What Is In The Briefcase In Pulp Fiction?

Let’s Make A Deal

I propose a deal because that’s exactly what I think happened in Pulp Fiction…A deal with the devil, that is. Just as I believe the film makes a deal before the story begins, I’m suggesting our arrangement before this theory kicks in to full swing. What’s all this, then? Simple. This theory will set to convince you that the briefcase from Pulp Fiction contains the soul of Marsellus Wallace. That’s right. The gangster in charge of everything criminal, played by Ving Rhames. Remember how he had that band-aid on the back of his neck? Well, there are several versions of Proverbs 3:22, in the Bible that, more or less, say, “Keep sound wisdom and discretion, (22)So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.” Clearly this indicates a tangible relationship between the soul and the neck. My theory is that Wallace’s soul was removed through the back of his neck, hence the band-aid. I think that, well before we meet Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega, Wallace sells his soul to Satan in exchange for all his power and wealth. Somewhere along the way, he has a change of heart and decides he wants it back. It is during this time that the film begins with the, “we should have shotguns” scene with Jules and Vincent.

Big Kahuna Burger

Yeah. You know what scene this is. Jules and Vince go into the apartment to retrieve the infamous briefcase that we’re focusing on. While in there, a few key things happen. One is that when Vincent enters the code 666 into the locks of the briefcase to open it, he peers inside to make sure they have what they came for. As he does, a golden glow emanates from within the case. Over and over again, the color gold is used to refer to the soul. Another thing is that the shooter that charges out of the back room fails to hit either hit man. This is a moment of divine intervention, because Jules and Vincent are doing the Lords work, saving a man’s soul from damnation. In fact, Jules spends much of the remainder of the film coming to grips with this. Lastly, after Jules delivers the famous Ezekiel speech, as he and Vince kill the young man in the apartment, there is a flash of golden light visible on screen. Once again, this is the idea of the soul escaping the body.

Boxer Butch

Later in the film, we meet Bruce Willis’ character, the prize fighter, Butch Coolidge. He makes a deal with Marsellus Wallace to throw the fight he’s in. Wallace even makes a big deal about Butch saying it out loud. Later on, during the fight, Butch fails to hold up his end of the bargain. So, here we have a bit of a parallel between these characters. Wallace makes a deal with the Devil, but doesn’t fulfill it. Butch makes a deal with Wallace, but doesn’t fulfill it. One of the reasons that Wallace doesn’t straight up kill Butch, is that he understands the position Butch was in. He’s been there too. If this isn’t quite good enough for you, I can also point out that when Butch heads to the ring, for the fight, he has on a standard of any boxers wardrobe, the robe. The thing of note is that Butch’s robe is gold in color. This symbolism is meant to demonstrate that Butch has sold his soul to Wallace.

The Diner

The end of the movie is quite telling too. In the diner sequence, Tim Roth as Pumpkin and Amanda Plummer as Honey Bunny decide to rob the restaurant and its patrons. When Pumpkin attempts to relieve Jules of the briefcase, Jules resists, telling Pumpkin that the contents of the case are not his to give. Once Pumpkin looks inside the case, the same golden glow is seen, and Pumpkin asks, “is that what I think it is?” Jules confirms and that’s that. Think about that. Jules defends the case with his life, but doesn’t get killed. Pumpkin knows what’s in the case, but won’t take it. Clearly, it’s valuable, just not to Pumpkin, and he can’t profit from it. Also, every time someone looks into the case, they’re kind of taken by what they see…or dare I say, what they behold. Whatever is in that case is something amazing to witness. Something like, a man’s soul.

Last Words

 There you have it. That’s all the evidence needed to confirm the theory that the briefcase from Pulp Fiction contains the soul of Marsellus Wallace. Normally, I would feel compelled to make a last attempt to win you over, but if you aren’t already convinced in the plausibility of this theory, then you never will be. Whether you believe it or not, leave your take in the comments below. Have an idea for a Reel Theory? Tell us more by clicking here.

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