The portion of the monologue about the tyranny of evil men is inspired by Ezekiel 34. Pretty much all of the themes Jackson’s passage incorporates are found in different places in the Bible, but they are all re-workings, not true to the original text. Admittedly, Quentin Tarantino, the writer and director of Pulp Fiction, dreamed up this quotation as a re-imagining of several Biblical themes, and reworked them as a monologue that he believed best expressed the drama intended for the movie scene. Additionally, there are a couple of theological inconsistencies present in the Pulp Fiction monologue. Sure Jackson’s quote finishes along the same lines as the Bible verse, but the preceding lines in Pulp Fiction’s rendition appear nowhere in the Bible, and certainly not in Ezekiel chapter 25. The actual verse reads as follows: Ezekiel 25:17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. The thing is, the quotation above is not at all a proper rendering of Ezekiel 25:17. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.” *The following video contains violent content not suitable for all viewers. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Then Jackson goes on to deliver what appears to be a tremendously dramatic Bible exhortation: “Do you read the Bible, Brett? Well there’s this passage I’ve got memorized – sort of fits this occasion. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the scene. Jackson’s misquotation of Ezekiel 25:17, in Pulp Fiction, was voted the fourth best movie speech of all time. These added religious themes are part of what makes Pulp Fictiona multi-dimensional classic as well as one of the best crime movies ever made.Given the preoccupation with misused Bible verses, I want share what I find to be, by far, one of the most intriguing, and perhaps unrealized, modern misquotations of the Bible. It then makes statements of the power of faith at large, showcasing how valuable it can be in navigating chaotic times. It motivates some characters to freedom and it justifies the bad fates of the evil. Furthermore, Butch ultimately decides to go back and save Marsellus from Maynard, Zed, and the Gimp, just as Jules decides to spare the two robbers in the restaurant, which could mean that Butch and Jules are being rewarded for helping the weak.įaith is at the core of Pulp Fiction's narrative. Given Butch's decision to betray the mob and fight his own righteous fight, there is also reason to believe that God was helping him escape and start a new life. Both the death of Vincent and the assault of Marsellus are extremely unlikely, as they result from crossing the path of Butch at just the wrong moment in time. Pulp Fiction's narrative is full of unlikely coincidences that support Jules' articulate quote of divine intervention. This decision is realized when Jules peacefully negotiates with two robbers that hold up the diner rather than kill them, which he is very capable of doing. Had Jules decided to continue with the mob, he could have easily been put in harm's way soon after. While Tarantino's alterations take the verse largely out of its original context of God administering judgment upon nations that deal in vengeance and malice, the new verse serves as a concise summary of the movie's Biblical themes.Īs Pulp Fiction 's non-chronological order shows in the earlier scenes, leaving was a good decision for Jules, as Vincent ends up dead the next day while their boss Marsellus is raped. Thus, once Jules is convicted by divine intervention, he starts focusing less on executing God's wrath, and more on carrying out God's mercy, deciding to leave his life of crime to start a new life of peace. Tarantino likely added the additional text to make sure it included all the themes relevant to Jules (and to make for a better monologue). Ironically, while these themes are all present in other areas of the Bible, the real Ezekiel 25:17 only deals with God's vengeance and fury.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |