While each segment in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction features a distinct protagonist, Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega are regarded as the film’s principal characters; nonetheless, only Jules survives to the conclusion of the narrative—what accounts for this disparity?
Quentin Tarantino has emerged as one of the most acclaimed and contentious directors of his generation, primarily owing to the prevalence of violence and bloodshed in his films and his portrayal of specific characters.
Tarantino commenced his film career in 1992 with the crime picture Reservoir Dogs, but his significant breakthrough occurred in 1994 with Pulp Fiction.
Pulp Fiction is distinguished by its non-linear narrative structure, with various parts presented out of chronological order, each headed by separate characters who intersect at certain moments.
The characters featured in Pulp Fiction include hitmen Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), their employer Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), his spouse Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman), and boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis).
All characters survive until the conclusion of the narrative, with the exception of Vincent, who is slain in the segment titled “The Gold Watch.”
Reason Behind Butch’s Killing of Vincent in Pulp Fiction
The protagonist of “The Gold Watch” is Butch, who, after betraying Marsellus and inadvertently murdering his opponent in a boxing fight, was planning to flee with his girlfriend, Fabienne, aware that Marsellus would dispatch his assassins to pursue them.
However, Butch saw that Fabienne neglected to pack his father’s gold watch, prompting him to return to his apartment to retrieve it.
He discovered a submachine gun on the kitchen counter and perceived a somebody in the restroom. Butch seized the weapon and awaited Vincent’s exit from the bathroom, subsequently shooting him many times.
Vincent’s demise in Pulp Fiction, occurring after his exit from the bathroom, has led to a theory suggesting that misfortune befalls him each time he enters a restroom: Mia overdoses, Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) rob the diner where he and Jules are present, and he is ultimately killed after utilizing Butch’s bathroom.
Reasons for Jules’ Survival in Pulp Fiction
Vincent’s demise in Pulp Fiction, contrasted with Jules’ survival, can be attributed to the fact that Vincent was dispatched to Butch’s location, while Jules had already resolved to retire, so excluding him from the plan.
Nevertheless, further themes in Pulp Fiction, particularly through the characters of Jules and Vincent, include redemption, faith, and some propose karma as well. In the scene where Jules and Vincent arrive at Brett’s residence, a man discharges his weapon at them several times, yet every shot fails to hit, prompting Jules to perceive this as “divine intervention.”
This incident catalyzes his decision to retire and pursue self-improvement, whereas Vincent remains cynical, unchanged in his beliefs and intentions. Jules utilized his newfound perspective on life to persuade Pumpkin and Honey Bunny to go from the diner, however Vincent stayed unchanged.
Consequently, Jules attained his atonement and justification for continued existence, while Vincent did not. Some viewers have claimed that it was a matter of karma, as Vincent had previously been unkind to Butch, leading Butch to perceive no moral dilemma in eliminating Vincent for self-preservation.
Vincent’s demise in Pulp Fiction can be seen via various perspectives; yet, it was ultimately inevitable, whether due to his failure to attain atonement, the retribution of karma, or his presence in an unfavorable situation.
Look at the striking dichotomies between Jules and Vincent in Pulp Fiction—redemption, karma, and fate intersect in Tarantino’s seminal work. Want a more profound understanding of the personalities and issues that influenced this legendary classic? Visit our website for further compelling analyses and discussions.