How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Big Lebowski.
Quote #1
BUNNY: Blow on them … I can't blow that far.
Yeah, she's talking about her toes, but there's no doubt this line exists to sexualize young Bunny Lebowski from the first time we lay eyes on her. Our suspicions are confirmed two seconds later when she offers to perform oral sex on The Dude for 1,000 bucks.
Quote #2
WALTER: That poor woman—that poor slut—kidnapped herself.
Why does Walter refer to Bunny as a slut? This is an example of how Bunny's character is mostly developed by how the other characters react to her. Maude shows The Dude Bunny's porn films; the nihilists make her the object of a fake kidnapping; Big and Jackie Treehorn let us know about her excessive spending; Walter repeatedly refers to her as a slut or strumpet; and The Dude figures she left town to get away from everything. Conclusion? She's a reckless, highly sexual kid with a serious spending habit and absolutely no sense of responsibility.
Quote #3
MAUDE: My art has been commended as strongly vaginal, which bothers some men. The word itself make some men uncomfortable. Vagina.
Maude seems to think that she's going to shock The Dude with her explicit talk. She doesn't yet know that he's not really shockable. She seems to be taking some pleasure here in trying to make him uncomfortable. Maude seems to know the sexual power she has over men.
Quote #4
MAUDE: It's a male myth about feminists that we hate sex. It can be a natural, zesty enterprise.
When was the last time you heard sex described as a "zesty enterprise"? We'd guess never. Anyway, Maude again hopes to make a statement that she's a fearless woman by talking very explicitly about sex. But she's also signaling to The Dude that she's available for zestiness.
Quote #5
In Gutterballs, Maude Lebowski appears dressed as a Viking, complete with horned helmet and metal trident.
Why is Maude a Viking? Because The Dude sees her as strong, confident, and domineering, of course. And he likes this about her; he's not intimidated by strong women. He's a feminist, too.
Quote #6
THE DUDE: Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women, man!
We appreciate the sentiment even though the drunken Dude gets it backward.
Quote #7
MAUDE: No, no, the wealth is all mother's. We did let him run one of the companies very briefly, but he didn't do very well at it.
Maude reveals that her father isn't the wealthy old gent The Dude took him to be. In doing so, she also subverts the audience's ideas about who had the power in her parents' relationship. They "let him" run one of the companies.
Quote #8
MAUDE: Look, Jeffrey. I don't want a partner. In fact, I don't want the father to be someone I'd have to see socially or who'd have any interest in raising the child himself.
A true first-wave feminist, Maude Lebowski doesn't want any male involvement in her child-rearing. It's stereotypes like this that made Shailene Woodley say she wasn't a feminist because she loves men. We're huge fans, Shailene, but that's just dumb.
Quote #9
THE DUDE: She's not my special lady, she's my f***ing lady friend. I'm just helping her conceive, man!
The Dude recognizes the very small role he plays in Maude's grand plan. He's cool with it, though. He seems to be the kind of guy who lets women have their own agendas and decides whether or not he wants to be part of it.
Quote #10
THE DUDE: How're they gonna keep them down on the farm after they've seen Karl Hungus?
This is The Dude's reaction to learning that Bunny was a teenage runaway. It also hints at the rather sordid nature of Bunny's past. Do you think it shows how limiting society's roles for girls and women can be? That the only option in L.A. for someone like Bunny is to be a porn star? Is the film that serious in its thinking about women?