The Dude abides. That’s become a Zen koan as much as a movie line, and so it’s open to a variety of interpretations. From a character who’s ascended to stoner-icon status, it can represent the laid-back attitude of taking life as it comes, remaining open to new experiences and relationships. That perspective has turned the Dude into a cult figure, someone to emulate and admire. There’s a darker way to view it, though, and the great thing about the Dude is that he — and the movie he stars in — contains multitudes.
