract. Chapter I is the Introduction, which contains Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter II is the Theoretical Framework, in which I explain the theory applied to analyze the conversations of the television series.
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Chapter III is the data analysis. Chapter IV is the Conclusion. Finally, at the end of my thesis, I present the Bibliography and Appendix.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
Following the rule of conversation in Desperate Housewives is important to make the characters communicate well. Otherwise, it gives rise to the conflict among them. The conflict has already been in this television series itself.
There are some potential things to create conflicts; not only from the plot, but also from the housewives’ characteristics. For example: Bree, who is a perfectionist, makes her family fed up with her. The next character is Susan, who does the arson, and this makes her relationship with her neighbors ruined. Gabrielle, who feels lonely because of her husband’s business, has an affair with her gardener. Lynette, who has a dilemma between her career and family, drives her crazy. These potential things to create conflicts are amplified by the non-observance of maxims when they interact with one another.
Having analyzed the rise of conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives television series, I conclude that there are two types of the non-observance of maxims which the speakers fail to observe, and those are flouting and violating the maxims. In my analysis, infringing, opting out
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of and suspending a maxim do not end up with conflicts in this television series. This is because in Desperate Housewives television series, there is no taboo word to say; none of them is drunk or incapable of speaking English well, which may make the conflict occur; and none of them opts out of the maxim and gives rise to the conflict, either. In addition, the characteristics of the speakers as well as their problems drive them to flout and violate the maxims.
Bree is described as a perfectionist. She does not want people to criticize her. Therefore, Bree flouts and violates the maxims because she wants to hide her weaknesses and her problem in front of other people, especially her family. In order to avoid being criticized, she responds their utterances by speaking unclearly. It gives rise to conflicts with whom she makes conversation. From this, I conclude that someone who has weaknesses or problems but tries to hide them from other people tends to flout and violate certain maxims, especially the maxim of relation. The maxim is flouted or violated in order to change the topic about other people’s weaknesses instead of hers.
Andrew and Rex flout certain maxims because of some reasons. They have been fed up with Bree’s perfectionism and want to give hints at Bree that she becomes too perfectionist. Andrew wants to free himself from his mother’s control. Furthermore, the different mindset between Rex and Bree makes the conversation not go smooth. That is why Rex flouts certain maxims. From this, I conclude that someone who has been fed up with other people or has different ways of thinking about something tends to flout the maxims when speaking with the people, especially the maxims of relation and quantity. Somebody changes the
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topic of conversation or adds some statements which are not required in order to make the other person aware of how he/she should be.
Susan, a panicky and careless person, flouts some maxims because she has to cover up her mistake, which is the fact that she has burnt Edie’s house accidentally. Susan violates some maxims so that Mrs. Huber does not accuse her of becoming the one responsible of Edie’s house being burnt. She also wants to make Mrs. Huber upset. Therefore, I conclude that certain maxims, especially the maxims of quality and relation, can be flouted by a person who is panic in answering a question. It is violated by a person who wants to manipulate something and to upset someone. In this case, Susan manipulates Mrs. Huber into thinking that she is wrong. By flouting and violating the maxims of quality and relation, someone can hide her/his secret from others.
Mrs. Huber is a cunning woman. She violates the maxims especially the maxim of relation and manner because she needs to make Susan admit that she is the one who does the arson. She violates the maxims as a trick to make Susan believe her and become her friend again. She does that because she wants to blackmail Susan again later. The conclusion is that Mrs. Huber has some intention in making conversation with Susan. From that conclusion, I assume that a person who has a bad intention will try to drive the conversation into something that he/she wants. Someone violates the maxims of relation and manner in order to make other afraid and admit something.
Mike is a mysterious man who has a secret within himself. He flouts some maxims because he has to hide his secret about who Kendra is from Susan without making her jealous. He violates certain maxims because he wants to mislead
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Susan so that she will not be curious about whom Kendra actually is. The maxims which are specifically flouted and violated are the maxim of quality and relation. I conclude that a person who does not want to tell her/his secret tends to change the topic of conversation and lie to others. One flouts and violates the maxims of quality and relation because by changing the topic of the conversation, one can make other forget about what the person asks before and by lying, one can hide the secret.
