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Expression Of His Son In Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

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Benjamin Franklin was a man who was devoted to the ideals of order, restraint-this worldliness, science, and success during the Age of Enlightenment. He created the genre autobiography and the American writing in a simple, utilitarian style. His work The Autobiography talks about his life and addressed himself to his son. What are advantages of Franklin having the persona of a Father and advising his son in his Autobiography? Franklin is teaching self-improvement, industry, and truthfulness to not only his son but young Americans too. Self-improvement Is a virtue that Franklin promotes to American youths. His father was an essential influence for teaching him the significance of self-improvement. This excerpt in detail:” My Father happen’d to find my Papers, and read them…he took occasion to talk to me about the Manner of my Writing, observ’d that tho’I had the Advantage of my Antagonist in correct Spelling and pointing…I fell far short in elegance of Expression, in Method and in Perspicuity, of …show more content…

Franklin, ten at the time, and his friends stole stones from constitution site to build their own wharf. The following excerpt: “we were discovered and complain’d of; several of us were corrected by our Fathers; and tho’ I pleaded the Usefulness of the Work, mine convinc’d me that nothing was useful which was not honest,” (Franklin 381) explains the consequences of their actions. Franklin learned his first experience to understand truthfulness. Furthermore, Franklin talks more about honesty among colleagues and friends. This excerpt in depth: “I grew convinc’d that truth, sincerity, and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I form’d written resolutions, which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I lived.”, indicated the importance of truthfulness to impress his son. Honesty is a crucial virtue that taught from father to

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Summary Of Benjamin Franklin Primary Sources

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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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Comparing The Autobiography 'And Abigail Adams' Last Act Of Defiance

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Both articles, “Benjamin Franklin’s The Autobiography,” and, “Abigail Adams’ Last Act of Defiance,” are documents that have a big impact and are both very significant because of their influence on our foundational documents. In the article, “Benjamin Franklin’s The Autobiography,” Benjamin Franklin talks about the virtues and character traits that him and others should follow. The claim from his article is that he strived to never do something wrong and want to achieve perfection, and also wants other to do so. In the article he says, “when I conceived the bold and strenuous project of arriving at moral perfection” (Franklin). He is saying here that the reason he started this project was to try and achieve moral perfection even if he couldn’t,

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The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin Rhetorical Analysis

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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 and Douglass both showed these values because they were determined to make a change in their lives and in the world. They both had obstacles to go through to get to where they did in their lives. At twelve years of age, Franklin worked in his brother James’s print shop. Franklin explained how when everyone would be on their break, he would go and read books. He would read any type of book, as long as he could learn something.

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Despite differences between Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass, such as ethnicity, social class, and upbringing etc., both gentlemen embody qualities that have become associated with an iconic American Identity. These qualities can be broken down into core values, characteristics, traits, and virtues. Holding in high importance, worth, or usefulness, Literacy is something that both Franklin and Douglass values, and plays quite a crucial role in the livelihood of both young men: learning literacy helps pave their way to success. Even when education was not available, they each found ways to learn beyond the classroom, be it through borrowing books, or using old workbooks to practice writing. Both men are motivated by self-improvement and

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Franklin’s early passion for reading develop and shape his life as a young adult, and influence the formation, and importance placed on a public persona. He mentions his early affection for reading , “My early Readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read),” leads to a more advanced ability to study philosophy as a young man, including that of Socrates (Franklin 8). This develops his skills in debate, encouraging him to abandon “abrupt Contradiction, and positive Argumentation, and put on the humble Inquirer & Doubter…” (Franklin

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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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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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Franklin crafted a list of “Thirteen Virtues” which he believed if a person followed them with direct intent they too could be successful much like he was. In his list of virtues he also left his reader with direct ways to follow the said virtue. The first virtue, temperance, was followed by the phrases, “eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” Franklin began his list of virtues with temperance because it was the virtue that would develop the self-discipline necessary to adhere to the other twelve. Franklin held the belief that one could not master all thirteen virtues at once, but once one does master all thirteen they should also reap in the benefits of

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“Philadelphia was a city at the heart of America’s independence.” “Benjamin Franklin also contributed to public service.” “Almost everyone secretly desires to attain perfection in some field.” _____ 2. How does Franklin begin his project to achieve moral perfection?

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Benjamin Franklin: An Archetype Of American Identity

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In his early life, Franklin begins to exhibit a trait that is now an integral part of American identity: a commitment to self-improvement.

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(86). Franklin was told by a friend that he always thought and talked with pride in everything. This show that he is imperfect, no one is perfect, and he has to train on to improve himself on all these 13 virtues and hurges other to do the same to improve themselves. "I cannot boast much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but i had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it...." (86) this virtue change the way Franklin engaging conversation with others, even when

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The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, I believe is about the two guided principles responsibility and honesty. The short story talking about how Mr. Franklin uses guided principle in his life. Now I am going to tell you more about the two guided principles responsibility, and honesty. Responsibility is about how he is responsible for his actions and his life. If Mr. Franklin would not have been able to get on the boat that the men was coming down the river on he would have been stuck there for three days.

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Benjamin Franklin in the essay, Aim for Personal Perfection, explains what he believes are the thirteen virtues to follow in life to aim for purity and perfection. Franklin supports his explanation by describing all of the virtues and defining what they mean to him and how he tries to conquer all of them but fails. Franklin’s purpose is to inform the readers of what virtues occurred to him at this time in his life so that he can apprise the readers of what he assumes are the steps to personal perfection. Even though he didn’t reach his goal, he still made it clear that benefitted from these qualities and he became a better man for this; he became more humble and put thought into others. Committing to a dream or working your whole life around something you want so badly ends in positive results.

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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is composed of four different parts that were written at three different periods in Franklin’s life. The first section starts with Franklin addressing his son and it seems as though Franklin is telling his life story so that it may be an example of how he was continuously improving himself. Franklin also makes mention of his religious beliefs and God throughout the book which seems to be a theme throughout the book. Throughout Franklin’s Autobiography there are many themes displayed; self-improvement and religion, seem to stand out as two of the major subjects that Franklin was focused on.

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