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Benjamin Franklin Rhetorical Analysis

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I chose The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin. I am very familiar with it because I did a project on it, so I will be able to explain it in greater detail than if I had chosen another story. It was quite enjoyable and informative, too, so I find it interesting to discuss. The Autobiography is about Franklin’s journey to become a better person. He originally wanted to become perfect, but he was never able to achieve this goal.
Franklin was trying to reach perfection, and this excerpt documents that struggle. Many people try to reach a higher level of humanity, but none are able to achieve it. People will alway be flawed, no matter how they may wish this was not the case. “...I believe this [is] the case of many, who, having, for want of some …show more content…

He uses several allusions in order to bring other events and people to mind. Franklin wants to “...Imitate Jesus and Socrates” (143). He is also basing his methods of self-examination on Pythagoras’s. These historical figures are well-known by the general public. Mentioning these figures helps audiences know that Franklin wants to be wise, kind, and humble, and that he also is going to be orderly and self-reflective. Franklin also uses an anecdote in order to make a point about humanity’s acceptance of imperfection. By telling the story of the smith thinks “‘a speckled axe [is] best,” (145) he makes audiences reflect on their own actions in the past, and how they might change their behavior in the future. However, Franklin, albeit unintentionally, uses the black and white fallacy. Franklin seems to believe that imperfection is a bad thing, and that perfect people are the only good ones. The reality is far less simple. There are good people and there are bad people, but none of them are perfect. Perfection is impossible in this world, and, by failing to recognize that, Franklin presents the world in far simpler terms than what would do the world

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In his writing a theme that is most prevalent is that of the American dream. Although not coined that yet, as the United States didn’t exist at the time. But right from the beginning Franklin speaks to the fact that he created his success and fortune from nothing but hard work, and intelligence. When describing Franklin’s Autobiography as a primary source, it is important to note that this theme of the American Dream. Most famously from the Declaration of Independence preamble, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” ( Dec. of Ind. Pre.).

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The past 16 months of Franklin Scott’s life have been a time of what he has referred to as “reflection.” During this period, Franklin has had the opportunity took look back upon his poor life decisions and the negative consequences that have resulted

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Beliefs The Importance of Being Hated by Chuck Klosterman mainly focuses on the importance of having. Klosterman says that there are two types of enemies 1) “nemesis: you kind of like your nemesis, despite the fact that you despise him and 2) archenemy: you hate the archenemy so much that you try to keep your hatred a secret, for you don’t what to give your archenemy the satisfaction of being hated” (Klosterman par 2). Klosterman states that “we measure ourselves against our nemesis, and we long to destroy our archenemies” (Klosterman par 1). He also points out that people who don’t have enemies and surround themselves with allies are losers and failures in life because “they don’t realize that life is--almost without exception--an absolute

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The authors viewpoint is he knows all about Franklins life and he also has read Franklins papers from when he was alive. His purpose for writing this book was to show how much more Franklin actually did than what we only know of him creating a lightning rod. The author wrote another book called The Radicalism of The American Revolution and Franklin became an important figure in that book. This is one reason why he wrote a

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Franklin stresses the importance of having respect towards others religions. He states, “...respect to all, with an opinion that the worst had some good effects”, emphasizing that while a particular religion may not be correct in our eyes, it still could have “good effects” for society as a whole (Andrews, 133). Franklin had a more positive view on the effects of religion for society, whereas Paine would describe it as a heresy, but that “they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine” (Paine,

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Are the 17th and 18th century really that different from the present day 21st century? Benjamin Franklin uses aphorisms that were relevant in his time era meaning the 17th and 18th century are they still relevant in today’s society? In this specific collection of the aphorisms, Poor Richard’s Almanack, Franklin includes quite a few aphorisms that are still relevant, aphorisms are a short saying that holds some truth about life. Overall, the 17th and 18th century really are not that different from the 21st century, and Benjamin Franklin’s aphorisms are still relevant to today. Benjamin Franklin had many ideas such as being open to others about basic stuff in life yet keeping your own privacy at the same time.

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Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was a significant model of the “American dream.” Franklin shared his life during the younger years of America, which went on to have a profound and indelible mark on society and the country as we know it today. Benjamin Franklin created this foundation, and it later became a roadmap for the “American dream” through his actions of upward socioeconomic mobility, and desire to improve the common good. Using his own life as a model, Franklin proved that, in America, people had the ability to build themselves up through hard work. Benjamin Franklin grew up in a meager house in Boston with his 16 older siblings.

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Many may wonder why Franklin wrote this autobiography and why he wrote sections of -it several years apart. It all goes back for his desire for self-improvement. “If there was any one theme throughout

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Although Franklin makes a point to say this experiment is about him, he also writes that “it may be well my posterity should be informed…” (Franklin 433). Franklin is writing this with the intent of others seeing his argument. He makes a clear point that this is the direction a perfect man should be heading towards.

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The political and cultural changes which took place in the eighteenth century colonial America have vital importance on to the way we live our lives today. The functioning of the modern government and religious institutions are defined by the shifting events of the eighteenth century America, molded by the Enlightenment. Let’s not forget that the notion to take our freedom for granted which we exercise quite well today, was not so easily afforded to our forefathers. I imagine how wonderful it would have been to sit in a room where Benjamin Franklin is giving a speech or perhaps engage in a conversation with him, just the mere thought of it is giving me goose bumps. He was a self-made man an American, who by his own endeavors and hard work became the highly celebrated man we learn about today.

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Benjamin Franklin was an ambitious man who liked to challenge himself. He wanted to be the best and thought very highly of himself. In his early life he wasn’t rich or educated, he actually ran away from home. But, he decided he wanted to change and become a successful man. If he can become as successful as he did from nothing than anybody can.

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Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.

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He talks about things from the “establishment, that which [he] first formed, called the Union Fire Company” (Franklin 82) which was a big deal back then to inventing a new fireplace. He writes about his good deeds because Franklin wants to show what good Americans can do. His son would probably not have care as much, but the general public would care how Americans can prosper. Part three is all about how he prospered, how he lived the ‘American Dream’ Some believe that Benjamin Franklin wrote about his good deeds because he wanted to show Great Britain how great America was. He wanted to show that they could grow and prosper, that the Americans do not need Great Britain to survive, that they are fine by themselves, maybe ever

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Franklin claims that he has been living long enough to see errors that he made, therefore as he grow older, he tend to “doubt of [his] own judgment” because nobody is perfect due to his past experiences (43). The informations that Franklin presents is to show his reputation that he is not perfect, also his constitution but he is open minded and willing to make what is best for the people. The perspective errors of the constitution have, is being “sacrificed to the public good” meaning all the flaw that constitution have will not be reveal to the people (44). Franklin is very passion about what is best for the people and their happiness, furthermore his characteristic is very respectful toward the citizen and the congress.

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Sir Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his friend Madame Brillon titled “The Whistle”. In the letter, he uses a parable of a whistle to bring forth his idealism. Benjamin believed that one should not indulge in luxuries or be a miser, but rather one should follow a middle path and think before he pays too much for his whistle. The entire letter is focused on the theme of going overboard to get what you want. Benjamin believed that one should not overpay for his wants but rather one should be focused on doing good.

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