Theorising About Narrative

Its clear to see that Tarantino uses many if the Narrative techniques previously discussed in Pulp Fuction to create an impactful plot, story and characters that engage the audience.

Roland Barthes devised narrative codes such as the action and enigma codes. The action code is when something happens to make a viewer want to know what happens next, thereby creating suspense whilst an enigma code is a hook ornunanswered question that makes the audience desire to know what happens. Tarantino most evidently uses these devices at the beginning of the film, with the initial words “forget it it’s too risky” immediately hooking the audience into wanting to know what they intend to do and then cutting just as the action starts leaves the audience wanting to know what happens to them and the people in the cafe.

Claude Levis Strauss’ theory on binary opposition is present in the manner in which characters dress. The two hitmen wear smart suits to show they are professionals whilst the people they interrogate are wearing casual clothing, suggesting they lack professionalism and therefore come into conflict with the hitmen.

Todorovs equilibrium theory doesnt sit as comfortably into Pulp Fiction as it would with other films but there are elements that remain the same. The 5 stages dont run chronologically but rather are split into different sections.

Propp devises 7 character roles in a story which are all present in Pulp Fiction although there are multiple that can be left to interpretation as characters appear different from a different perspective:

The Hero – Jules/Butch

The Villain – Marcellus Wallace/Pawn shop owner/security guard/Honeybunny and Pumpkin

The Princess – Mia Wallace

The Princess’ Father – Marcellus Wallace (husband)

The Donor – Jimmie

The Dispatcher – Less of a clear character that would identify with this category but Marcellus Wallace would seem appropriate as he dictates the majority of people’s actions

The Helper – The Wolf

How is time manipulated in the film?

The film doesnt follow traditional chronological storytelling techniques, instead being comprised of separate events that when combined together form a coherent story that would make sense linearly.

How is the story told through narrative techniques?

There are several narrative techniques used in the film such as the focus on specific items like the briefcase and the watch which work in cohesion with the development of character. The enigma of the briefcase is compelling for the audience as its never revealed what its contents is, the only implication made is that it is something worth far more than any ordinary person could dream of, with Jules and Vincent both aiming to retrieve it on behalf of Wallace, Wallace’s partners betraying him for it and the robbers shock at what’s inside.

Who are the audience encouraged to identify with/ dislike?

The audience are encouraged to like the bad guys. Vincent and Jules are in no way saints. They smoke, kill, interrogate without second thought in a manner often cruel enough to cause hatred for the character. The reason we dont hate them is because we understand them as people rather than as hitmen. The conversations about matters such as cheeseburgers and taking Marcellus Wallace’s wife out for a night present their personalities as being very normal in terms of what they discuss rather than the unfamiliar to the audience kind of work that is being a hired killer.

The audience is encouraged to hate characters such as the two robbers at the start as they plan to rob the cafe and Marcellus Wallace, who is painted as being a cruel and manical psycho but in actuality is very human, shown after he is raped and the audience is forced to feel compassion for him.

Is the film linear/non-linear/multi-strand/chronological?

The film is non-linear and multi-strand. The events that take place in the film are not shown chronoligically, instead shown in chapters that are combined together to form a linear story. Its Also multi-strand becausenit shows the events from multiple perspectives.

Does the film follow the conventional equilibrium theory, or does it do something unconventional?

The film does follow the equilibrium theory albeit in unorthodox fashion due to its non linear structure when considering each story and character independently from the structure of the film but the story overall does not follow Todorov’s theory.

How does narrative structure affect drama and tension?

Tension and drama is often mainly created within film due to the risk to a characters life. Despite being a bad person, the audience are convinced to like Vincent as a character in the story so his death halfway through the film comes as a shock as it was very unexpected. Tension is nevertheless created at the end of the film however due to the non linear structure of the film, so when we see Vincent alive and well before the event of his death, Tarantino places him in a hostile environment which still makes us fear for the outcome.

Does the films genre shape its narrative?

Partly, yes. The crime genre of the film allows for characters such as gangsters and hitmen to thrive in the world created but by going against narrative and genre conventions, Tarantino creates a world in which tension, drama, fear etc. are all present even without the addition of a world ending plot while the genre of crime is deconstructed in such a way that adds absurdity and hilarity without the expense of the traits that make crime genre films so thrilling.