Analyzing the Flouted Maxims Done by the Main Character in I Feel Pretty Movie

Abstract

This research deals with Cooperative Principle theory by Grice (1989) and theory of context as the tool for analyzing the flouted maxims done by Renee as the main character in I Feel Pretty movie. The aims of this research are to know the type of flouted maxims done by the main character, to find out the implied meanings of the flouted maxims utterances, and to find out the reasons behind the flouted maxims. The data of this research are the utterances of Renee as the main character in I Feel Pretty movie. This research is qualitative research and uses purposive sampling method for collecting the data. The utterances of Renee that flout maxims and relate with the main character’s physical appearance are analyzed using cooperative principle theory for finding the type of flouted maxims. Then, the data are analyzed using context theory for finding the implicatures. Based on the outcome of the implicatures, the reasons of doing the flouted maxims are investigated using context theory. The result shows that there are 25 utterances that flout four maxims. Those are maxim of quantity, maxim of quality, maxim of relation, and maxim of manner. The dominant flouted maxim is maxim of quantity. The analysis shows that Renee flouts single maxim and multiple maxims in her utterances. There are various implicatures found in Renee’s flouted maxim utterances. The reasons of Renee done the flouting maxims are to convey her doubt, to convince the listener, to convey how she understands the listener, to calm down the listener, to convey her feeling, to convey her opinion, to persuade the listener, to save her face, to ask the listener focusing on her utterance, to divert the topic, to seduce back to the listener, to give an explanation, to prove to the listener, to hide something, to reject the listener’s attention, and to shift the listener’s attention to another listener. The most dominant reason is for conveying her feeling.