Counterculture In The Graduate

Most believe that the 1960’s was all about rock, hippies, and the war. However, The Graduate took a different approach about the culture and class of 1960’s. The Graduate takes place in the upper class rather than lower/middle class. The themes of The Graduate is a reflection of counterculture of the upper class. During the movie, you get an idea of Ben’s character and understand that he is not like most in his family and others in his class. In the very beginning you get a sense that Ben is uncomfortable with his surroundings and the party. During the whole scene, all the adults asked him, “What are you going to do now?” Ben’s answer was that he was unclear and confused on his future. During the entire film, Ben’s parents keep pressuring him to be successful, to be one of “The Plastics.” This theme is a clear indicator of counterculture. During the whole movie, you see and hear about people taking pride in meaningless possessions and that’s what Ben’s parents want for him. However, Ben doesn’t want that, Ben wants his life to be different. During the whole film, Ben is unhappy with his life because he feels unsuccessful, and he doesn’t want to live like his parents filling holes with meaningless objects. Ben begins to change during the film by drinking more and smoking reflecting on how he’s trying to fill the emptiness in his life
Thus, entails that he is trapped in the pool like the scuba diver trapped in the fish tank. And that’s where all the meaningless sex and laziness comes into play, to fill emptiness. This is as why Mrs. Robinson didn’t want Ben to take her daughter on a date. She didn’t want her daughter to make the same mistakes that she had, which is what went into the rash decisions of stalking and running away