Another insight into Benjamin’s personality is the scene where he is in the scuba suit. This is Ben’s birthday, and his parents are dressing him up like a clown in order to show off to their friends. Ben hears nothing of what his father is saying, he doesn’t even care. His parents push him into the pool, and he sinks to the bottom and sits there until the screen turns white, giving the feeling that Benjamin is literally drowning in his parent’s world. Water plays a very important metaphorical role in the film: Water symbolizes the generational gap, which separates Ben, and the adults in his life. The montage in which Ben goes from the pool to the bed with Mrs. Robinson represents the other realm away from adults, which he is so keen on. In one scene, Ben gets up and closes the door to his room shutting off his parents from his view; this also symbolizes the gap of generation, and of values. Throughout the film, he frequently gazes at his fish tank, the water, and the tank or “enclosure” represents his detachment from his parents and their generation. One could think of the fish as representing Ben, swimming aimlessly, cut off from any real interaction with anyone, but with everyone looking in on him.

In every film, there are cinematic elements used to convey theme and emotion. The cinematic elements used in The Graduate were particularly interesting because the theme they were conveying was so strong and significant. The music had an incredible effect on the overall presentation, and on the audience, but more specifically, each song helped to convey themes and mood. For instance, during the montage in which Ben is in the pool and in bed, the song “Sounds of Silence” is playing; both the melody, and the words convey the solemnity of the mood, which Ben is going through. The words “Hello darkness my old friend” sticks in the audiences’ mind showing how he is just going through life, without any particular attention, or devotion to what he was doing. The “Sounds of Silence” also relates to the scene in which he can’t hear anything from inside the scuba suit. Ben feels silenced by his parents, like he can’t communicate with them. And the musical score helps convey this theme in a big way. During the graduation party, the camera movement is very interesting: There aren’t many cuts, mostly it is just a series of dizzying pans, which helps show how dizzy, and frantic Ben feels at the moment. The camera keeps swerving around to different greeters, and the effect reaches the viewer. The point of view shot combined with the silence in the scuba suit creates a claustrophobic, and detached feeling, which is exactly what the director wanted the observer and Ben to feel.

Some topics in this essay:
Benjamin Braddock, Robinson Elaine, Unlike Ben, Robinson Throughout, Protests Berkley, Ben Elaine, Berkley California, Elaine Benjamin’s, Robinson Towards, Elaine Ben, adults life, scuba suit, throughout film, “it’s late” elaine, ben feels, montage ben, musical score, doesn’t care, elaine live, ben elaine, daughter elaine,