Mike Nichol’s “The Graduate”
A Real Graduate
In Mike Nichol’s, “The Graduate” Ben (a shy, antisocial, college graduate) who attended school on the east coast for four years -more than likely to get away from his parents- returns home to his family and a life full of high expectations, confusion, and a love triangle. Most parents who want their children to be successful, ideally, would not want to have full control over their child’s career path. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Ben. The day he came home his parents threw him a graduation party -considering none of his real friends were invited- that was really for Mr. Braddock’s (Ben’s father) friends and business partners to associate. Though, the average 20 year old would be thrilled to receive a car for graduating college (or on any occasion for that matter). When Ben’s parents surprised him with an Alfa Romeo or as his dad’s guests might say “A wop-job” he didn’t seem too excited. After he became irritated with all the bogus compliments about graduating college, he raced up to his room to escape the madness. Thinking he was alone, Mrs. Robinson (one of Mr. Braddock’s business partners) walked into Ben’s room intentionally and exclaimed, “Oh I’m sorry, I thought this was the bathroom.” Afraid of her impeccable presence and his lack of experience with a woman, Ben becomes extremely nervous as she bluntly invited herself to sit on his bed. But her demanding tone of voice and her promiscuous personality was just the first sign; Mrs. Robinson was trying to make a move on him. In addition, while her husband Mr. Robinson was unaware of her actions, he suggested that Ben and their daughter Elaine should start talking. Sacrificing his personal time to satisfy everyone else’s desires is essentially one of Ben’s biggest problems. From a friendless graduation party to being seduced by his dad’s business partner, sadly, it is appropriate to say that Ben has a difficult time voicing his opinion and lacks the ability to dissuade a situation. Dealing with his ties in a love triangle and his high expectations from his parents, Ben learns the true meaning of a “graduate.” Having been off to college for four years, most students would probably agree that a few weeks of lying around and relaxing is completely ok. But according to Mr. Braddock, it is completely unacceptable. In a scene when Ben is hanging around the pool, his father asks him if he had thought about graduate school yet. When Ben replied: “No” his father furiously inquired “You mind telling me what these four years of college was for?’ Although he did pay for his son’s college education it does not empower him to regulate what Ben wants to do with his career. A week after his graduation party, Ben’s parents threw him another party for his twenty-first birthday which was seemingly- not for him. As a birthday gift, Mr. Braddock bought him a $200 scuba suit and wanted him to give the party guest a “practical demonstration” of its functions. While his father was bragging to his guests about Ben’s plans for “continuous education” and preparing them for their “feature presentation” Ben was in the house stalling time from the walk of embarrassment. His lousy dive into the pool (the “feature presentation”) concludes that Ben doesn’t really know how to stand up for himself. He knows how to “try” but he doesn’t yet know how to “do.” Celebrating his birthday with a few drinks (as most twenty-one year olds would) he calls Mrs. Robinson -mildly intoxicated- and asks her to meet him at a “hotel to have a drink” leaving us with the assumption that an affair is about to take place. When Mrs. Robinson arrives at the hotel she isn’t surprised that Ben hasn’t gotten a room yet. When she insinuates him to get a room, he utters “I mean we could, or we can just talk” which establishes that her idea of “having drinks” was not the same as his. In fact, she even initiates ordering the room for him and then pressures him into doing so. Enduring Ben’s vulnerable demeanor, it is not perplexing to illustrate the next scene -Mrs. Robinson engaging in her plan to seduce. It is no doubt that “Mrs. Robinson is a compelling character” (Smith 2). As she succeeded in the seduction, she simultaneously fails when Ben begins to elaborate on how his parents would react if they were to find out about their encounter. Changing the mood of the scene, Ben then asks how her daughter was conceived, only to find out: “it was in the back of a Ford.” Also unaware of Mrs. Robinson’s actions, when Mr. Braddock is notified that the Robinson’s daughter, Elaine, is coming home from Berkley; he too –like Mr. Robinson- believed they could “hit it off together.” After Mrs. Robinson finds out that there was a plan to initiate Ben and Elaine, without a doubt she immediately adheres Ben to a promise that he “will never take Elaine out.” But the promise is shortly broken when he takes her out days later. Trying to appear as if he wasn’t a shy and apprehensive guy (though we know the truth behind that) he takes her to a strip club. The degrading feeling she felt as he ignored her presence, without a doubt, drastically effected her. Realizing he was fallacious, he begged her to stop crying and began confessing his true feelings: “my parents forced me into it.” Throughout the date Ben gradually shows his affection for Elaine, explaining how he’s “never felt this way about anyone before.” It is obvious, that Ben is coming to the conclusion that he has to live his live for himself. Eager to see Ben again (intrigued by his soft, charming disposition) Elaine agrees on a second date, unprepared to endure the truth about her mom and soon to be lover. The surprising look on Ben’s face when he picks up Elaine and Mrs. Robinson is waiting outside, is a sign that something bad is yet to come. Upon entering the car, Mrs. Robinson threatens Ben “In order to keep Elaine away from you I am prepared to tell her everything.” With the determination to sustain his true love with Elaine, he races into the Robinsons house and reveals (his now regrettable) affair with Mrs. Robinson. Having found about the two, Elaine moves back to Berkley’s campus and almost instantaneously finds a new boyfriend, Carl Smith. Ben (jaded by his emotions) proclaims to his parents, “I’m going to marry Elaine.” Though his parents believe this idea is “half-baked” his intuition to revive his relationship with the love of his life; is far more important than his parents opinions. Discovering her current relationship with Carl, Ben inevitably still pursues Elaine –giving her a number of reasons why she should break-up with him- but doesn’t succeed in doing so. Continuously asking for her hand in matrimony (having been deliberately denied) we start see a side of Ben that we have never seen before ---the once perpetual view- not being able to voice his own opinion. The Robinsons (who by this time hate Ben) encourages Elaine to marry Carl, forcing their wedding ceremony to transpire immediately. Ben’s ambition for true love is finally put into light as he races down the California coast on the search for Elaine. With clues leading him to the chapel where she’s supposed to get married, Ben (a now protagonist character) runs out of gas a few blocks from the church; but doesn’t stop then. Nonetheless, he makes it to the church and objects the wedding (literally fighting) for Elaine. Establishing victory –by barricading the church- Ben and Elaine dash for the nearest bus and set off into a world of love and happiness. It was obvious when Ben’s parents decided to threw a party for him and not invite any of his friends, that voicing his opinion was seemingly, uncommon. Retrieving his relationship with Mrs. Robinson, his inability to revolt against her strong will to seduce, engaged him in a regretful affair. Enduring his relationship with Elaine, Ben has not only learned to speak up for what he wants but also for who he loves. It is said that “Love can make you do the darrn’est things” and Ben is essentially, a prime example of this famous line. Though he was manipulated and walked on by his parents (more so by his dad) and Mrs. Robinson, his ability to dissuade different situations, transcends overtime. Concluding his graduation from college, fighting for his true love and prospering from manipulation, Ben learns the true meaning of a “graduate.”