Pulp Fiction

By: Faune Nunnery

Pulp Fiction is an independent film

written and directed in 1994 by Quentin

Tarantino. It has most of the characteristics of a

classic Hollywood narrative.

Restricted narration

Specific decisions bring action

Plot restricts events

Clear motovation

Strong sense of closure

Unlike the classic Hollywood narrative, the narration is restricted. The film can be

separated into different sections that are separate stories until the end. The individual

stories are restricted to what the lead character can see. The narration follows the lead

character, depending on which one it is at that time, throughout the story. When Vincent

is the lead character, we see him buy drugs and take Mia on a date. When Jules is the

lead, Vincent is there but we do not see him go to the bathroom. We are fixed with only

the view of Jules. This is the only characteristic that does not fit with the classic

Hollywood narrative.

Change throughout the movie takes place because of cause and effect.

Vincent accidentally shoots Marvin =

lands him in the coffee shop robbery

Butch chooses not to throw the boxing

match= he is hunted down

Butch’s watch is left at his apartment = he

is almost killed in apartment

Marsellus and Butch cross paths =

Marsellus is raped in pawn shop

Lance being out of balloons = heroine is

put in plastic bag

Bag is mistaken for cocaine =

Mia’s overdose

Jules and Vincent are shot at

point blank but not hit = Jules

believes he experienced divine intervention. This

intervention leads him to change his life

The plot shows only significant events and omits others. The plot takes place in

Los Angeles California during the duration of one day. The day consists of an evening,

that night, and the next morning. The movie begins in media res. We return to this scene,

at the last climax. Some events are implied and not shown. Some of these implied events

are hard to realize because of the frequency.

You never see

Jules give the briefcase to Marsellus and quite his job. He must have

because Vincent showed up to kill Butch alone.

You never see the ending to the competition at Jack Rabbit Slims. You do

know that Mia and Vincent won because it shows the two of them walking

into Mia’s with a trophy.

You are never shown the inside of the briefcase. All you see is a glow and

the character’s reactions. It could be drugs, gold, or money.

The character’s motivation strives to be as clear as possible. Jules wants to carry

out his job and leave people with his philosophical thoughts. That is why he quotes the

Bible and speaks his thoughts. Vincent wants to do his job and feed his drug habit. He

takes Mia out to please his boss Marsellus and talks many times about Amsterdam. He

also buys and shoots heroine. Butch will do anything to keep his father’s watch and to

make a life for him and his girlfriend. That is why he goes back to his apartment and puts

himself in danger. That is also why he collects money from Marsellus to throw the fight

but does not. Instead, he takes that money and bets on himself so he can have even more

money. The money will be enough for him and his girlfriend to start a new life. Mia

wants to have a good time. That is why she makes Vincent take her out to eat and dance.

That is also the

reason she snorts

the powder in

Vincent’s jacket.

Marsellus is a

gangster. That is

why he wants

everyone to listen

to him and do his

will. Ringo and Yolanda want to rob the easiest and best targets. That is why they rob the

coffee shop. Each character’s motivation is clear cut and simple.

As the movie comes to an end, there is a sense of closure.

Vincent is dead.

Marsellus lets Butch off the hook.

Marsellus plans to kill his rapist.

Butch and his girlfriend ride off to

Knoxville in a chopper.

Yolanda and Ringo leave the coffee

shop with their money from the

robbery.

Jules leaves the coffee shop with

intentions to quite his job.

The men from the apartment are all

dead.

Vincent, Jules, and the wolf all left

Jimmy’s before his wife could return

from work.

The ending was not your typical Hollywood happy ending. Complete closure was

not shown, but it was discussed or implied. The only thing unknown was the content of

the briefcase. Every character went through life changing experiences and came out

different. The only main character that did not experience an internal change was

Vincent. I believe that is why he had to die. Most classic Hollywood narratives have

happy endings and a strong closure. This movie lacked a typical happy ending, but it did

have closure.

Pulp Fiction contains many of the same characteristics of a classic Hollywood

narrative. Contrary to the classic style of unrestricted narration, Pulp Fiction is told

through the eyes of the characters. The narration is restricted to what the character can

see and hear. All the other characteristics are the same. They both have cause and effect

changes implemented by the characters. They both show only scenes important to the

story. The character’s motivation is clear in both. They both also contain a sense of

closure. Pulp Fiction is similar to the classic Hollywood narrative.

Watch the trailer