The characters in The Big Lebowski don't exactly play by the rules, and they're always on the lookout for the law. The only thing keeping everyone from getting too out of control is the desire not to get arrested, but then again, that's pretty hard to do in a world where you can whip out a gun in a bowling alley without worrying about the police.
In The Big Lebowski, the cops are totally incompetent, which means the law is basically in the hands of civilians. And not all of those civilians are interested in upholding the law. Then again, the law isn't always a reliable reflection of what's right and what's wrong. The nihilists are an ironic take on the issue of law and order. They claim to believe in nothing, but it's just an excuse for them to act like thugs. Walter has his own distinctive and personal set of rules to live by and doesn't hesitate to apply them. And The Dude? Well, The Dude's attitude is live and let live, so long as he's adequately supplied with White Russians.
Questions about Rules and Order
- Why is Walter always sounding off about his First Amendment rights?
- What's the difference in the film between right and wrong vs. law and order?
Chew on This
Though he may look like a shirker, The Dude lives by some pretty consistent moral rules.
Walter plays the role of "enforcer" in the movie more than the police because he constantly feels threatened.