Sex, Scandal, and Satire

Mike Nichols's The Graduate follows the story of Benjamin Braddock and his attempt to discover adulthood and the options that are presented for him after college when he is intercepted by an affair with predatory neighbor Mrs. Robinson. An American classic, The Graduate effectively entertains its audience with multidimensional character developments between Benjamin, Mrs. Robinson, and Elaine, while also satirizing the the upper-middle-class society of Southern California during the 1960s. 

Mike Nichols, though often times too quick to jump to the easier one-liner, uses irony to skillfully parallel the almost childlike behavior of the adults in the film with the anxiety of the young bachelor (Benjamin) trying to work out his future. In doing so, Nichols projected a very loose and provocative environment that enabled the audience to understand the flaws in this adult society that perpetuated youthful and immature behavior. 

Benjamin served as the principle character that contrasted with the rest of the world around him, including his parents. Mrs. Robinson and her daughter, Elaine, represented the two paths Benjamin could have chosen as a graduate. By starting his affair with Mrs. Robinson, Benjamin unknowingly entered what he assumed to be the "adult" world, or rather the world that the adults in the film existed in. The humor, however, is that this adulthood that Benjamin experienced is actually quite childish. The adults in Ben's life are associated with luxury, parties, and relaxed attitudes. No one other than Benjamin seems to care about the future. Even so, sex was a rather new experience for Benjamin and therefore he is all to quick to see his affair with Mrs. Robinson as extremely scandalous for the upper-middle-class society, let alone a young boy.

Benjamin: Look, maybe we could do something else together. Mrs. Robinson, would you like to go to a movie? 

Then there is Elaine. Elaine serves as the promising adulthood that Benjamin sought out to acquire by the end of the film. Again, the humor is found where Elaine is the only other non-adult in the movie, yet she is by far the most mature individual in the film. If my explanation of the irony used is not enough, I advise you to watch the movie. It's truly hilarious. 

Though there are satirical elements found in The Graduate, I think that the concentration is not to make a large or very impactful commentary on society in the way most satires do. I think that surely Nichols and the actors tried to create a film that allowed the audience to connect in their own respective worlds, however the humor was majorly based on sexual innuendos and awkward interactions that were not constructed through satire. Therefore, this movie is more generally a romantic comedy with satirical elements, however most romantic comedies are that as well. 

Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, I can't do this anymore.
Mrs. Robinson: You what?
Benjamin: This is all terribly wrong.
Mrs. Robinson: Do you find me undesirable?
Benjamin: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson, I think, I think you are the most attractive of all my parents' friends. I mean that!