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Does The Graduate Support The Theme Of Entrapment?

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The cinematic techniques utilized in The Graduate support the theme of entrapment. Director of Photography Robert Surtees was “given license [by Nichols] to experiment with filming techniques” (Nixon 7). Surtees uses zooming to visually express the feeling of entrapment. After Ben confesses to Elaine he has been having an affair with her mother, Mrs. Robinson, the camera zooms out on Mrs. Robinson trapped in the corner of her home. Her cowering figure dressed in black is sharply contrasted by the sterile, prison-like white walls of her loveless home. This shot shows a vulnerable Mrs. Robinson, whose “dissatisfaction with life can be linked to her passionless marriage” (Wyllie 3). The innovative use of the telephoto lens is another cinematic technique utilized by Nichols and Surtees to stress the theme of entrapment. …show more content…

The effect is Ben “appears to be running in place without getting anywhere” (Schuth 4). His race to the altar is futile, Elaine offers no salvation from the weight of society's expectations that imprison him. Instead “the consuming goal of this aimless graduate is to marry the pretty all-American girl next door”, an action that will not free him from the older generation’s rigid beliefs (Holden 2). The collaboration between Nicolas and Surtees and their choice to use formalistic camera techniques emphasizes the theme of entrapment in the film. The theme of entrapment in The Graduate is underscored by deliberate sound choices. Nicolas choice to use sound from a single character's point of view reiterates the film’s theme of entrapment. For his

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