The Core of Pulp fiction is Spiritual growth
Yes I know. It is difficult to see how a story about a bunch of gangsters, a mafia don, sexual predators, drug addicts, burglars and thieves; all of whom are engaged in violent conflicts with the world can be about spiritual growth. But its true.
The spiritual scheme of Pulp fiction is obscured by the structure of the story, its world building and non lineral cycles of character development. A genius of story telling where there is a deep and consistent logic that drives the drama and character development from point A to point, but one where the form flips the narrative upside down. Form is the primary point of contact for the viewer and the form is insanely chaotic.
To see the deeper logic in the story, one will have to unmake the form and make the story simple. Easiest way to do this is to make the story linear and start from the progression of the events of the story as they happen.
The story actually does not begin with the couple planning a burglary of the diner. As we see towards the end of the movie, while the couple plan robbing the restaurant, Jules and Vincent are in the same diner engaging in a philosophical debate. They had just disposed off the body whom Vincent accidentally shot in the eye, on their way back from their Hit job of retrieving the priced briefcase that belonged to the Mafia Don Marsellus.
As you can see, the story starts with Vincent and Jules going on their Hit job to recover the brief case and killing the group of youngsters and former associates of Marsellus who absconded with the briefcase.
It is there that both Jules and Vincent escape the bullets that is shot at them from one of Marsellus’s ex associates who was hiding in the washroom. This is a crucial event that sets Vincent and Jules on two Separate spiritual trajectories. Jules interprets their escape as a sign from the universe and during the course of that day resolves to “Walk the earth”, to leave the life of crime behind and go on a spiritual journey to discover his peace and purpose. Vincent rebukes the same and believes it to be a freak Occurance.
During this dialogue, Vincent accidentally shoots their aide in the face and setting off a string of nerve racking events. Over the course of the next hour, they end up having to dispose off the body, rushing against time. Vincent’s car had to be disposed. And they reach the diner for breakfast where Jules reveals his plans for quitting the life of crime.
He had been observing the events of the day very closely and the spiraling down of things beyond control only to be saved by luck and freak coincidences.
It is while he is in this state of contemplation that the burglary attempt of Ringo and Yolanda unfolds in the diner. Jules easily overpowers Ringo, but is still in this state of contemplation. He revisits Ezekiel 25:17, a fictional verse of the Bible that he used to say before killing his victims, albeit to make him look cool.
But this time, he does not approach it simply as a highly stylized aphorism, but as a framework for explaining his role in this new found spiritual purpose. Jules let them have his money so that he doesn’t have to kill them. He lets Ringo and Yolanda leave.
With this, the first cycle of Spiritual growth is complete.
JULES AND MARSELLUS
Not much is shown in the screen between the relationship between Jules and marcellus. From their phone conversation, it seems like he has a warm personal friendship with Marcellus. Infact, this personal friendship seems to be a staple in how Marcellus interact with his Associates. This is evidenced by his request to Vincent to take Mia out for a dinner while he is out of town. Respect, mutual understanding, trust and loyalty seems to be the basis on which Marcellus work with his associates.
Lets keep in mind that when Vincent and Jules came to the Bar after the restaurant incident, Marcellus was talking to Butch, the aeging boxer and making a deal to rig the boxing match, which he would dishonor. We all know what happens after that, the lookout for Butch, the killing of vincent, marcellus and Butch running into each other, the Gimp episode and finally Marcellus fogiving Butch. But all this happens later.
As of now, what happens is a lengthy converstaion between Jules, vincent and Marcellus after they reaches the bar to deliver the Briefcase. We can assume well that an extended philosophical discussion happens between Marcellus, Jules and Vincent. A continuation of the dialogue at the restaurant. Jules may have impressed Marcellus on his decision to quit based on his ephiphany and also about his new found reflections on Ezekeil 25:17 on forgiveness and minimising harm in the world. Whereas Vincent might have protested Jules like he did in the restaurant and continues to work for Marcellus.
In another words, Vincent ignores the reality of the world and refuses to move away from violence and crime. He refuses the call if the universe to be content with what he has and seek peace with life. But this is not the only time Vincent gets this message. This brings us to Mia and her overdosing and nearly dying. This episode brings Vincent a step close to death and destruction for the second time in the movie. It is also interesting to see that when reality presents itself before Vincent, he usually goes to take a shit and distracts himself with some magazine ( at the restarurant) , or drugs or trauma bonding with a stranger ( Mia episode).
He continues to ignore the message, continues in this line of work. A decision that later leads to him dying at the hands of butch.
It would be an incredible thing however if Quentin tarantino makes a short film on the conversation that happened between Marcellus. Jules and Vincent at the Bar after delivering the briefcase.
The conversation they may have had is very important because it may have impressed Marcellus and may influence Marcellus’s decision to let Butch live after the Gimp episode.
In other words, the underlying theme of Pulp fiction is about spiritual growth. How seemingly unconnected and bizarre developing events in near chaos is in truth, carrying certain profound insights about peace, contentment and forgiveness from people to people in the worst realities possible.
