MovieChat Forums > The Graduate (1967) Discussion > Mrs. Robinson's character

Mrs. Robinson's character

posted 8 years ago by billreynolds
17 replies | jump to latest

I find Mrs. Robinson by far the most interesting character in this movie. I really want to know a lot more about her, for example:

What did she see in Benjamin? She made such an aggressive play for him, which seems a little strange given that he was not drop-dead gorgeous and also was very timid, hesitant, and un-suave. Were those the qualities about him that attracted her? If so, why? Why did such a sexy, experienced, sophisticated woman want to be with a bumbling, very youthful 21-year-old? It's implied that Benjamin has no sexual experience at all, so he isn't likely to be a great lover, and Mrs. Robinson doesn't appear to spend any time educating him sexually.

Why did she make the move on him when she did, as opposed to some previous time? Obviously they had known each other and seen each other periodically throughout their lives. Had she been attracted to him for years?

Was this her only affair? Seems unlikely, given that she could probably have her pick of guys and that she seems to have never really loved her husband much. If she had other affairs, were they also with young, weaker men?

Did she really care about Benjamin? I think the movie implies yes - that she doesn't want him to be with Elaine because of jealousy. She seems really devastated when he arrives to take Elaine out. But again, it's a little hard to understand why. Was she hoping to run away with Benjamin?

"The tastes and weaknesses of an artist but [] no actual creative inspiration." -- Fitzgerald

[–] Danny-Sichmeller 8 years ago

Maybe she saw inside he was a man who would make her happy. I mean he kept going back to meet her and show her attention her husband didn't . Maybe she saw he was lonely and so was she.

[–] ChrisCuda 8 years ago

I have always taken it in simple terms....she was a rich, bored housewife who decided to take things up a notch and have some fun. What bigger, more exciting risk than to go after Ben?

[–] timroth 8 years ago

Mrs. Robinson went after the Ben for the same reason that many men like to seduce young virgins... the challenge. Also, she knew Ben would keep quiet about the affair since his parents would not be too happy with him sleeping with their married friend. As to why she did not want Elaine dating Ben, since Mrs. Robinson had very little self respect, she ironically felt that Ben was not good enough for her daughter since he had slept with her. In a way, this is a variation on the old Groucho Marx joke; "I have no respect for any club that would have me as a member".

[–] billreynolds 8 years ago

I have to respectfully disagree. When Benjamin arrives to pick up Elaine for their date, Mrs. Robinson seems truly upset - more than she would be if Elaine was going out with a guy she thought was beneath her. It seems more than clear that Mrs. Robinson is possessive of Ben, and jealous of his relationship with her daughter.

"The tastes and weaknesses of an artist but [] no actual creative inspiration." -- Fitzgerald

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

yes it is like stealing a 20yo ford if you're going to steal and go to jail for it you may as well steal a porche and fun for a while.

[–] bobbydallas (8522) 4 years ago

haha. exactly ^

[–] mals2011 8 years ago

She was a predator. She saw how vulnerable and confused Ben was and went after him. The predator always goes for the weakest in the herd. I agree she was jealous - but not of Ben, of Elaine. She saw everything in Elaine she had lost, but seemed to be sending her along the same road she had been down, even though she loved her. The unplanned pregnancy, the loss of meaning to her life, the (resultant?) excessive drinking..what a bitter, sad woman.

Only the suppressed word is dangerous...
Ludwig Borne

[–] slimone (7996) 7 years ago

Exactly! There was nothing gentle, compassionate, or understanding about Mrs. Robinson. She might have had some issues in her life, but instead of getting help or being a little insightful about herself, she went in the opposite direction and became demanding, compulsive, and downright mean. Yes, she was a bitter, sad woman and she was also a real bitch.

[–] db20db (17237) 7 years ago

This is dead on ! She was obviously a domineering, controlling woman used to getting her way.

Her jealousy of Elaine was indirectly demonstrated at the very beginning when she lured Ben into her bedroom to display her portrait. It was graphically displayed in the climactic scene at the church when she told Elaine, "It's too late ! " To which Elaine defiantly responded " Not for me ! " She then viciously slapped Elaine twice.

[–] strntz (12254) 7 years ago

She saw everything in Elaine she had lost, but seemed to be sending her along the same road she had been down, even though she loved her.

Yep.

After losing her self respect (something that happened years before Ben I'm sure), she could at least live vicariously through Elaine if nothing else.

[–] CountJohn (602) 7 years ago

I think she reason she goes after Benjamin is that she's insecure due to being kicked out of bed by her husband an thinks only someone like him could want her. It is entirely possible she had done this was other, similar younger men but the movie does not state anything about it.

One of my big pet peeves about this is people constantly asking why she didn't want Ben to date Elaine. If you were in a sexual relationship with someone would you want them to turn around and start dating your kid? I don't think so, really nothing to "understand" about that. Benjamin doesn't get it because he's super socially dense and that's a trait of the character, but the rest of us should do better.

[–] forlorn_rage (163) a year ago

Was it explicitly mentioned Mr. Robinson the one that kicked his out of their bed?

[–] redban (6194) 3 years ago

1). She didn't see much in Benjamin. He was awkward, not physically attractive. I get the impression that she sought this affair with Ben out of boredom. She was a housewife, who spent her days doing nothing (Ben asks, "What did you do today?" She replies, "I got up, made breakfast"). Her relationship with the husband also seemed bad. They didn't talk much, they slept in separate rooms etc. .... Basically, she seemed to get with Ben because she wanted some thrill, any thrill, in her dull life.

2). She didn't really care about Benjamin. She also wasn't jealous about Elaine's being with Ben. The reason she didn't want Ben with Elaine is that she didn't think Ben was good enough. She was acting out of motherly concern about Elain. Ben wasn't good looking enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't rich enough, didn't have plans for his future. Mrs. Robinson wanted Elaine to marry Carl, the good-looking dude with a future.

[–] liscarkat (18410) a year ago

I had a very similar experience with a woman in her thirties when I was in my late teens. It's not that I was particularly attractive or fascinating--I most certainly wasn't. I think she was lonely and horney, and saw that I was an inexperienced, shy virgin, so she could easily manipulate me.