Alienation is one of the themes of The Graduate that make this film so popular among young people. Feeling misunderstood and feeling like an outsider are universal experiencea on the road to figuring out where you belong. Benjamin Braddock doesn't feel like he belongs in his parents' world, but hasn't yet landed anywhere more compatible because he doesn't even know what that place would be. He's turned off by almost everything he sees.
Nichols coveys Benjamin's isolation more cinematically than through anything Ben says, so we'll describe a few camera shots and dig up a few quotes as well. And we can't forget that perfect musical expression of Benjamin's mindset: "The Sound of Silence." Paul Simon wrote it when he was 21 (source).
Questions about Isolation and Alienation
- What about Ben's family makes him feel so different?
- Why does he want to hide out from his parents' friends at his graduation party?
- Do you think Ben felt isolated at college as well?
- How does the director's use of the camera convey Ben's sense of isolation?
Chew on This
The adults in Benjamin's life are all pretty shallow and focused on career success rather than finding meaning in life. No wonder he's alienated.
The adults in Benjamin's life really care about him and reach out in their own way. The problem is with Ben.