The Graduate; 'Good girl, Bad girl'

Released in the 1960s, the film, The Graduate does not follow the conventional terms addressed in Tamar McDonald's book, "Romantic Comedy." In her book it states that in a Sex Comedy, "men were supposed to have pre-marital sexual experience, and women were not" (McDonald 41). This information came from a report done by Alfred Kinsey's on Sexual Behaviour in the Human Female.

Thus, women who did have pre-marital sexual experiences created "a new moral climate which no longer assumed 'nice girls' would insist on marriage before sex," forming the 'good girl, bad girl,' motif in films (McDonald 42). Eventually, it is the 'good' girl in the film, the one who does not give into the mans seductive influences, who ends up marrying him (McDonald 46). In The Graduate, it is unique in that it does not follow much of these reoccurring themes, however, it does fit into some of the sex comedy themes.

Ben Braddock, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman, is trapped in a dilemma. Soon after graduating from college, he is faced with dealing with what to do with his future, a daunting task that is universally relatable. However, this becomes a minor, insignificant problem when it comes to his love life.
Pursued by an old family friends wife, Ben is faced to with decision of either to have a love affair with an older-aged woman, or not and defy the results of Kinsey.

First, Ben rejects this notion, but eventually, he attempts to fit into the definition of what a man is supposed to do, despite how afraid and uneasy he felt. The woman in question, Mrs. Robinson, is essentially the 'bad girl,' in this film. Already married, although unhappily, she pursues a man decades younger than her by seducing him with a tempting offer.

It is already know that the 'bad' girl won't get the man, therefore, we can assume that the daughter is the 'good' girl who will eventually marry Ben, no matter to obstacles he faces. Elaine is Mrs. Robinson's daughter who unlike her 'cougar' mother, is genuine and real in Ben's eyes, never giving into his advances until the offer of marriage. In closing, though Ben does portray the assumed pre-martial sexual experiences that men should do, he does it reluctantly for a time. Additionally, although there is a 'bad' girl in the film, she does not pursue for marriage as she is already married and she may already know, he is too young to marry. Though this film does fit into some of the sex comedy themes, it is also revolutionary in showing a male character that is reluctant for pre-marital sex, and a female character that knowingly pursues it.


McDonald, Tamar Jeffers. Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre. New York: Wallflower Press, 2007.