Pulp Fiction
Ethical Values in Pulp Fiction
Pulp fiction is a movie filled with drugs, violence, gambling, and pop iconography, describing how real-life society is going towards the “death of god” era; a life without morals. A lot of movie critics would say that Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) possess no ethical values, no sense of morality. They also say that the movie does not convey a message. The movie does convey a message; Quentin Tarantino just masks it behind the street-savvy talk and murdering of persons who “wronged the boss.” Pulp Fiction is about a world where cold-blooded murder and greed are socially acceptable. Virtues as Aristotle states are mainly based off of habits, these men’s habits are killing and making money, there are only two men who break these habits and desire to change their norms, Jules and Butch (Bruce Willis).
Jules’ epiphany happens when a kid unloads a clip on him and Vincent at nearly point blank distance and every shot misses the two. Jules considers it to be a “divine intervention.” When you look at the scene closely Tarantino wants to portray it as a divine intervention as well, there are three bullets that should have went straight through Jules and Vincent. After this Jules goes on to say “my eyes are wide fuckin’ open..that’s it for me. From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.” You realize after this “miracle” that Jules’ morals have completely reversed and he is a spiritual being as well, saying how he “felt the touch of god” and how he’s going to “walk the earth” until god places him where he wants to be and if god doesn’t he’ll walk forever. You really see his change at the end of the scene when he is talking to Ringo(one of the robbers) and goes back on his rant of the righteous man. This time he analyzes it thoroughly though and says, “The truth is, you’re the weak and I’m the tyranny of evil man, but I’m tryin’ Ringo, I’m tryin’ real hard to be the Sheppard.” Jules realizes he must get rid
Pulp fiction is a movie filled with drugs, violence, gambling, and pop iconography, describing how real-life society is going towards the “death of god” era; a life without morals. A lot of movie critics would say that Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) possess no ethical values, no sense of morality. They also say that the movie does not convey a message. The movie does convey a message; Quentin Tarantino just masks it behind the street-savvy talk and murdering of persons who “wronged the boss.” Pulp Fiction is about a world where cold-blooded murder and greed are socially acceptable. Virtues as Aristotle states are mainly based off of habits, these men’s habits are killing and making money, there are only two men who break these habits and desire to change their norms, Jules and Butch (Bruce Willis).
Jules’ epiphany happens when a kid unloads a clip on him and Vincent at nearly point blank distance and every shot misses the two. Jules considers it to be a “divine intervention.” When you look at the scene closely Tarantino wants to portray it as a divine intervention as well, there are three bullets that should have went straight through Jules and Vincent. After this Jules goes on to say “my eyes are wide fuckin’ open..that’s it for me. From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.” You realize after this “miracle” that Jules’ morals have completely reversed and he is a spiritual being as well, saying how he “felt the touch of god” and how he’s going to “walk the earth” until god places him where he wants to be and if god doesn’t he’ll walk forever. You really see his change at the end of the scene when he is talking to Ringo(one of the robbers) and goes back on his rant of the righteous man. This time he analyzes it thoroughly though and says, “The truth is, you’re the weak and I’m the tyranny of evil man, but I’m tryin’ Ringo, I’m tryin’ real hard to be the Sheppard.” Jules realizes he must get rid