In the Art Scene: Why do you think he chooses to have the characters turn on and off the light at key moments?

In the scene of Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin’s confrontation, we again see the use of visibility and perspective as integral to Mike Nichols’ storytelling. In the clumsy conversation that Benjamin attempts to initiate, the two flip the lights on and off on one another, at moments that reflect their alternate discomfort and disapproval. Benjamin turns on the light to get the conversation started, and Mrs. Robinson continually turns it off when she is pressed to be more emotionally revealing. The moment Mrs. Robinson does finally turn the light on is when Benjamin references asking Elaine out on a date. Visibly upset, Mrs. Robinson turns on the light and pulls Benjamin’s hair, and it remains vague how much of her emotion is protectiveness and how much is jealousy.