Littérature  |  Philosophie  |  Langues

 

Ruby Wang, 2007 | Lausanne, VD

 

How do literary characters use language to dominate, manipulate, or resist authority? This paper examines language as a tool for social resistance in Roald Dahl’s short stories Taste, The Way Up to Heaven and The Butler. Drawing on Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson’s Politeness Theory, it analyses how Dahl’s characters use Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs)— i.e., speech acts that challenge another’s social standing—to assert power or resist authority. While dominant figures employ direct FTAs to reinforce their superiority, less powerful characters strategically wield them to retaliate and overturn hierarchical structures. These verbal confrontations not only drive the stories’ conflicts and plot twists but also reveal the hidden power struggles embedded in seemingly ordinary conversations. By analysing the interplay between politeness and confrontation, this paper highlights the role of FTAs in shaping power and narrative tension while providing insight into the underlying mechanisms of social interactions and power dynamics in polite society.

Introduction

This paper examines the function of Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) in Roald Dahl’s three short stories Taste, The Way Up to Heaven and The Butler through the framework of Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory. It explores how FTAs serve to assert, challenge and renegotiate power dynamics within the short stories. By analysing how verbal confrontation drives conflict, plot twists as well as character development, this study highlights Dahl’s portrayal of politeness as a site where power is negotiated.

Methods

This study combines theoretical and literary analysis. First, Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory provides a framework for my study. Three short stories by Roald Dahl were selected based on their focus on power dynamics, ensuring a range of interactions where FTAs are prominent. The linguistic analysis categorises Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) by type – targeting positive or negative face—and strategy, such as bald on record, off-record, or with redressive action. FTAs were identified and analysed to determine how characters use them to assert dominance, retaliate, or subvert power dynamics. This study also considers the intent behind FTA usage and tracks evolving power dynamics through both linguistic and non-verbal shifts. Finally, it assesses how FTAs shape narrative structure, analysing their role in plot progression and conflict resolution within the stories.

Results

The results of this paper demonstrate how FTAs shape power and plot in Roald Dahl’s short stories. Dominant characters assert their authority through on-record FTAs, often without redressive action, reinforcing control over others. Their speech is direct, imposing, and leaves little room for negotiation. In contrast, less powerful characters initially use FTAs with redressive action or off-record strategies to reduce risk of retaliation. However, during moments of heightened conflict, they shift to on-record FTAs, directly challenging authority and marking a turning point in power dynamics. Beyond individual interactions, FTAs generate tension, fuel conflict and drive character development as well as narrative resolution. Ultimately, these linguistic strategies highlight Dahl’s critique of power structures and social conventions in polite society.

Discussion

Applying Politeness Theory to Dahl’s stories reveals how FTAs shape power and narrative, though limitations remain. First, interpreting characters’ intentions involves subjectivity. Second, although Politeness Theory provides a strong analytical framework, incorporating syntactic or morphological analysis could add precision. Expanding the story selection might reveal broader patterns in Dahl’s portrayal of politeness and power. Future research could explore these aspects further.

Conclusions

This study underscores how Roald Dahl’s use of FTAs reflects broader power structures and social norms in polite society. While the analysis confirms that politeness is a tool for both dominance and resistance, further research could examine the role of gender in these dynamics or explore how portrayal of politeness influences the reader’s perception of different characters.

 

 

Appréciation de l’experte

Laura Freymond

Dans ce travail, Madame Wang fait preuve d’une grande rigueur et d’une curiosité intellectuelle remarquable. En mêlant analyse linguistique et littéraire, elle interroge les mécanismes discursifs avec précision, révélant une compréhension approfondie des enjeux stylistiques et pragmatiques. Son aisance rédactionnelle renforce son propos et met en valeur son raisonnement. Par son approche originale et la qualité de son analyse, la candidate démontre une capacité à produire une réflexion personnelle innovante et rigoureuse, proposant un éclairage nouveau sur l’oeuvre de Roald Dahl.

Mention:

très bien

 

 

 

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Enseignante: Kira Boulat