"Forty Minute Lunch" Analysis

In chapter nine, Jules turns out to be a well known journalist who is slowly losing his touch at what he does best. It comes to a point where the entirety of his career rests upon how well he does in a report on the one and only Kitty Jackson. Although it is never quite directly stated within the chapter, Jules is unsatisfied as of late with the vapid, empty career that is modern day tabloid journalism. Although the connection is never drawn, it is quite clear that Jules recent downturn in success at his job is obviously a result of his equal level of dissatisfaction with not only his job but also his life.

A clear turn of events occur in the interview with Kitty Jackson and is visible in part because of Jules internal dialogue. At a point in the interview when he realizes he is unlikely to catch a unique or interesting interview from this lunch, His interview becomes almost sociopathic. He begins to wish to not only have sex with her but “fuck her and then kill her”. His thoughts become actions when he attempts to strangle kitty after relocating the interview to the streets.

This aggressive action with sexual undertones may seem to some readers as unprovoked and without reason. Of course Kitty did nothing to bring this upon herself and I will not argue against this, however, Jules has been losing it since much earlier in the story. His earlier self destructive tendencies in the story convey his building anxiety and dissatisfaction. However, the interview with kitty in a way to him symbolizes the end of his prosperous career which adds even more pressure. It is when he finally realizes he will almost certainly be fired that he snaps. It is also unfortunate that his high pressure interview occurred with someone so famous and with a life so seemingly perfect as Kitty Jackson. Her beauty and success so starkly contrasted with his own appearance and success that this surely was partially the reason for taking out his frustration on Kitty.

In this way, Jules was not a psycho or a pervert, instead he was a man frustrated with his past, present, and future life taking it out on the person he wishes to be.