The Graduate, a landmark coming-of-age film from 1967, portrays the life of Benjamin Braddock, a young man in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. The film humorously critiques suburban life while examining the struggles of young adulthood. Its ambiguous ending has left many wondering about the fate of its characters. The conclusion explores impulsive choices and their lasting effects, blending sweetness with underlying bitterness.
The Graduate Ending ExplainedAbout The Graduate
The Graduate follows Benjamin Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, an aimless young man who returns home after graduating from college. Just short of his 21st birthday, Benjamin seems lost, floating through life without direction. He begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson, a much older family friend, portrayed by Anne Bancroft. However, despite his indifference, Benjamin becomes entangled in an affair that complicates his already uncertain existence.
Benjamin Braddock and Mrs. Robinson (Image via Getty)
As Benjamin continues his aimless life, including his affair with Mrs. Robinson, he finds a real connection with her daughter, Elaine, played by Katharine Ross. This relationship further complicates matters, as Mrs. Robinson is desperate to keep the two apart, creating tension. Elaine, like Benjamin, is unsure about her future, which adds to the emotional turmoil of the situation.
The Ending of The Graduate The film’s finale is perhaps one of its most famous aspects, thanks to its ambiguity. Benjamin’s romance with Elaine intensifies, despite opposition from both their families. Elaine is pressured into a brief engagement with a man she hardly knows, and Benjamin’s affair with Mrs. Robinson falls apart. Driven by desperation, Benjamin speeds off in his Alfa Romeo to interrupt Elaine’s wedding, which sets the stage for the film’s iconic final moments.
In a dramatic and emotional scene, Benjamin bursts into the church, physically fighting the groom and Elaine’s parents while holding a wooden cross. After disrupting the ceremony, he makes a dash for Elaine, and they escape the church together, running toward a bus waiting outside. This scene, often parodied in popular culture, can be viewed as an impulsive act of following one’s heart. It suggests that Benjamin is choosing to fight for love and freedom, saving Elaine from a life she doesn’t want.
However, the film’s ending takes a more melancholic turn as the camera lingers on the two characters. On the bus, the adrenaline of their escape fades, and their grins slowly disappear. The somber tune of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” begins to play, creating a stark contrast to the earlier romantic whirlwind. This subtle shift marks the beginning of a bittersweet realization.
What Does the Ending Mean? The fading smiles on Benjamin and Elaine’s faces signify the uncertainty they now face after running away together. The moment is full of youthful defiance, but it leaves viewers wondering about their future. After making such a dramatic exit, neither of them can return to their previous lives easily. Benjamin has left his car behind, a symbol of his former life, and Elaine has dropped out of college to avoid an arranged marriage.
Benjamin Braddock (Image via Getty)
This sudden departure has left them without jobs, without family support, and without a clear path forward. Their impulsive actions have severed ties with their past, and they now face the consequences of their decisions. While the couple may have gained temporary freedom, the reality of their situation soon sets in. The final moments suggest that their escape is not as fulfilling as it initially seemed, making the once-romantic gesture appear much less idealistic.
The Graduate’s ending carries an underlying melancholy, as it highlights the consequences of impulsive decisions. Benjamin and Elaine’s actions aren’t just a rejection of societal norms but an escape from a system that had offered them privileges, albeit without personal fulfillment. Elaine, born out of wedlock, and Mrs. Robinson, trapped in an unhappy marriage, both find themselves repeating cycles of emotional turmoil. Elaine’s decision to elope with Benjamin, although not as dramatic as her mother’s, shares a similar sense of hastiness.
For Benjamin, the movie begins with a degree but no direction, and by the end, his support system has crumbled. In running away with Elaine, he has not only lost his family’s backing but has also abandoned any semblance of a clear future. Much like Elaine, Benjamin is now as uncertain about his life’s purpose as he was at the beginning of the story. His decision to go after her may have seemed like a brave, romantic act, but it ultimately adds to his confusion and disillusionment.
The Wedding Scene’s Cultural Impact The wedding disruption trope, where someone bursts into a wedding ceremony to prevent it from happening, has become a staple in romantic comedies. Films such as Wedding Crashers and Four Weddings and a Funeral have continued to utilize this narrative device. In most cases, these stories focus on the romantic triumph of the disruptor getting the partner they desire, and the conclusion is often a “happily ever after.”
Benjamin Braddock and Mrs. Robinson (Image via Getty)
However, The Graduate stands out by taking a more reflective approach to this well-known trope. The film takes the time to show the consequences of this dramatic disruption. Unlike the typical romantic comedy, Benjamin and Elaine’s grand gesture doesn’t result in immediate happiness. The film doesn’t let the audience escape into a perfect resolution. Instead, it shows that love is not always enough to solve the complexities of life, nor does a dramatic escape always lead to happiness.
In the end, The Graduate offers a poignant commentary on youthful impulsivity and the harsh realities of adult life. While Benjamin’s dramatic actions may have seemed like the ultimate romantic gesture, the film’s conclusion suggests that there is no easy path to true fulfillment. The couple, having left behind the comforts of their privileged lives, now must confront the weight of their choices, and it remains unclear if their escape will lead to lasting happiness.
The Graduate’s ambiguous ending reflects the reality of life after big, impulsive decisions. The film critiques the idealization of romance and highlights the complexities of young adulthood. By the end, Benjamin and Elaine’s smiles fade as the camera lingers on them, suggesting that their decision to run away, while initially thrilling, may ultimately lead to more questions than answers. In the end, The Graduate reminds us that true happiness isn’t always found in spontaneous, romantic gestures, but in facing the consequences of our choices.
