8) Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson

"And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray"

We all know the song by Simon & Garfunkel. It turns out this song was actually made for a film classic from the 1960's called The Graduate. Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) is a middle-aged woman who tries to seduce her neighbor's son, college graduate Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman). She makes him drive her home. Then he must come into the house with her because she doesn't like to be alone. Then he must go upstairs and unzip her dress because she can't reach. You get the idea. Benjamin was pretty shy guy and was very hesitant to do any of the things she wanted. At the end of the night, nothing happens and Benjamin leaves, feeling very confused about what has just happened.

Some time later, however, Benjamin gives Mrs. Robinson a call. They go to a hotel and begin their summer fling. After a couple months, things aren't going the way Mrs. Robinson plans and she threatens Benjamin. He moves on with his life and Mrs. Robinson tells everyone that he raped her. No one questions what she may have actually done and Benjamin is automatically deemed "filth."

Is this situation representative of a larger trend in modern society? In any situation in which a man and a woman come to blows, no matter their relationship, isn't it true that there often tends to be a certain bias against the man? Can it so easily be assumed that under any circumstances, the man is more likely at fault? Mrs. Robinson is the one who assertively initiated the situation. She is the one who put even the idea of an affair in Benjamin's mind. Yet, she is infallible. If she says she was raped, then she undoubtedly was. Forget the fact that Benjamin was an honors student and a virgin. If she says it, it happened. I cannot imagine the kind of trouble Mr. Robinson would get in if he fooled around with a younger woman...