Walter seems to get angry with and yell at pretty much everyone he encounters, often with little or no reason.
Yet on two occasions Jesus comes over to Walter and insults him, but Walter says nothing.
Any thoughts on why this might be?
(I remember this being asked somewhere else a while back, can't remember where though.)
Good question. Why do you think this is the case?
shareMaybe because everything about Jesus is so completely alien to Walter (except the passion for bowling) that Walter is kind of bemused rather than angered when confronted by him?
shareThat could be it. My best guess is that Walter recognizes an unpredictability, and a propensity for violence, in Jesus that is similar to what he sees in himself. He tends only to intimidate the weaker men around him, men he knows will back down. I think he may worry that Jesus won't back down and he'll be forced to make a tough decision.
shareCould be right - Walter also doesn't confront the guy who angrily smashes the Dude's car after Walter had attacked his car (if I remember the scene right), so maybe Walter holds back if he senses or sees a capacity for violence in the other person.
(Although he does get into a violent confrontation with the nihilists near the end of the movie, so who knows.)
Walter is afraid that Jesus will take his piece, shove it up his ass, and pull the trigger till it goes click.
shareWalter is literally terrified of Jesus. This is obvious to anyone who doesn't admire and identify with Walter and wish he was their big cuddly teddy bear protector.
shareHe realizes that what Jesus says is, just like, his opinion, man.
shareWalter respects and fears The Jesus, plus his recent renunciation of Christ in favor of his ex-wife's Judaism probably plays on Walter's guilt, subconsciously.
share