The Graduate "One Word: Plastics"

idk if i'm stupid but ive watched this movie idk how many times becuz its one of my favs, but anyway can som1 tell me what he means by "plastic,' i just dont understand and i'm 18

Perhaps not stupid but growing up in a different age... though I can't say much as I'm just 19. The older man is telling Benjamin that there is a great future in the plastics industry. It's funny as the man is taking himself far too seriously and as Benjamin's reaction shows, being rather ridiculous.

Plastics represents everything that's fake in the world, everything the main character hates and wants to get away from.

The line "One word"plastics" was almost cut from the film because even before1967 Nichols thought it might sound too dated. But then he decided that sounding dated was a big part of the humor.

Crap movie, Hoffman was far too old.

everybody is fake. he's sick of his boring life of suburbia his parents gave him

I think he's just unsure of what to do with his future and everything just seems... lame. I'm not sure it has anything to do with suburbia.

plastisch

Credit cards i guess.
Plastic is a slang term for it.

Read "CountryRoadTrip's" comment two down from you and you'll know.