pulp fiction Essay -- essays research papers

Pulp Fiction (1994) is a mesmerizing, violent and entertaining movie. It has a bizarre cast of characters, a nonlinear sequence of events and endless references to pop shade. The underlying theme of the movie, however, deals with religion and the shift of two characters Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Butch (Bruce Willis).In the beginning of the film, Vincent (John Travolta) has returned from a stay in Amsterdam, and the conversation between Jules and Vincent deals with what Big Macs and Quarter Pounders are called in Europe. As the movie moves on, other references are the Fonz on Happy Days, Arnold the Pig on Green Acres, the band Flock of Seagulls, Caine from Kung Fu, TV pilots, and other such topics. At first viewing, these kinds of references seem to be a kind of comic rest set against the violence the audience witnesses on the screen. These brief, pop-culture symbols and icons are more than provided comic relief. They are the way these characters make sense of their lives. In ancient centuries, people were connected by something they saw as larger than themselves, almost often religion, which would provide sense and meaning for their lives and which would help to determine the nurture of things. (The Sage, p.10) Such a larger context is completely absent, however, from Juless and Vincents lives. This explains wherefore the film is so saturated with these pop icons. The empty and deadly icon phrases are the reference points by which we now understand ourselves and from each one other. These references comes to a real climax when Vincent and Mia (Uma Thurman) visit Jack Rabbit thin outs, where the host is Ed Sullivan, the singer is Ricky Nelson, the waiter is Buddy Holly, and the waitresses include Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfield. In the film, the pop cultural symbols are set into sudden words against a passage said to be from the Old Testament, Ezekiel 2517The pass of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the egotistic a nd the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and favorable will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brothers keeper and the finder of lost children.And I will strike go through upon thee with great vengeance and furious... ...spIt is also important to note how Butch is invariably returning. He seems doomed to return, perhaps to repeat things, until he gets it right. He mustiness return to his apartment to get his watch. This come back is associated with his decision to nonplus his enemy. Theres his return to the cellar to save Marsellus. Theres also his return to Knoxville-where Butch has planned to escape after he doesnt throw the fight. After he chooses the sword and saves Marsellus, Butch plenty rightfully return to Knoxville, now connected to his family.The big overall head word that this movie asks us is that can our materialistic, disorderly, human relationships provide real and unrelenting meaning in our l ives and in the world? Butchs actions convey at an agreeable answer. With his newly completed bonds of family, friendship, and love, Butch may strike at least some aspect of a meaningful existence. And as a result, we are made to think about our own lives, specially in todays society full of pop culture icons and materialistic people. This movie brings up philosophical questions such as why we do certain things and what is the true value in our life.