Parasite is a compelling exploration of greed, class divides, and the lengths people will go to survive. Bong Joon-ho’s Academy Award-winning film takes viewers on a journey that examines the gap between the wealthy Park family and the struggling Kim family. In a surprising twist, the film introduces a hidden man living in the basement of the Park house, resulting in chaos, bloodshed, and a tragic conclusion. The film’s final moments highlight the reality of wealth as a trap, illustrating economic immobility as a harsh, inescapable norm.
Parasite Ending Explained
Ki-taek (Image via Getty)
The Kim family, struggling to make ends meet, finds a way to infiltrate the wealthy Park family’s home. Ki-woo, the son, secures a job as a tutor for the Park’s daughter, Da-hye. He soon involves his sister, Ki-jung, who convinces the Parks to hire her as an art therapist for their son, Da-song. Then, the Kims use clever tactics to remove the Park family’s long-term employees, eventually filling all the jobs with members of their own family. The Kims enjoy the luxuries of the Park house, unaware of the dark secret hidden beneath.
The Secret in the Basement
The story takes an unexpected turn when Moon-gwang, the former housekeeper, returns to the Park home. She reveals the startling truth: her husband, Geun-se, has been living in a secret bunker beneath the house. Geun-se, who had been hiding from the Park family, turns out to be the “ghost” that traumatized Da-song. When the Kims threaten to expose Geun-se, Moon-gwang retaliates by threatening to reveal their deception to the Parks. This leads to an intense confrontation, during which Moon-gwang dies, and Geun-se is once again locked away in the basement.
The tension escalates when the Parks unexpectedly return early from a trip. The Kims are forced to leave their home, which is flooded after a storm. A birthday party for Da-song, which the Kims are invited to, turns into a scene of violence and chaos. Ki-woo, desperate to finish off Geun-se, is attacked and injured. Geun-se, in an act of revenge, escapes the basement and wreaks havoc at the party, fatally stabbing Ki-jung. Da-song is traumatized again, and Ki-taek, the father, kills Mr. Park after hearing him comment on Geun-se’s “poor man’s smell.” The situation unravels quickly, with Ki-taek fleeing the scene as chaos consumes the family.
The Aftermath and Broken Dreams
Ki-woo awakens in the hospital with severe injuries. His sister is dead, and his father is missing. Both he and his mother face charges for fraud, and their once-bright future is now shattered. The film jumps ahead in time, and Ki-woo returns to the Park house, now occupied by a new family. He notices a flickering light in Morse Code, which reveals a message from his father, indicating he’s still hiding in the house’s basement. Ki-woo dreams of earning enough money to buy the house and free his father, but the final moments reveal that this is merely a fantasy.
Ki-jung (Image via Getty)
The tragic ending of Parasite forces the audience to confront the illusion of upward mobility. Ki-woo’s dream of buying the house and rescuing his father reflects a fantasy, as the system of wealth and class is rigged in such a way that the Kims will never be able to escape their poverty. The film closes with Ki-woo back in his own basement apartment, trapped not by law but by economic circumstances. The idea of climbing the social ladder is exposed as a mere fantasy that will never become a reality.
The True Meaning of ‘Parasite’
The film’s title, Parasite , carries significant meaning in this context. While the Kims are depicted as parasitic, feeding off the wealth of the Park family, the Parks themselves are revealed to be the true parasites. They live off the labor of the lower class, offering little in return. Their wealth and ignorance of the struggles of the people they employ expose them as self-centered and indifferent. The Kims, in their pursuit of a better life, are simply trying to survive within a system that has already set their social status.
A Bleak Reflection on Wealth and Class
Parasite ends on a somber note, reinforcing the idea that economic immobility has become the new reality. Unlike other narratives that propose solutions to income inequality, the film offers a much darker perspective, showing that those born into poverty will likely stay in poverty. The concept of economic mobility is, for Ki-woo, a hopeful dream that will never come true. His fantasy of escaping his basement and rescuing his father is a poignant symbol of the traps created by wealth and the social systems that perpetuate it.
Ki-woo (Image via Getty)
The bleakness of the film’s final scenes highlights how wealth functions as a prison, entrapping the Kims. Though they may be “parasites” in a literal sense, the Parks’ wealth was never truly accessible to the Kims. The luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy only reinforces the divide, with the Kims unable to achieve anything beyond their current circumstances. As the film ends, the Kims are left in their respective basements—Ki-take in hiding and Ki-woo stuck in his low-income reality—trapped by the very forces that they cannot control.
The Fantasy of Escape
In today’s world, the idea of “income inequality” is often discussed as something that can be corrected through various reforms. Parasite challenges this notion, suggesting that the gap between the rich and the poor is insurmountable. Ki-woo’s imagined future of wealth is simply that—an illusion. The harsh truth is that the Kims, much like many others, are trapped by their economic circumstances, and there’s no escape for them. The film makes it clear that no matter how much they try to break free, they will never be able to escape the cycle of poverty.
Parasite paints a grim portrait of a world where wealth and class determine your fate. The Kims’ journey is one of desperation and survival, while the Parks live in ignorant bliss, oblivious to the struggles of those beneath them. The film’s brutal, thought-provoking conclusion serves as a powerful commentary on the harsh realities of economic inequality and the difficulty of breaking free from one’s social station. Through its devastating ending, Parasite reveals the true nature of the system—one that traps people in their circumstances, with no hope of escape.
