Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman)’s Timeline and Summary

Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman)’s Timeline and Summary

  • Ben arrives in SoCal after flying back from college in the East, where he's just graduated. At his graduation party, guests pepper him with questions about his future—of which he is profoundly unsure.
  • He ends up giving Mrs. Robinson a ride home, after which, she attempts to seduce him, getting naked in the process. Benjamin resists and manages to get away.
  • After some alienation-symbolizing scuba-diving in his family's pool, he meets Mrs. Robinson at a hotel and begins the affair.
  • After a prolonged period of laziness and adultery with Mrs. R., Ben's parents force him to take Elaine Robinson on a date.
  • Despite trying to sabotage the date, Ben hits it off with Elaine.
  • But when Elaine discovers the affair, she dumps Ben and leaves to return to college.
  • He decides he's going to marry Elaine.
  • Ben moves up to Berkeley to try to get her back. He makes some progress, but Elaine is already engaged to a dude named Carl Smith.
  • Ben ends up racing to Elaine's wedding with Carl, where he arrives just after the "I Do."
  • He fights off the guests and escapes with Elaine, jumping onto a city bus, headed toward an unclear future.