Although there are only two prominent female characters (and one deceased one) in The Big Lebowski, their roles in the plot are absolutely pivotal. They're both stereotypes because the movie is a satire, after all. Bunny is the young, brainless kid from the boondocks who runs off to L.A. and marries a rich older man—the dumb, blonde trophy wife. She hardly ever appears in the film, but she takes off to visit friends without telling anyone, setting the whole plot in motion. Maude is a sophisticated artist, a radical feminist who needs nothing from men except the occasional sperm donation. Both are trying to make their way in what appears to be a male-dominated world. But the women, alive and dead, are the ones who are really in control in the movie.
Questions about Women and Femininity
- What are The Dude's and Walter's attitudes toward women? How are they different from or similar to the attitudes of the Big Lebowski and Jackie Treehorn?
- Who gets more of what she wants from men—Bunny or Maude?
- Are Bunny's porn films any less of a feminist statement than Maude's "vaginal" art?
Chew on This
Bunny and Maude appear to be fearless, in contrast with most of the male characters.
Maude and Bunny both use their respective Lebowskis for their own purposes.