Gabrielle is a lonely housewife whose husband cannot satisfy her. As a result, she has an affair with her gardener. Gabrielle violates some maxims because she wants to cover up her affair from her husband. When her mother-in-law, Juanita, starts being suspicious of her, she investigates Gabrielle by following her wherever she goes. Gabrielle flouts some maxims because she wants Juanita to stop following and investigating her. In this case, I can conclude that a person, who does something wrong and tries to uncover it, usually flouts and violates certain maxims, especially the maxim of quality because he/she has to lie in order to cover up his/her sin.
Juanita violates certain maxims because she wants to trap Gabrielle so that she will get information about Gabrielle’s affair. In this case, I think that a person, who has the intention to get information he/she needs, is potential to violate the maxims, particularly the maxim of quantity. As a result, this may lead to a conflict as this makes the other person furious.
Lynette, who has the desire to be a career woman, violates a maxim because of her dilemma between her desire and the reality that she is a housewife with four naughty children. This makes what she says inconsistent with what she
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feels. Therefore, I conclude that one hiding his/her true desire will violate the maxim of quality because he/she will say something which does not come from the heart.
In my analysis, the maxim which is flouted and violated the most is the maxim of relation. The characters often change the topic of conversation. On the other hand, the maxim that is flouted or violated the least by the characters is the maxim of manner. It means that most people would prefer to change the conversation when they feel cornered even though some of them choose to lie or speak something which is not required.
In analyzing the rise of conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives television series, I find the conclusion that non-observances of Gricean maxims have an important role to make the television series interesting.
It is truly expected that my analysis may be developed further, particularly in terms of numerous effects that arise out of the non-observances of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives because Desperate Housewives is a drama as well as comedy television series at the same time.
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50 Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thomas, Jenny. 1995. Meaning in Interaction: an introduction to Pragmatics. London & New York: Longman Goup Limited.
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Dilithium Press, 1989.
Yule, George. 1996. Oxford Introductions to Language Study. New York: Oxford University Press.
Internet website:
Merriam-webster.com: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. 25 November 2008
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
Following the rule of conversation in Desperate Housewives is important to make the characters communicate well. Otherwise, it gives rise to the conflict among them. The conflict has already been in this television series itself.
There are some potential things to create conflicts; not only from the plot, but also from the housewives’ characteristics. For example: Bree, who is a perfectionist, makes her family fed up with her. The next character is Susan, who does the arson, and this makes her relationship with her neighbors ruined. Gabrielle, who feels lonely because of her husband’s business, has an affair with her gardener. Lynette, who has a dilemma between her career and family, drives her crazy. These potential things to create conflicts are amplified by the non-observance of maxims when they interact with one another.
Having analyzed the rise of conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives television series, I conclude that there are two types of the non-observance of maxims which the speakers fail to observe, and those are flouting and violating the maxims. In my analysis, infringing, opting out
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of and suspending a maxim do not end up with conflicts in this television series. This is because in Desperate Housewives television series, there is no taboo word to say; none of them is drunk or incapable of speaking English well, which may make the conflict occur; and none of them opts out of the maxim and gives rise to the conflict, either. In addition, the characteristics of the speakers as well as their problems drive them to flout and violate the maxims.
Bree is described as a perfectionist. She does not want people to criticize her. Therefore, Bree flouts and violates the maxims because she wants to hide her weaknesses and her problem in front of other people, especially her family. In order to avoid being criticized, she responds their utterances by speaking unclearly. It gives rise to conflicts with whom she makes conversation. From this, I conclude that someone who has weaknesses or problems but tries to hide them from other people tends to flout and violate certain maxims, especially the maxim of relation. The maxim is flouted or violated in order to change the topic about other people’s weaknesses instead of hers.
