The Graduate post

In the movie The Graduate, the element of music helps portray a major theme in Benjamin's life. In the very beginning of the film, the song The Sound of Silence is symbolic of the character's unknowingness of where his life will lead him after completing his freshman year of college. Through the use of close up shots and this particular song, the audience is able to observe Benjamin's facial expressions and the sense of loneliness and unknowingness he feels after his parents and neighbors ask him what he has planned for himself next. The theme of oblivion is a clear theme throughout Benjamin's journey as we watch him fall in to Mrs. Robinson's trap, all the while unaware of either of their intentions for the future. As the film continues, Mike Nichols uses the song Scarborough Fair/Canticle as his motif. By repeatedly incorporating this one song into several different scenes, it also helps portray Benjamin's feeling of stillness; no matter how hard his efforts, he is unable to completely win Elaine and her parents over. At the very end of the film however, Nichols once again uses The Sound of Silence, as the closing song of the movie while Elaine and Benjamin ride off together on a bus, totally unaware of where their lives will lead them next. While watching this film my attention was easily drawn to the intriguing soundtrack it includes, much to the credit of what each song symbolizes in Benjamin's life. In my opinion, what makes this film stand out from all of the others that we have watched in class, is the strategic and creative use of music to help keep the audience's attention even when there is no dialogue, and also portray certain characteristics of Benjamin as a person.