The Graduate
Autor: Mikki • November 14, 2018 • 1,094 Words (5 Pages) • 445 Views
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Since most of the film focuses on Ben’s perspective, the way he thinks is explored in depth. From the opening shot, Ben is deep in thought. He spends most of his time thinking over his situation. Whether he’s floating in his pool, or trying to figure out exactly how to get past the suspicious hotel clerk, Ben puts a lot of thought into everything he does, but it’s mindless thought, it never leads to anything.
The other side of this is the subjective story’s thematic coin is shattered dreams. When Ben talks to Mrs. Robinson, he learns that she was an art major, but became pregnant with Elaine and had to get married, ultimately having to leave your dreams behind. Ben, in the beginning has no aspirations, but when he goes on his date with Elaine, he realizes that he is in love with her. His relationship with Mrs. Robinson, however, makes any hope for a long-term relationship with Elaine little more than a pipe dream.
The narrator maintains the somewhat passive tone throughout the story, even when things seem to be in an extreme state none of the characters are willing to deal with their actual problems. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s marriage is a sham and they bring to light that they don’t love each other. Yet rather than do something to remedy that problem, Mrs. Robinson avoids it completely, choosing instead to have an affair with Ben. On the other hand, Benjamin avoids the future that has been laid out for him and that he worked for in school. Then we have Mr. Robinson, when he finds out about Ben’s affair with his wife and his feelings for his daughter, Elaine is pulled out of school and spirited away to Santa Barbara to get married. The characters in The Graduate don’t seem to think their “avoidance” is problematic. Instead of working on their issues they focus their attention on helping and supporting Benjamin.
These points all help to maintain and expose the same level of the objective point of view. All the while the narrator keeps a passive tone the audience establishes their own opinions, I surely did. The only thing that the narrator makes clear is that Benjamin is lost and is grasping at straws.
Works Cited
- Webb, Charles. The Graduate, Electronic Kindle edition 2000.
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