So what did Ben end up doing with his life?
After he married Elaine, what would he have ended up doing? A career in plastics?
shareI've often wondered that myself. I can't help but think that Elaine came to her senses and probably dumped Benjamin after 6 months, a year tops. Benjamin went on to become a car salesman. But his bad reputation prevented him from working anywhere near his home town.
Don't mess with me, man! I know karate, judo, ju-jitsu..... and several other Japanese words.
Benjamin was a self-centered drip! No charm, personality, or friends! I can't find myself to like him
shareAfter he married Elaine, what would he have ended up doing? A career in plastics?
No.
They didn't have to get married. Standard 50's "marriage" and the fake, plastic life it forced on people back then was what they were running away from.
I can't help but think that Elaine came to her senses and probably dumped Benjamin after 6 months, a year tops. Benjamin went on to become a car salesman.
No.
I mean in the real world that might have happened. But this is a symbolic movie and as the parents represented the '50's so Ben and Elaine represented the 60's. A massive separation and distancing from the plastic world of their parents and with at least the hope of creating something new and better.
It isn't so important what they DO next. The message is that what matters is what they DON'T do (which is follow in their parents' footsteps). share
*Spoilers*
In the sequel, "Home School," written by the original author, Elaine and Ben are married. The book is set 10-years later. Elaine's father has died from a heart attack, and in his will, left her a house in upstate New York, where she and Ben now live. They have two children- both boys- whom they school at home, and have a restraining order out on Mrs. Robinson, to keep her away from their kids. Ben works locally, as a librarian. You should read the book to find out what happens!
You should read the book ["Home School," written by the original author] to find out what happens!
Hmm... at least a few critics didn't seem to put much stock in that novel as being a true sequel to the movie, though:
David L. Ulin of the Los Angeles Times wrote that Ben, Elaine, and Mrs. Robinson "are just names, for the people here bear virtually no relation to the ones in The Graduate."[8] Ulin also described the three in Home School as "flat and lifeless, caricatures with no heart." [9] Ulin stated that Home School "is such a bad book on so many levels", a "failure",[8] and that it was a book which does not give reasons for the readers to care about the characters.[9] Ulin concluded, "After reading Home School I wish we'd never seen Benjamin and Elaine get off that bus."[9]
Kirkus Reviews wrote that Home School is "A bit of fluff sure to satisfy those clamoring for a Graduate sequel."[10]
Have you read it? I'm not sure I'm all that excited to read it, based on the above reviews...
Don't mess with me, man! I know karate, judo, ju-jitsu..... and several other Japanese words. share
Have you read it? I'm not sure I'm all that excited to read it, based on the above reviews...
Thanks Zolotoy. That news was appreciated.
Actually, I have read The Graduate novel. It is pretty good, but there reasons it wasn't nearly as acclaimed and iconic as the movie.
It's funny, because the ending of the novel is almost exactly the same as the movie and both seem to demand that no sequel could possibly do the story the justice the ambiguity of the ending provides.
So, though I didn't read the sequel novel, I can easily believe that any sequel written was just meant as a money maker not as a true and necessary continuation of the story. share
Have you read it? I'm not sure I'm all that excited to read it, based on the above reviews...
Yes, I've read both books. Neither is exactly "The Great American Novel." Both are economically written, and much of their insights is revealed through the dialog between the characters. What I like about the sequel is, while in The Graduate, we got to know Ben and Mrs. Robinson fairly well, Home School lets us get closer to Elaine Braddock. She's really quite funny. I didn't read any reviews, before buying the book. I made up my own mind. I think some who didn't like it may have been expecting something unreasonable- too spectacular- for Ben and Elaine, like they be elected President and First Lady of the US, or some such nonsense, rather than simply joining society, as a normal couple. I don't put much faith in professional critics, and regard them essentially as leeches on the cultural community. But just to counter your argument, here are a few who liked Home School.
'Favorable reviews included those of Dennis Lythgoe, in Deseret News, describing the book as "very well-written and very funny". Jonathan Beckman reviewed the work for the Daily Mail, describing it as a "witty and bitingly accurate tale of suburban frustration whose slightness is integral to its charm." Jerry Dowlen, writing for Books Monthly, opined that "The story gives us two "families from hell" who defiantly insist upon normalising their cranky lifestyles and behaviour. It's a recipe once again for bittersweet comedy and edgy tension."'
*Spoiler*
Just for the record, Home School has an interesing twist at the end. share