Swimming Pool In Ben's Backyard example essay topic

Pool Scenes in The Graduate At first glance it may seem that the swimming pool in Ben's backyard is no more than an insignificant setting-choice for the movie. After close examination, however, the pool fills a critical role as the symbol of the recent college-graduate's internal struggle with decisions regarding his future. Key scenes involving the swimming pool and the related aquarium in Ben's room chronicle the evolution of his transition from adolescents into adulthood. The opening scene of the movie in which Ben's face is visible through the glass of his aquarium tank demonstrates his role as an adolescent upon arriving home from college. This is, however, only recognizable in a later scene taking place at the party his parents throw for him that evening. As Ben weaves through his parents friends, all questioning his future plans and giving un-solicited advice, he finds sanctuary in his childhood bedroom -- finding an escape from the questions he can not answer.

Looking down from his bedroom window, Ben stares at the lit-up swimming pool in his backyard. This scene introduces the pool as a significant element as well as a contrast to the aquarium, which is protected under the roof of his parents' home. In addition to the location of the pool outside as opposed to the aquarium in his room, the swimming pool is significantly larger and more exposed to external forces. This parallels Ben's view of adulthood as frightening and un-controllable. Seeking the safety and familiarity of his childhood, Ben remains in his bedroom -- with his aquarium. While hiding out in his bedroom, Ben receives a visitor named Mrs. Robinson-a friend of his parents.

This woman, the same age as his mother, becomes the catalyst for Ben's eventual transition into adulthood. The first evidence of this is after Mrs. Robinson requests a ride home from Ben; she tosses her car keys to him but instead of landing in Ben's hands, the keys fall into his fish aquarium. The emphasis of this action in the movie by a zoom-in and pause on the tank demonstrates its importance as Ben's childhood life, signified by the aquarium, has just been contaminated. The encounter foreshadows the loss of innocence that Ben experiences with his sexual relationship with Mrs. Robinson after she seduces him.

At first, however, Ben does not give into her advances -- -rejecting the idea of adult behaviors like an affair with a married woman. Resistance to growing up is further evident in his 21st birthday party at his parent's home. This age has long had social significance in our culture-with the age comes freedom to drink, the end of childhood, and most significantly for Ben, the official and very public entrance into the adult world. After receiving a wet suit and scuba gear for his birthday, Ben's parents ask him to take a swim in the pool to show off his new gift in front of the party guests. Objecting heavily, his father coerces him until he makes the walk from the house and enters the pool in his gear, obliging the crowd of his parents' friends. Eager to watch Ben find direction and become a career man, Ben's parents constantly pressure him to make decisions regarding his adult life.

The scuba gear he receives for his birthday represents his parents' attempt to force Ben to find his way into the adult world. Since he is not ready to make the transition by himself, the wetsuit provides a buffer between his present, unsure self and his future, adult self. In addition, asking him to enter the pool during the party, his parents demonstrate their need to show the rest of society that their son is making this transition -- as is expected of him. This is important because social expectations play an important part in every youth's crossing into adulthood. Directly following his submersion under water, Ben resurfaces momentarily-only to have his father push his head back under. This clearly represents Ben's resistance to adulthood as well as the heavy pressure his father place on him to grow up and make the life decisions that will secure his future in his parents' eyes.

Eventually, however, Ben does accept his new status as an adult-assisted in part by Mrs. Robinson and his new found sexuality. During their affair, Ben finds an aspect of adulthood that he can accept without making any difficult and irreversible decisions. The result is not exactly what his parent's had in mind, as Ben takes the summer off from everything. Instead, he enjoys his relationship with Mrs. Robinson and temporarily puts off the decisions that have been looming over him for so long.

This state of limbo is illustrated in Ben's idle sun bathing in his parent's pool. Instead of swimming, however, he floats on a raft while his parents look on with disapproval. Keeping with the idea that the swimming pool represents adulthood, or at least his parent's idea of adulthood, Ben finds a way to be in the adult world without actually submerging himself in it; he floats above it. These scenes all illustrate The Graduate's use of symbolism to demonstrate the primary conflict of this movie: Ben's uncertainty and hesitation in following society's expectations for him. The primary metaphor used -- the swimming pool -- signifies Ben's future in the adult world, which is initially contrasted to his childhood with the use of another metaphor: his fish aquarium. His interactions with these elements as well as the key characters in his life during different points in the film demonstrate his evolving attitude towards becoming an adult.