I read the book a few months ago and it's subtly implied that Ben's dad, Mr. Braddock, and Mrs. Robinson may have had a fling when Mrs. Robinson was much younger. Which means Mrs. Robinson could have married Ben's dad's law partner (whom she never loved) because she got pregnant herself and had no other recourse... thus becoming the fabled Mrs. Robinson. Which means that Ben and Elaine are half brother and sister sharing the same father. Which is explains why Mrs. Robinson is so adamant that Ben stay away from Elaine, whom she often refers to as "that girl", though she wouldn't mind seeing him with any other. If this is all true, it's brilliant, but it's so subtle it's almost like the author, Charles Webb, has helped keep Mrs. Robinson's secret, as if he always knew something about her the public didn't and Webb was just fine with that, creating and protecting a special bond between him and his most famous character. It throws everything into a new light, like the affair she has to hide from the kids (to quote Paul Simon) isn't really the one with Ben, but the decades old one with Ben's dad.

Wow, that would really throw things up in the air, wouldn't it? If any energetic GITS reader wants to Google: "The Graduate Buck Henry Interview" or "The Graduate Mrs. Robinson Elaine Mr. Braddock Real Father" and see what you can find, happy to revisit the subject here. And isn't that a good idea: actually read the novel upon which a movie is based? Thanks, Annika.