Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Walter Sobchak

Although he may not be the best at the role, Walter is definitely The Dude's guiding light. It's by talking to Walter that The Dude realizes he needs to go seek recompense from the Big Lebowski for the peed-upon rug. And it's by letting Walter ride along on the drop that The Dude fails to give the briefcase to the kidnappers—not that that mattered, anyway. Even though almost every piece of advice he gives ends in disaster, he makes it unnecessary for The Dude to do any of his own thinking, which is probably fine with The Dude.