Coming Of Age In The Film 'The Graduate'

"The Graduate" has many different and complex themes that run throughout the film. The main theme of this story is the coming of age for a college graduate. Showing the theme coming of age is presented with a message of innocence being pushed into making undesirable decisions and learning how to deal with them. The characters put Ben into uncomfortable positions and can be seen as many different occurrences along with sex and relationships. It depicts a time when no one has any idea what the future has in store and makes the audience see his vulnerability to his surroundings. By portraying this to the audience, the story puts forth a message that coming of age is never how we interpret it to be.

Benjamin's uncertainty is what makes up

this theme. He attempts to acknowledge this change, but is also very unsure of what is to come in the future. Benjamin’s role in the story is the perfect example to show how this theme was presented. He is a very innocent and confused young man that is seduced literally and figuratively by a corrupt and selfish older generation. Being seduced is looked at to be a pleasant experience with another individual the same age but only at an appropriate time. Ben showed a great deal of hesitation when meeting Mrs. Robinson for the first time in the hotel because his adolescent mind was still so pure. The timing was inappropriate and Mrs.Robinson knew that. She also knew that she was married and the decision to seduce Ben would come with consequences if Mr. Robinson were to find out. This scene is what makes the theme become clear. By capturing a time of America’s youth and how they come face to face with manipulative individuals from a older generation. The film is significant even in today’s society because this theme is closely related our generation.
The film has many different examples that correlate with the main overall theme coming of age. One example can be summed up as Ben arriving home from college and everyone waiting back home expecting him to be some sort of self-made boss to say the least. Growing up you come across expectations that are placed upon you from older generations and these expectations can be discouraging when you do not meet them. In Ben’s case, everyone has high expectations for him but seem worried because Ben looks to be putting off his future and not using him time wisely just “floating around.” The reason for this is because Ben is suppose to have a successful future as a partner for Elaine’s Dad’s firm. Instead Ben looks to be doing “God knows what,” instead of setting goals for himself. Your future and expectations can be very motivating or discouraging and this seems to discourage Ben in the film.
Most of the characters in the film try to push Ben into making decisions. This is a good example of how our interpretation of adulthood is false because we come into the world thinking that we make our own decisions when we want, but sometimes we are forced due to others actions. An example of this is whether Ben should have an affair or not. At this age many young adults come across this situation and it can be very uncomfortable because for many it is their first time exploring their sexuality. Another example would be choosing whether he is going to get into a relationship with Elaine or not. The decisions that he makes don't appear to be the smartest of moves. Decision making is a skill that is developed when we reach adulthood. His decision making is proof that he is not fully matured and has not reached his prime in adulthood.
A huge part of reaching adulthood is finding yourself and knowing where you want to go in the future.

Symbolism is used throughout the film in many different ways to show how Ben is still growing up and is deciding on how he wants his future to be. When Mr.Mcguire tells Ben the simple word “Plastics”, it catches him off guard. This scene is a great example of symbolism because that one word can only be described as an artificial substance. Plastic is not grown or found naturally anywhere, it can only be created by man. Synthetic is the only word to describe “Plastics” and that is what creates this unnatural vibe for Ben when he hears it. Ben does not want a synthetic life, in fact, he seeks the opposite. To Ben, a future in “plastics” sounds completely fake. Ben needs his future to be real and having a profession in “plastics” would not be real enough for him. Ben has been turned off by the idea of obtaining wealth like his father and seems to despise anything that would related to his father’s lifestyle. The symbolism in that scene can have many different meanings in the movie such as the pursuit of wealth like his father tries to force on him. It can even symbolise his relationship with Mrs. Robinson, completely

synthetic.
The film also shows Ben looking through glass multiple times throughout the film and it represents something deeper than what most people can imagine. The scenes of Ben looking through the glass can be looked at as how he views the world. The fact of the matter is that he can see the world from a distance. He is aware of it completely, however, he also feels isolated from it. He's on the outside looking in at his surrounding and feels completely distances from it. The world has cut him off from their reality and forced him to be an outsider. Ben is forced to observe sadly behind the window in the congregation as Elaine marries someone else. Although it is truly Ben’s choice to be the outsider, the world has somewhat constructed his life to be behind the glass looking in because he is in such a vulnerable state as an adolescent. A child is easily manipulated in a world that is so deceiving if they do not take the steps to mature and realize that they need to take control of their own life. In the end of the movie when Ben breaks through the church to stop the wedding he has an emotional break through because he finally makes his own decision to take part in something he wants to obtain. Ben no longer just goes with the flow of the other characters in the film and this is a huge step of becoming an adult.
The wedding being a breakthrough for Ben shows that at the end of the film Ben has matured some.

The bus scene after the wedding is very symbolic and leads to the question “What now?” It appears clear that whatever happens next for Ben and Elaine it will not be forced upon them like all of the situations they faced throughout the movie. They both made the decision to break free from the restraint that the other characters put on them and now will live life how they wish. The change of facial expressions on both Ben and Elaine’s face go from happy at first to a dull more blank expression. Showing this sudden change in facial expression depicts the realization of how they will now have to live their lives. It is evident that they will not have “normal” lives anymore because Elaine just ran away from her wedding and Ben took Elaine away from her mother who he had an affair with. Holiday’s at the in-laws sounds ravaging. This is when everything that led to the church scene sets in and they must take accountability for it. This does not necessarily mean that they regret their decisions but only that they realize that they are now responsible for what the future holds now. The people on the bus stare at Ben and Elaine with confused expressions on their faces and that reveals to all of the viewers that we have to think about life's uncertainties and take responsibility for the

future.
In conclusion, the film portraits a story of how a graduate comes home from college and learns how to be the deciding factor in his own life. Ben goes through situations that normally only young adolescents on the edge of becoming an adult face. These situations can never be interpreted completely until they are faced and dealt with. Experience is the true teacher in life no matter how many degrees you obtain, college graduate or not. The future, relationships, one's sex life, etc. all can be very difficult to get a grasp on at this point in Ben’s life and sometimes it is not fully grasped by even adults in their later years. For many, they have to make some undesirable decisions when they come across these topics but that is all apart of adulthood.