Andrew and Rex flout certain maxims because of some reasons. They have been fed up with Bree’s perfectionism and want to give hints at Bree that she becomes too perfectionist. Andrew wants to free himself from his mother’s control. Furthermore, the different mindset between Rex and Bree makes the conversation not go smooth. That is why Rex flouts certain maxims. From this, I conclude that someone who has been fed up with other people or has different ways of thinking about something tends to flout the maxims when speaking with the people, especially the maxims of relation and quantity. Somebody changes the
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topic of conversation or adds some statements which are not required in order to make the other person aware of how he/she should be.
Susan, a panicky and careless person, flouts some maxims because she has to cover up her mistake, which is the fact that she has burnt Edie’s house accidentally. Susan violates some maxims so that Mrs. Huber does not accuse her of becoming the one responsible of Edie’s house being burnt. She also wants to make Mrs. Huber upset. Therefore, I conclude that certain maxims, especially the maxims of quality and relation, can be flouted by a person who is panic in answering a question. It is violated by a person who wants to manipulate something and to upset someone. In this case, Susan manipulates Mrs. Huber into thinking that she is wrong. By flouting and violating the maxims of quality and relation, someone can hide her/his secret from others.
Mrs. Huber is a cunning woman. She violates the maxims especially the maxim of relation and manner because she needs to make Susan admit that she is the one who does the arson. She violates the maxims as a trick to make Susan believe her and become her friend again. She does that because she wants to blackmail Susan again later. The conclusion is that Mrs. Huber has some intention in making conversation with Susan. From that conclusion, I assume that a person who has a bad intention will try to drive the conversation into something that he/she wants. Someone violates the maxims of relation and manner in order to make other afraid and admit something.
Mike is a mysterious man who has a secret within himself. He flouts some maxims because he has to hide his secret about who Kendra is from Susan without
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Susan so that she will not be curious about whom Kendra actually is. The maxims which are specifically flouted and violated are the maxim of quality and relation. I conclude that a person who does not want to tell her/his secret tends to change the topic of conversation and lie to others. One flouts and violates the maxims of quality and relation because by changing the topic of the conversation, one can make other forget about what the person asks before and by lying, one can hide the secret.
Gabrielle is a lonely housewife whose husband cannot satisfy her. As a result, she has an affair with her gardener. Gabrielle violates some maxims because she wants to cover up her affair from her husband. When her mother-in-law, Juanita, starts being suspicious of her, she investigates Gabrielle by following her wherever she goes. Gabrielle flouts some maxims because she wants Juanita to stop following and investigating her. In this case, I can conclude that a person, who does something wrong and tries to uncover it, usually flouts and violates certain maxims, especially the maxim of quality because he/she has to lie in order to cover up his/her sin.
Juanita violates certain maxims because she wants to trap Gabrielle so that she will get information about Gabrielle’s affair. In this case, I think that a person, who has the intention to get information he/she needs, is potential to violate the maxims, particularly the maxim of quantity. As a result, this may lead to a conflict as this makes the other person furious.
Lynette, who has the desire to be a career woman, violates a maxim because of her dilemma between her desire and the reality that she is a housewife with four naughty children. This makes what she says inconsistent with what she
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feels. Therefore, I conclude that one hiding his/her true desire will violate the maxim of quality because he/she will say something which does not come from the heart.
In my analysis, the maxim which is flouted and violated the most is the maxim of relation. The characters often change the topic of conversation. On the other hand, the maxim that is flouted or violated the least by the characters is the maxim of manner. It means that most people would prefer to change the conversation when they feel cornered even though some of them choose to lie or speak something which is not required.
In analyzing the rise of conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives television series, I find the conclusion that non-observances of Gricean maxims have an important role to make the television series interesting.
It is truly expected that my analysis may be developed further, particularly in terms of numerous effects that arise out of the non-observances of Gricean maxims in Desperate Housewives because Desperate Housewives is a drama as well as comedy television series at the same time.
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Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thomas, Jenny. 1995. Meaning in Interaction: an introduction to Pragmatics.
London & New York: Longman Goup Limited.
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Dilithium Press, 1989.
Yule, George. 1996. Oxford Introductions to Language Study. New York: Oxford University Press.
Internet website:
Merriam-webster.com: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. 25 November 2008