Witness Pulp Fiction Does Have A Structure

Hollywood films usually use the traditional three act structure to tell their stories. Such a structure traditionally contains a linear beginning, middle and end. We follow a character or characters through a journey which contains two major turning points that propel the character into the next act. In the first act the major character is introduced and what he/she wants is revealed. In the next act the character has to struggle against something or someone to achieve his/her goal and ultimately loses. This turning point introduces the third act where the character fights back to achieve the objective. This is a very basic telling of a three act structure but most films abide by these rules as these work well for such a visual medium. Witness (1985) is a prime example of a three act Hollywood film that follows the conventions. There are times, however, when a film is released that does not comfortably fit into the three act structure and which seems difficult to define. One such example is Pulp Fiction (1994) which has a non-linear approach to storytelling that is difficult to pin down structurally and, on the surface, seems not to have a strong structural approach. However,Pulp Fiction does indeed follow a three act structure within its non-linear parameters, and it is clever writing that camouflages it.

Witness, scripted by Earl W. Wallace and William Kelley and directed by Peter Weir, is a crime story that deals with police detective John Book (Harrison Ford) attempting to protect himself and a small Amish boy from three corrupt detectives. The action is pushed along through the three act structure. The film has a long set up where viewers are introduced to the Amish society and to the small boy Samuel who witnesses a murder in a train station toilet, while journeying with his mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis). It is 15 minutes into the film before the main protagonist Book arrives on the scene. He is the investigating police detective on the murder case. It is when Samuel recognises one of the murderers as McPhee, a decorated police officer, that the first beat to the coming turning point occurs. This pushes the narrative forward to the subsequent shootout between Book and McPhee. Book’s resulting serious gunshot wound leads Book to leave the mean streets of his city and head to the safety of the Amish town with Samuel and his mother Rachel. Book's injury is so serious that he collapses. This is the first major turning point and the end of the first act. As Book cannot return he has no choice but to stay and recover in the Amish town. He is stuck and cannot go backwards, only forwards.

In comparison Pulp Fiction has no straightforward set up or first act. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction has a very complex structure with two main interlinking stories where many of the characters make cameo appearances in the other stories. The first scene of the film is set up in a coffee shop where a couple of armed robbers, Honey Bunny and Pumpkin, discuss the pros and cons of who to rob. The scene ends with them about to rob that actual coffee shop. The opening titles then roll and following the credits the next major narrative concerns Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel Jackson), two hitmen who are on their way to sort out some trouble for their boss Marsellus Wallace. The third story in the film concerns Butch (Bruce Willis) and his last professional fight. Butch’s story is actually set up quite well in a somewhat recognisable three act structure. We first see Butch in a cameo in the Vincent and Jules storyline where we discover he has to take a fall so Wallace can clean up financially. Later we see Butch as a young child receiving his dead father’s gold watch. The first narrative punch in Butch’s story occurs when he double crosses Wallace and wins the fight. Butch is now on the run. If he stays around Marsellus will kill him. However, his girlfriend has forgotten the gold watch, the most important thing in Butch’s life so he has to go back to retrieve it. The first major turning point is when he discovers Vincent in his apartment, sent by Wallace to get him. Butch accidentally shoots Vincent. The second act of his story sees Butch driving back to his girlfriend, with his gold watch and apparently, safe.

In Witness, the second act deals with John Book’s recuperation and his attempt to merge into the Amish community. He helps with the construction of a building and his relationship with Rachel becomes closer. However, his background is an impediment. This is apparent when he beats up a non-Amish local for harassing some Amish people. This is the second major turning point as his cover is blown. Amish do not act violently, so his violence stands out a mile. This alerts the corrupt police to his whereabouts which ultimately leads to a confrontation between them and Book in the third act. With the help of the Amish, Book defeats the corrupt police and he returns to his own world. The conventions of the three act structure are used well by the filmmakers to produce a fine film.

Butch’s story in Pulp Fiction compares favourably to the three act structure and to the linear approach that Witness uses. For instance, Butch, in the second act confronts Marsellus Wallace and together they are captured by two sexual perverts which is the second turning point in the Butch instalment. However, in the third act Butch fights back and defeats the perverts and helps Wallace as well. The story is tied up well when a grateful Wallace decides not to kill Butch if he leaves town. Thus, Butch’s story ends with a happy ending. The story is told in a linear way and does indeed, if it’s separated from the rest of the film, have a traditional structure to it.

It is the Vincent and Jules storyline which is difficult to pin down. Unlike Witness, the story goes forwards and backwards and ends up in the coffee shop which is about to be robbed. Yet Jules does go on a journey throughout the film and comes out the end a changed man. His journey is traversed in a three act structure. The first act of his story sets up his partnership with Vincent and the type of work they do. Jules is an experienced killer and doesn’t feel any remorse as he casually shoots one of the college kids who have double crossed Marsellus. Tarantino then shows us Vincent and Jules returning to Marsellus’ club dressed in t-shirts and shorts. This scene is the set up for Vincent’s adventure with Mia, Wallace’s wife. Tarantino then returns to the college kids scenario later on in the film. This time we discover that there’s a guy in the bathroom with a powerful handgun. He exits and shoots half a dozen shots at Jules and Vincent. All the shots miss which to Jules is some form of “divine intervention”. The cool killer is starting to seriously think about his life after experiencing his "miracle". Vincent and Jules end up at the coffee shop where they get mixed up in the robbery that began in the film. Jules’ transformation is made clear when he doesn’t kill the thieves but lets them go. Not only is this last scene an ideal circular closure for the whole of the Pulp Fiction film, but it details Jules’ journey and conversion in a clever and complex three act structure.

Pulp Fiction, while cleverly masking its structure in non-linear storytelling, its skeletal framework does have a three act structure that may be compared to such a traditional three act structured film like Witness.