The Graduate Essay

Submitted By Arsmith1981
Words: 612
Pages: 3
Open Document
Anthony Smith
Lit. 231
The Graduate
10/14/14

Water, the world’s best solvent The 1967 film “The Graduate” undeniably contains many themes throughout its story line. The powerful themes it contains and clever filming style is still being referred to and talked about today, almost fifty years later. Director Mike Nichols displays his creative talent and knowledge of film by making true movie magic that ultimately led to his winning an Academy Award. Nichols clever mind is to thank for making “The Graduate” the box office smash that it was, launching Dustin Hoffman’s career at the same time. One of the most prominent themes found within this film is the use of water. As Dustin Hoffman’s character Benjamin changes, the way in which water is seen changes as well, becoming a character all its own. The first scene in which water makes a powerful statement is early on in the movie when Ben is finally home from college. He is sitting in his room relaxing and thinking about his unclear future. His controlling and smothering parents have thrown Ben a lavish graduation party he clearly wants nothing to do with. In the room is a large fish tank and at the bottom there is a little man dressed in scuba gear for decoration blowing bubbles. As we see Ben in this shot sitting in front of the tank, it looks as though his head is actually in the tank, alluding to how Ben is feeling. His parents are making him feel trapped and smothering him by inviting all of these people over to their home. One might say Ben can relate to the little man in the tank, by being made to feel the same way. During Bens summer break he spends a lot of time in the backyard making use of the pool. This is one of the more subtle uses of water in the film. It may seem that Ben is enjoying himself and relaxing but after a closer examination one might think differently. Much like his unclear future, Ben is simply going through the motions not knowing what he wants to do or where he might end up. This is represented by his floating around aimlessly on a raft. One of the most powerful scenes involving water also takes place at the pool. Once again
Show More

Related Documents: The Graduate Essay

The Graduate

The Graduate The Graduate is 1967 film that was based on a 1963 novel, The Graduate. I have viewed both the screenplay and the trailer of this film. The trailer took important scenes and presented them in such ways that could actually change the plot of the movie in some ways. The trailer combined so many key shots of the film that gives you just enough to engage you emotionally and spark your curiosity. As the trailer begins you immediately hear an asynchronous sound (Sikov, 79) of background…

Words 2189 - Pages 9

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships Why do you deserve an assistantship position, and how will you balance GA responsibilities and school obligations? I believe that my work ethic, character, and passion are qualities that set me apart from other applicants for this position. As an employee, I am extremely industrious and push myself to perform at a high level. I am also very ambitious and continually seek out opportunities that will positively impact my future career in educational administration. I am highly…

Words 777 - Pages 4

Introduction To Graduate Studies

HCS/504/Introduction To Graduate Study In Health Science March 06, 2015 A decision to come back to school for the purpose of completing graduate studies is not any easy decision. Not only, graduate studies differ in their requirement in comparison to undergraduate studies, but also graduate students are older in their age and mostly have to complete their education while having a job and a family. In my paper, I am going to present and discuss some main challenges a person may face…

Words 1068 - Pages 5

The Importance Of A Graduate College

When I was a graduate student I could not have told you the name of the dean of the graduate college within which I was enrolled nor the name of the dean of the college in which I taught for six years. And I could not have named either because neither dean affected my daily life. I probably could have named my university’s president because he was frequently in the news, but I doubt I was even aware that a provost existed. As a graduate student, you’re generally shielded from layers of administration…

Words 2105 - Pages 9

Graduates And Dropouts Essay

between dropouts and graduates What is the benefit to graduate? What is the benefit of being drop out of school? People state a lot of different opinions on these two topics. In today’s society, there are more students choose to drop out of school; the percentages of graduates are kept decreasing. So mandatory attendance law are necessary, because in the future, the graduates have better living conditions and more successful life than dropouts. Compare to the dropouts, the graduates have more average…

Words 764 - Pages 4

A New Graduate Nurse

Jane was initially in the " Honeymoon" phase of reality shock, would first and foremost be that she is a novice graduate. She is excited about her new future, eager to learn, and feeling confident in her abilities to perform her tasks efficiently in the "real world" of nursing. All of these scenarios are characteristic of the Honeymoon phase, Kramer states in Chapter one " The recent graduate is thrilled with completing…

Words 443 - Pages 2

The Graduate Film Analysis

response to the American New Wave, Hollywood began to establish a new form of cinematic creation with more youthful directors that offered up ideas and conveyed emotion that had not yet established as a form, which resulted in New Hollywood Cinema. The Graduate, a common film referred to as the basis for America’s fresh film techniques, was directed by Mike Nichols and released in 1967. A key cinematic element that Nichols chose to highlight and use to express a variety of emotions emulating from the characters…

Words 676 - Pages 3

Graduate Degree Balancing

Earning a graduate degree while balancing between life events of family, earning an income as well as achieving a graduate degree can be tedious without managed energy to control time and effort. A defined balance between all activities is a key element to success while also allowing for support of friends, co-workers, or students to ease some pain when overwhelmed. Becoming successful while balancing continuous life events of being a family member, manager, and student can take considerable effort…

Words 415 - Pages 2

Graduate Student Essay

NMXnzNKptIRwujUsHMLy Ddoeidifirkedodididkdkekdkodidkke,dkdkidiekeksididkdkdkke Ididkdkdkkdkdkdkdkdkdikdokdeodokedidkdkddiooodaccusing Pierre of Illuminism, others supporting him. At that meeting he was struck for the first time by the endless variety of men's minds, which prevents a truth from ever presenting itself identically to two persons. Even those members who seemed to be on his side understood him in their own way with limitations and alterations he could not agree to, as what he always…

Words 1872 - Pages 8

The Graduate and Mrs. Robinson Essay

Chris Baird Cine 105 Paper 1 The film The Graduate, directed by Mike Nichols, Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock who recently graduated college. The explicit meaning of the movie is Ben has just graduated college and has moved back home to live with his parents. He begins an affair with a family friend named Mrs. Robinson. The implicit meaning of the film is Ben has just graduated college and is still confused about what his future hold for him. In the meantime, he moves back home…

Words 585 - Pages 3