- Benjamin Braddock
Benjamin Braddock is a fictional character in
Charles Webb 's 1963 novel (as well as the 1967 film) "The Graduate ".tory (1967 film)
Benjamin Braddock is a recent college graduate. Although his future looks promising, he is full of anxiety, uncertain about what to do next. He returns to his parents' home in Los Angeles and drifts aimlessly. An old family acquaintance
Mrs. Robinson attempts to seduce him. Eventually Ben complies.The Braddocks and Mr. Robinson (who does not know about the continuing affair) arrange a date for Ben with the Robinsons' daughter, Elaine. Mrs. Robinson demands that Ben cancel the date, but he is unable to avoid it. Despite his attempts to make the evening unpleasant, he and Elaine hit it off.
Ben tries to end the affair with Mrs. Robinson. She in turn quashes his involvement with her daughter by telling Elaine that Ben raped her. Ben pursues Elaine to UC Berkeley to win her back. However, Elaine has accepted the marriage proposal of someone else.
Ben discovers the location of the wedding. He sneaks into the glassed-in choir loft above the chapel. He pounds on the window and calls out to Elaine just as the vows are completed. She abandons the groom at the altar and runs to Ben. They bar the church doors and escape on a city bus. The joy of being united fades almost instantly. The two stare blankly wondering what to do next.
Point of Interest
Benjamin Braddock shares an interesting parallel with the real-life
Branwell Brontë , the painter, writer and sibling of the more famousBrontë sisters in that Brontë was also seduced by a woman known simply as Mrs. Robinson.
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