What does “The guy remains” mean

The Big Lebowski is one of the most cited films ever made and “The guy remains” It’s one of the most memorable lines in the film – but it has a deeper meaning to unravel. Although it was a box office failure and received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, The Big Lebowski It has since become one of the cornerstones of cult cinema. It was initially dismissed as a light-hearted comedy full of profanity, but subsequent analysis found many underlying themes – and the biblical backdrop of “The guy remains” is an excellent example.

The Coen brothers’ stoner noir is full of hilarious lines that fans still quote today: “Shut up, Donny”, “Obviously you are not a golfer”, “Nobody plays with Jesus”, “That rug really brought the room together..” “The guy remains”, spoken by Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski to the Stranger in the final scene of The Big Lebowskiis quoted more often than almost any other line in the film. The line became synonymous with the character and the film itself. But its meaning goes beyond a friendly cliché among acquaintances at the bowling alley.

What does “The guy remains” mean?

The quote has biblical references

In the final scene of The Big Lebowski presents the classic line “the guy remains” as the Dude bumps into the film’s well-spoken narrator – identified only as “The Stranger” – drinking at the bowling alley bar. They briefly exchange pleasantries and the Stranger asks how the tournament is going. Before the Dude takes his order back to Walter, one of the funniest characters in The Big Lebowski, the Stranger tells him: “Take it easy, man. I know you will.”

The guy simply replies: “Yeah, well, the Dude remains.” This may seem like a peculiar way for the Dude to say goodbye, but it was actually paraphrased from a phrase in the Bible. “The guy remains” It’s an obscure reference to a scripture passage from Ecclesiastes: “One generation goes and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.”

As kingdoms rise and fall, the ground upon which they are built is the only constant. The Dude is saying that he is more like the land where kingdoms are built than the conquerors who build them. No matter what happens – whatever kidnapping conspiracies develop, whatever toe arrives in the mail, whatever ransoms are misplaced – the Dude will continue to hang around the bowling alley, relaxing and drinking White Russians.

Why “The Dude Abides” is the guy’s last line on Big Lebowski

The guy never changes or grows in the film’s narrative

“The guy remains” is not only one of Dude’s most popular quotes; is his last line in the film. The Dude says this line in his last on-screen appearance to emphasize the fact that he is the opposite of a typical movie protagonist. Most of the protagonists embark on a life-changing journey and become a completely different person at the end of it. Luke Skywalker becomes the hero of the Rebellion; Chief Brody conquers his fear of the ocean; George Bailey realizes that life is worth living.

But the guy doesn’t change a bit The Big Lebowski. After everything he’s been through, the guy will return to his zen, relaxed and carefree lifestyle. After the Dude finishes with his iconic quote, Sam Elliott The Big Lebowski Strange explains: “The guy remains. I take comfort in that. It’s good to know that he’s out there, the Man, making life easier for all of us sinners.”

Everything that happened in the film – all the violence, intimidation and death threats – got in the way of what the Dude preferred to do: nothing. There was no lesson for the Dude to learn, no fear of achievement, no profound fulfillment, because he is perfectly happy just existing.

The Dude Abides became iconic

The quote took on a life of its own

“The guy remains” is a satisfying and strangely thought-provoking message to leave at the end of The Big Lebowski. As with many of the things associated with the film, this phrase has become more popular over the years, finding its way into pop culture and more. The Big Lebowski actor Jeff Bridges even embraced the love for the message, naming his band Jeff Bridges & The Abiders. “The guy remains“can be found on countless t-shirts and merchandise for fans of the film.

The message itself inspired books and teachings based on The Dude’s lifestyle. Although he is far from the most ambitious character, The Dude has gained a large following as a Zen master thanks to his philosophy of life. “The guy remains“as well as other memorable like”That’s exactly like your opinion, man”, suggests someone at peace with the world around them. Regardless of whether this is the intention of The Big LebowskiThe Dude and his enduring ways still impress audiences to this day.

The Dude Abides is a perfect example of why the Coen brothers are so good

The Coen brothers create memorable moments in all of their films

The fact that the Coen brothers created “The Dude Abides” to simply say that The Dude never changed while extracting it from the Bible shows the brothers’ brilliance and creativity. This is something they’ve done throughout their career, sprinkling things into many of their films that have ended up becoming iconic moments in cinematic history. All anyone has to do is look at the characters’ names – Marge Gunderson​​​​​​​, Ulysses Everett McGill​​​​​​​, Larry Gopnik, Anton Chigurh – to show your love of playing with words.

They also added many things to their films from classical sources. Having a quote from The Dude tied to the Bible is similar to many other film influences. Serial killer Anton Chigurh in There is no country for old people is based on the character Death from Ingmar Bergman’s film The Seventh Sealwhile the entire movie O brother, where are you? is based on Homer’s classic epic poem The Odyssey. The brothers’ extensive knowledge of literary and cinematic history flows throughout their films.

It’s also important to see that they love wordplay, which is why so many of their films remain instantly quotable. Most of the characters in his films aren’t the brightest, but this often makes his quotes shockingly repeatable because, often, of something they say that even the characters don’t understand. Look at Rising Arizonawhere Nic Cage’s “Hi” McDunnough has countless quotable lines, many of which his character probably made up on the spot.

The Big Lebowski is a good example of a film where the main protagonist is just along for the ride, and this quote is perfect for explaining this entire phenomenon. The Coen brothers use their mastery of wordplay to do this in many films, whether it’s Barton Fink’s breakdown in the film of the same name or Jerry Lundegaard’s fall from grace in Fargo. It’s what makes his films so beloved and often rewatchable.