Dazed And Confused: One Quote From Each Character That Sums Up Their Personality

Richard Linklater’s acclaimed coming-of-age film, Dazed and Confused, is the essential high school movie about hanging out. Set on the last day of school in 1976, the film is filled with iconic characters. These characters fit the mold of the social hierarchy of school, and from the stoners to the football players, the film has them all. 

High school has its own language and the most likable characters in Linklater’s Dazed and Confused speak it to the tee. Unlike most teen movies and teen shows, the script is packed with realistic dialogue that matches its time and place. Whether talking about torturing Freshmans to lines about their more illegal hobbies, the characters all have a line that sums up who they are. 

Randall “Pink” Floyd

“I May Play Ball Next Fall, But I Will Never Sign That. Now Me And My Loser Friends Are Gonna Head Out To Buy Aerosmith Tickets.”

As the quarterback of the football team, Randal “Pink” Floyd doesn’t act like it. His mind isn’t always on football and he sees a world outside the field. Here, he’s talking with kids from the other side of the social chain while questioning his jock status. He knows he’s the king of the school, but he also has his teenage priorities.

It’s the last day of high school and Floyd and the rest of the football team are forced to sign a “no drug” policy in order to play football in the fall. Unlike his fellow teammates, Floyd has held back signing it. The next morning, after a group of them get busted hanging out on the football field after hours, Floyd finally gives his coaches his thoughts and tells them where he stands.

Don Dawson

“Well, All I’m Saying Is That I Want To Look Back And Say That I Did The Best I Could While I Was Stuck In This Place.”

There are two sides to every personality: the one you put on when in front of other people and the other you keep for yourself. Don Dawson may be a football player, but he doesn’t look the part. At school, he’s dressed in overalls, and he gives out advice to a freshman. Don also ditches class and tries to get a teacher to sneak off with him.

For Don, high school isn’t all there is and while hanging out on the football field, smoking pot and discussing high school, Don explains his beautiful philosophy. It’s an insightful look at high school, but also from the mind of a guy who is just trying to have the best time during the worst time in his life.

Jodi Kramer

“Take It Easy On My Brother This Summer.”

A lot of the female characters in Dazed and Confused don’t get as much love in the movie as their male counterparts. But despite getting a lot of screen time, the women of Linklater’s world have some killer moments. Jodi Kramer is the big sister to Mitch, the long-haired freshman who throws a mean curveball. And as an older sibling, she acts the part. 

She’s protective of her baby brother and as he prepares to enter the same halls and parties as her, she tries her best to make the transition painless as possible. She encourages her friends to take it easy on him, which doesn’t go well for Mitch, but it proves how much family means to her. Jodi loves her brother and it shows.

Ron Slater

“Oh, A Little Weed, You Know? There May Be A Beer Bust Later On.”

There’s always one stoner character in every high school movie. One of the most iconic characters in Dazed and Confused is Slater, the pot-addled senior who’s always high. 

Slater may be often high, but he’s got some important things to say, from philosophizing about the truth behind George Washington and how Martha Washington was a hip lady to what’s going on behind the one-dollar bill. That said, who he is and what makes him happy all come down to two things: drugs and beer. 

Cynthia Dunn

“I’d Like To Quit Thinking Of The Present, Like Right Now, As Some Minor Insignificant Preamble To Something Else.”

There are two sides of the high school social hierarchy that are displayed in Dazed and Confused: the popular, cool kids and the rest of the kids. Cynthia Dunn falls between the two. She may not be popular, but she knows who she is, and along with her two best friends, she’s as cool as they get.

Cynthia is one of those kids who you can count on. She’s a reliable friend and the best person to talk to about the future. Long conversations through the night or long car rides, she’s there and she’ll be the one buying pancakes. During one of these conversations, while driving around town, Cynthia talks about being in the moment and how they should be enjoying themselves, thus the three are going out and having fun.

Mike Newhouse

“It’s What Everybody In this Car Needs Is Some Good Ol’ Worthwhile Visceral Experience.”

If you’re ever in search of the truth, go to Mike. He’s honest and tells it like it is — whether it’s talking with Randall about the “no drug” policy and expressing his desire to dance instead of helping others or making his observations about drugs out loud.

What do you do on the last day of school before summer break? You go out with your friends and have the time of your life. Mike and his friends decided to change plans when they find out there’s a party going on and his line about having a visceral experience highlights what he hopes to happen during his time: real experiences. 

Darla Marks

“Air Raid Or It’s Your Ass.”

There are certain traditions that every teen goes through in high school, such as prom and graduation. But if you are a teen in Dazed and Confused, you have the traditional freshman hazing to add to the list. It’s a full-on event where concessions are sold, adults turn their heads and other students watch like it’s a car wreck, unable to look away. 

Darla Marks, the head senior girl, takes pride in torturing the freshmen girls, and she breaks them down by screaming “Air Raid!” Long after the hazing moment, Darla continues her wrath on the freshmen, which tells you exactly who she is. Every high school has those girls that think they are the queen of the school. In Dazed and Confused, it’s Darla.

Mitch Kramer

“You Know Every Second That You Could Let Us Out Early Would Really Increase Our Chances Of Survival.”

High school can either be a great time or a walking nightmare, it all depends on what side of the high school spectrum you fall under: the athlete, the stoner, the pretty girl or somewhere in between.

But what if you are Mitch Kramer? He’s a pitcher on his baseball team, but he’s also the kid with long hair who gives off geeky vibes. He’s also on the verge of entering high school, which means his summer will include getting pummeled by seniors. Mitch is also the kind of kid who looks after his friends, going as far as getting revenge on Ben Affleck’s character, Fred. This makes his plea to his teacher that much more revealing of his character.

David Wooderson

“That’s What I Like About These High School Girls: I Get Older, They Stay The Same Age.”

Matthew McConaughey’s debut in Dazed and Confused is iconic. As Wooderson, the cool yet older guy who still hangs out with the high school kids, McConaughey seems right at home in the part, as if it was created just for him. 

Wooderson comes off as cool with his fancy car and city job, but underneath it all, he’s still the creepy guy who wants to relive his high school days. When Wooderson asks about the freshman girls, it signifies the type of guy he is. Even Don is quick to say that what Wooderson is suggesting is illegal, but Wooderson adds this line, which is creepy but in line with his personality.

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