A Study On The Image Of Hamlet As A Humanist From The Perspective Of Conversational Implicature Theory

Conversational Implicature,proposed by the American philosopher of language Paul Herbert Grice,is one of the core theories of Pragmatics.It is essentially a theory about how language is used and aimed at exploring the implied meaning of utterances and real intentions of speakers in certain contexts.The focus of Conversational Implicature is not what is said but what is implied.Human communication is generally the expression of intention on the level of unnatural meaning.To understand unnatural meaning is to understand fully the unspoken and implied meaning of utterances or information given in verbal communications.Understanding of implicatures is closely related to conversational principles which require participants in conversations to abide by.In order to achieve certain goals or directions in human communications,both the speaker and listener must cooperate with each other so as to make the communication go smoothly and effectively.This is what is meant by Grice’s Cooperative Principle.Communicativc parties are expected to follow the Cooperative Principle and its related four maxims,namely,the maxirn of quantity,the maxim of quality,the maxim of relation and the maxim of manner.When the speaker violates the principle and associate maxims intentionally,conversational implicature is generated to convey the hidden meaning and intention.When the listener obtains the real meaning and intention of the speaker according to the specific context,effective communication is achieved.Conversational Implicature Theory can serve well as a theoretical basis for interpretation of literary classics.Under this theory the image of the hero in Hamlet as a humanist is brought into spotlight and Shakespeare’s dramatic art is fully displayed.Shakespeare’s masterpiece Hamlet is a work of humanism.The art of language use and design of structure of the play is best illustrated with conversational implicature,demonstrating the playwright’s genius for language and the humanist ideals of the protagonist Hamlet as well as the then social reality.This thesis selects sufficient materials from the text of the play to analyze and display the humanist image of Hamlet contained in implicatures produced through violating Grice’s Cooperative Principle and Maxims in the speeches and indirect speech acts such as dialogues,soliloquies,alluding,use of rhetorical devices,design of the play-in-play and the framework of the work.Hamlet’s strong sense of justice,equality and responsibility,his admiration and praise of heaven,the earth and man,his pretend madness and perseverance in finding out truth,and his philosophical thinking about life and death all show a humanist’s wits,intellect and noblemindedness.Meanwhile the defect,or flaw in his character,i.e.his hesitation and delay in action is exposed.Hamlet’s change from a happy prince to a melancholy one,from being passionate and resolute to wearied and hesitant reveals his inner pains and the conflict and battle between humanism and feudalism in the period of Renaissance,demonstrating the weakness and vulnerability of the newly rising bourgeoisie against the powerful feudal ruling force.This study involves also a study of human society and man’s nature:the chaos and disorder of Denmark,the wild desire of man and cruelty in human nature,as is described in the play.Implicatures in the play are embodied not only in violations of Gricean Maxims but also in forms and purposes of the violations.Deviation from conventional expression,wordiness and repetition,obscurity and ambiguity are all strategies for declaring Hamlet’s unwillingness to cooperate with the evil force and his intention of misleading,reflecting the reason,thoughts and emotions of the prince as a humanist.This study finds Grice’s Cooperative Principle and Conversational Implicature a new and effective approach to literary classics.Under this theory,the humanist image of the hero in Hamlet is presented more vividly.This is also an interdisciplinary practice in linguistic and literary studies,and will inspire hopefully further researches in related fields.The purpose of this study is to deepen the understanding of the text of the play,the sixteenth-century Renaissance,the then western society and nature of man,which is of significance in literary,cultural and social studies.