Analytical Review Over: The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin

Analytical Review over: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

During the course of this book I could easily tell the life of Benjamin Franklin from the span of 1706-1757 which is stated in the introductory pages of the biography. The book starts off with Benjamin franklin writing a note to his son (the autobiography), then telling the reader how his family were continued Protestants in secrecy through the Reformation and reign of Queen Mary. Then talking about his father and how he wanted Benjamin Franklin to follow in his footsteps but Benjamin had a “Strong inclination for the sea” (9) this strong inclination pushing him to Philadelphia where he met his future wife’s father. He began working as an apprentice for a typist.

He has a somewhat humble way of describing all of his dealings and accomplishments yet still seeming as though he wanted to inspire grandiose. For example Ben wrote “I spent no time in taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind.” (53) This could be interpreted many different ways but from what I understand from my public schooling and college courses Benjamin Franklin was a bit of a sexual deviant, having many affairs with all types of different women in fact one could even judge his character with how little he mentions his family at all in his biography “ on taking my seat in the house, my son was appointed their clerk” (80) however he does mention his wife “ we ventured, however all these difficulties, and I took her to wife, September 1, 1730” (48) It almost seems as though he is intentionally leaving out key events and details in order for us (the reader) to have a kinder image or view of his character. Perhaps he knew how historically significant he most certainly would become that he intentionally created an autobiography of the good, hardworking, thought provoking Franklin he wanted everyone to see him as. For example when he sailed for Philadelphia he had barely any money at all left with him however “a shilling of copper…I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refus’d it.” (19) Or he created this for his social groups and gatherings to showcase

Which isn’t totally uncommon of all people to do so but to me it just seems as though Mr. Franklin is more of a walking deity of true American patriotism inspiring all around him to do better for themselves and their country. This being an autobiography and ends abruptly around 1757 a little over 30 years before his death, doesn’t conclude very well leaving me the reader wanting to search the textbook or internet for more information on him near the end of his life. The text book goes more into the details of Benjamin around the time of his involvement with the American Revolution which is absent from the autobiography, however it did support evidence of the Seven years wars and the Great Awakening otherwise known as the Religious Revolution “with respect to defense, Spain having been several years at war against Great Britain, and being at length join’d by France, which brought us into great danger.” (73) And with respect to his acknowledgement of the religious revolution “From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seem’d as if all the world were growing religious” (70) This does provide a solid source for these major cultural differences occurring during this time period in colonial America. Also in the biography Franklin talks