The Graduate (novel and adaptations)

"The Graduate" is a novel by Charles Webb, published in 1963, about Benjamin Braddock, a college graduate unsure about his future. It explores themes of alienation, identity, and rebellion against societal expectations. The story was famously adapted into a 1967 film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman, which became a cultural icon. The film’s success highlights Benjamin’s internal conflict and disillusionment, capturing the zeitgeist of the 1960s. Both the novel and adaptations delved into youthful confusion and resistance to convention, resonating across generations and cementing "The Graduate" as a significant commentary on middle-class suburban life and existential uncertainty.