The Graduate And Goodbye Columbus: An Analysis

Both The Graduate and Goodbye Columbus were important books and movies during the 1960’s. However, the different tracks that their lead characters take say a great deal about wealth and class in that time period. Both Benjamin Braddock and Neil Klugman are at different spots when it comes to wealth and class. Charles Webb, who wrote The Graduate and Philip Roth, who wrote Goodbye Columbus, talking about drifting and striving as young people tried to find their place in the world

Benjamin Braddock is drifting through life as The Graduate opens and he appears lost as his plane lands in Los Angeles while Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” plays in the background. Benjamin comes from a well-to-do family in Los Angeles the son of a prosperous

attorney. At his graduation party’ all of his parent’s friends offer their advice, including one who recommends a career in “plastics.” He has all of the advantages that come with a wealthy family. However, he would rather sit at the bottom of his pool with his scuba gear and look through the chlorinated water and into the sky than get on with his life.

Neil Klugman in Goodbye Columbus is much different than Braddock because he comes from a middle class background in Newark, New Jersey. He has a low paying job at the public library and lives with his working class relatives. For Neil, he is two years out of the army and is trying to figure out how to move up in the world. He meets Brenda who is beautiful and wealthy. She lives a life unimagined by Neil and his family. Meeting her, Neil sees an opportunity to move up in the world but realizes that with his lack of money and social standing, the only way he can do that is by working for Brenda’s father. However he does not see himself fitting in at the company owned by Brenda’s father. He likes Brenda’s neighborhood but feels that he would be better off living in Newark.

What sets both Benjamin and Neil together is that they both want to break away from the parent’s beliefs and mores.

Benjamin Braddock is already starting at the top but does not know what he wants to do next. Benjamin, at the urging of his Mr. Robinson, wants him to sow some wild oats, and encourages him to have fun during the summer. Within a short period of time he is seduced by Mrs. Robinson and they begin an affair at the Taft Hotel. This is a destructive relationship because it’s only bound to become known since Mrs. Robinson has a drinking problem. When Benjamin is attracted to their daughter Elaine, a relationship that would seem appropriate, Mrs. Robinson does everything possible to undermine it. He breaks away from his parents mores but blows them up with his affair with Mrs. Robinson. Neil Klugman, on the other hand, sees the relationship as a chance to move upward. Neil is attracted to the rich life of Short Hill where Brenda and her family lives. At that time Newark New Jersey was undergoing some major changes as middle class families were leaving for the suburb and poorer families of color were taking their places. Neil wants to grab the “brass ring” and move up to a wealthier lifestyle and he see that the best way to accomplish this is to marry into Brenda’s family. Neil not fit well into Brenda’s family, and that mater, Brenda’s life. For him, he is more comfortable working at his low paid job in Newark and when Brenda realizes it, she ends the relationship. In Neil’s case, he wanted to strive upward but found that the price might be too high to

pay.

Both Benjamin Braddock and Neil Klugman are looking for their own “place.” Neil’s relationship with Brenda comes to a close. He better understands his limitations and realizes that Newark, for all of its problems is still his home. He returns to the public library in Newark a better person who is far more confident of himself and he realizes that he can build a life here. While living in Newark might not be the answer, it is the right answer for him. Benjamin Braddock finds his place too, although he blows up the lives of others in the process. After his affair with Mrs. Robinson is discovered, Benjamin is told that Elaine is getting married to her Berkeley boyfriend. When Benjamin eventually crashes the Elaine’s wedding, she tells he mother that “it’s not too late for me.” She is breaking away from her parents beliefs and mores, just as Benjamin has done the same. After they exchange vows, Benjamin and Elaine run away from the chapel and sit at the rear of a city bus, as the movie ends, and we are left to wonder what happens next.