Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction: Mia Wallace

One of the most striking visual images of Pulp Fiction is Mrs. Mia Wallace, Marcellus Wallace's wife. She is first shown putting on her vampire-red lipstick as she gazes at Vince Vega, who has been asked by Marcellus to 'entertain' her for a night. Everyone knows that Marcellus is a terrifying man, so Vince clearly has every interest in protecting Mia's 'honor.' Yet Mia is making herself up, much as a woman who is about to go on a date. But after seeing Mia's lips first, and expecting a bombshell, the viewer is somewhat surprised to see that Mia's clothing and appearance is extremely stark, almost Spartan, other than her lipstick.

Mia boasts a Louise Brooks-style black bob that is obviously a wig. For a glamorous failed actress, her outfit seems almost mannish. She wears a stiff white starched shirt that looks like it was purchased from the Gap and plain black pants that are slightly too short and expose her long, bony ankles. She looks like she is dressed in boy's clothing, other than her face. Even her black coat is fairly nondescript and does not cling to her form. The only evidence of sexuality is her black brassiere, which is vaguely visible through the white shirt.

Vince takes Mia to a diner which is filled with impersonators of famous Hollywood celebrities of long ago, like Marilyn Monroe. The garishness of Mia's rather strange outfit looks more at home in the diner -- as Mia looks like a 1920s flapper, she blends right in, unlike Vince who looks slightly awkward in his cowboy boots and black suit. Mia hunches over her burger, further making her seem androgynous, even while she is clearly flirting with Vince, enticing him with stories of her failed career as an actress and teasing him about his relationship with Marcellus. Then, Mia goes into the bathroom. Suddenly, in the bathroom, her more feminine aspects are thrown into stark relief as her breasts are evident in the mirror as she heaves and inhales cocaine.

Mia goads Vince into entering a twist contest. The camera focuses on the couple alone. Vince looks slightly pudgy next to Mia, who moves with sexual, sinewy confidence but both of their movements blend effortlessly into the music. The film briefly seems to turn into a musical as the couple dances, gradually growing more and more confident as they relate to one another as dancers. Many of their movements seem like parodies of old-style doo-wop as Mia and Vince draw their fingers across their eyes as if swimming and 'dive down' with their noses pinched. However, despite the slightly 'corny' moves on the dance floor, the intense connection between the characters suggests a mutual attraction. Much like in traditional Hollywood musicals, the 'dance' is used to advance the relationship. There is no plot significance to the fact that the couple wins the contest (which is revealed as Mia is proudly toting the trophy in the next scene). What is significant is that during the dance the two form a connection and Vince relaxes, however briefly, the defenses he has put up against Marcellus' wife. While dancing, neither character is wearing shoes, suggesting a kind of 'foreplay' aspect to their dance.

The shot which establishes that Mia is a cocaine addict becomes significant in the next scene. Back at Marcellus' home, Mia mistakes Vince's heroin for cocaine, snorts it, and immediately overdoses. Vince's attraction to Mia is replaced with sudden, abject terror when he realizes that he is likely to be killed if he accidently lets his boss' wife die because his back was turned. Vince cannot take Mia to a hospital -- instead, he takes her to some of his friends who seem to have 'experience' in such matters.

Vince's friends seem bumbling and confused as he wakes them up in the middle of the night. They have trouble finding a felt pen to target exactly where Mia's heart is, where Vince must stab her with an injection of adrenaline. For the first time, Mia's shirt is bared. This makes her look feminine in a manner she has not before, given she is wearing a black, corset-like top beneath her tailored man's shirt.

This undressing of Mia suggests that her overdose has made her vulnerable in a way she was not before. Her mannish attire in the previous scene made her the dominant character over Vince. It was she who had power, as Marcellus' wife, to tell him where he should take her, what he should order her, and if he should dance with her. Vince, even when he is enjoying himself, is always slightly afraid of what Mia might say and do to get him in trouble. In the 'twist' scene, Mia can command Vince to win. However, comatose and vulnerable, Mia is suddenly sexualized. The fact that Vince must forcibly penetrate Mia with the adrenaline needle suggests a kind of necessary 'rape' to save Mia's life.