As a founding father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin had a profound and noteworthy influence on the early growth of his nation. Franklin was a prestigious author and inventor that grasped the motive to grow the economy to new heights. His autobiography is an accurate representation of his achievements and the intrinsic motivations that made him the man we think of today. Although it is biased because he writes it only through his eyes, the reader can see the differences he made to the
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin’s life made a huge impact on the history of America. He also was an influence for many citizens. Since Franklin lived during the eighteenth century, a period of growth for America, he also played a part in the political founding of the United States. To help future generations, Franklin wrote an autobiography of his life. An autobiography is a piece of literature about someone’s own life. He separates his into four parts, each one depicting
seems to be a series of lessons that Franklin learned through the course of his life. At the time of the writings, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most famous people in the world, a national treasure in his own lifetime. The autobiography then serves to influence and encourage the son through the lessons of the father. This is another trademark of American literature. Since America is a relatively young country, much of the early writings that came out of the nation were cautionary or educational
In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin recounts the many paramount experiences throughout his life that shaped him into great American figure he was known to be. On the opening page, Franklin reveals the book’s epistolary format by writing, “Dear Son,” going on to admit that he’s made some mistakes in the past and to recollect that past is a way to relive it. By divulging his desire to “change some sinister Accidents & Events” (Franklin 3) the author indicates how important it is for his son to
themselves and to the American public that they influenced by their writings, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin illustrate American themes in their personal narratives that quintessentially make part of American Literature. Although they lived in different times during the early development of the United States of America and wrote for different purposes, they share common themes. Their influence by their environment, individualism, proposals for a better society, and events that affected their
even their lives. One of these men was Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin’s life was intertwined with that of America’s life. The more notable of his works is his printed items such as “Join or die”, The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, and “Magnus Britannia”. Benjamin was the catalyst for the American revolution through his printing business and ventures. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. Benjamin Franklin was the son of Josiah Franklin
If ever a story embodied what has come to be known as the American Dream, it is the life story of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin could be considered a passionate and energetic man who motivated himself by self-determination and a strong work ethic to achieve self-improvement. Beyond his sometimes-lofty personal aspirations to attain self-improvement, Franklin’s deep conviction inspired him to help others live well. He demonstrated this conviction in his reasons for writing, his
Benjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, men with different ideals, present the same notion that America should be presented as a “city upon a hill.” Franklin believed that the American dream should be presented as an ideal where men and women are equal and can both move up in social class on their own, practicing any religion they desired. On the other hand, Winthrop believed that the new world was a religious safe haven only for the Puritans. American Exceptionalism was overall the main focus, guiding
There were many astronomically brilliant men that had a hand in shaping the United States of America; however, the single man that made the brilliance of the other men dim from brilliantly bright star light to the faint glow given off by a glow worm by comparison was none other than Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin devoted most of his life to helping America form, and he fulfilled nearly any role that was required of him while still maintaining who he was as an individual. Despite the seemingly life consuming
which the authority was Inner Light. "Whitman himself was not only personally familiar with, but deeply impressed by, a religion whose only authority was the Inner Light" (Canoy 481). The Inner Light is a special influence, which made Whitman's poetry unique. This certain influence did such things as guide Whitman down his soul searching path as well as help him define within himself the characteristics of an individual. In section fifteen of "Song of Myself," Whitman discusses people from every