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Benjamin Franklin's Treatment Of Women Essay

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Contrary to its title, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, began as merely a series of letters before transforming into its current form; an autobiographical text. Throughout the text, the reader is introduced to the early life and work of the author: Benjamin Franklin. The biography is organized into sections that contain various details and aspects of his life at given times. However, in the introduction, he begins his story by implying that aside from the rest of the text, this section is meant to act as a letter to his son. Following this, Franklin delves into his ancestry before promptly shifting the focus onto himself. Although detail is given about background, much more focus is meant to be placed on his life ventures. The reader …show more content…

They are discussing education and as their conversation progresses, it becomes clear that the idea that women are inferior is clearly being communicated and possibly shared. The specific part to be examined lies in the following quote: “Of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper, and that they were naturally unequal to it. I took the contrary side, perhaps a little for dispute's sake.” (Franklin). Aside from what history has taught us about how women were viewed during this time, this example reiterates these ideas. Although at first glance, it may appear as noble that Franklin claims an opposing view, it is important to consider that he also states that it was for “dispute’s sake.” This seems to be a clear implication that he also somewhat if not completely agrees with his …show more content…

These two individuals are of great importance. One being a Messiah and the other a great philosopher. He may not say it, but he obviously holds himself in much higher regards than previously believed. Another supporting instance of this (which is probably overlooked at first) occurs in the beginning when he states “Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, to be talking of themselves and their own past actions; and I shall indulge it without being tiresome…” (Franklin). Nevertheless, it makes for a believable portrayal of his

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Franklin wrote a speech "The Speech of Polly Baker", this speech uses many syllogisms. The speech is about a women named Polly Baker who is arguing a case in court, she is being charged five times for having children without being married. Polly Baker questions why she is being charged for that and why that law even exists. Polly states "This may be agreeable to the Laws, and I don't dispute it; but since Laws are sometimes unreasonable in themselves, and therefore repealed, and others bear too hard on the Subject in particular severe with regard to me, who have always lived in an inoffensive Life in the Neighborhood where I was born...(921). She thinks this law is very unreasonable and she states that she is a good women and she shouldn't

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(Franklin, 1784/2013, p.245) Instead of immediately dismissing them as being different, he recognizes

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The biggest way I saw the point of the story demonstrated in this essay was through the character assessment of Father Abraham. Seeing him as more of a product and victim of passively accepting Richards proverbs shows his character more realistically. The fact that he refers back to Poor Richard so much, promises a short speech and gives a long one, and doesn’t refer to any different or higher authority than the almanacs substantially weaken rather than strengthen his credibility. This seems to be what Franklin wants, and it makes sense. He wants to encourage independent thought, unlike the thought of Father

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What don’t we know about this document (and where might we find those answers)? We don’t know the what the entire document is saying we only know part, but with a visit to the library we will be able to read the entire document and understand fully the purpose of the autobiography. I also am not sure if the auto biography was more of a diary or to be shown to the public, but with research I will be able to find out he intended reason for the document. 8)How does the author’s gender, race, and socio-economic class compare to the people about whom he or she is writing? Benjamin Franklin’s gender, race, and socio-economic class are the exact same as his son’s.

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577 Words | 3 Pages

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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549 Words | 3 Pages

Altogether Twain thought Franklin was a dimwitted, ignoramus fruitcake that walked around “flying his kite and fooling away his time in all sorts of such ways, when he ought have been foraging for soap-fat, or constructing candles.” (“Late Benjamin” 140). Twain does have legitimacy with his critique, although he may have been a little rude presenting his points, it was still a valid argument. Franklin does get more credit than he deserves, but unlike Twain, I don 't think we should forget that he ever

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942 Words | 4 Pages

Fredrick Douglas and Benjamin Franklin are both one of the most famous successful in American history. They both followed a certain milestone to make them successful. Even though they are considered hard workers, they both have different obstacles and different views in their lifestyle. Fredrick Douglas used to be a slave who was a fugitive and Benjamin Franklin was young white man who had a rough time with his parent because his parents are very abusive to him. By comparing the difference and similarities by these two great people in American history even though they had their rough times, that does not stop them from their success.

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Within the incisive “Polly Baker’s speech,” Benjamin Franklin satirizes the patriarchal structure of the judicial system that unfairly judges women. Franklin utilizes a sardonic persona of a “poor” 18th century women being “persecuted for the fifth time, for having a bastard child” who only wants her “fine remitted.” Through his judicious use of hyperbole and his persona’s rhetorical conditional statements, Franklin produces a sarcastic tone in Polly Baker’s speech and ridicules the “great men” who enforce the institutionalized bias against women under the rule of law.

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Numerous women expressed their disapproval towards how they were denied their rights based on their gender, thus causing women to take a stand for their suffrage and rights. In a letter to her husband, Abigail Adams told him to “be more generous and favourable to [women] than [his]

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This could then be turned to the concept of inequality that had run rampant with the war diverting the government while the American people laid by the waist side during the 21st century. But also the fact that they did not have an aristocracy or a lower class seems to be in the fact that they had not allowed for the stratification of our society In the 21st century in America is completely different then in the 19th century then especially in the stratification of our economic system. We have an aristocracy in all but name and our lower class is something that has been growing and growing and leading to many candidates such as Bernie Sanders trying to help them out. What would Franklin have said about our country as it is nowadays.

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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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Speech of Miss Polly Baker Until somewhat recently women were considered inferior to men. Women could not work and were wholly dependent upon a man. One of the biggest leaps forward in equality was the Enlightenment era. The Enlightenment encouraged rational thought and equality for all. “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” written by Benjamin Franklin is one of the most influential writings in American gender enlightenment especially in social, monetary and religious issues.

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333 Words | 2 Pages

Would you kill your own blood? Claudius did. I know a lot of people wouldn 't react very well to their own uncle killing their father. Hamlet had good reasons to get revenge on Claudius because Claudius hamlet 's uncle first killed his father then married his mother. Claudius is Polonius ' brother, Hamlet 's uncle.

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1188 Words | 5 Pages

Many people think that The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is written to or for Franklin’s son, however it seems to be written to the general public. Most people believe that Benjamin Franklin is writing to his son. Franklin, at first, might have had the initial intention of writing this autobiography to his son because he started the essay with “dear son” (Franklin 1) and explains to him how he, himself, liked to hear about his ancestor’s stories. After telling the stories, Franklin starts to generalize what he is saying. He starts to tell his life story and his son is never directly mentioned in the book, until he is written about in part three.

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518 Words | 3 Pages

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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