ipl-logo

How Does Benjamin Franklin Use Satire

1800 Words8 Pages

Benjamin Franklin is known for many things. Franklin was one of the so called leading fathers of our country. He was a scientist, inventor, politician and orator. One of his early achievements was that of a writer and publisher. It was Franklin’s writings that he was probably least known for. Franklin would often write articles and stories for his newspaper. As many writers of that time would do, Franklin often wrote articles or stories that were satires or comedic in their nature. “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America” (476-480) was one such satirical story published by Franklin in 1784 that was somewhat humorous in nature but had a much deeper meaning. As the reader looks closer it is obvious that Franklin is writing about a much …show more content…

Franklin tells little anecdotes throughout the story in order to show just how ignorant the Colonists are about the ways of the Indian culture. He mocks and ridicules the Colonist and their Government through the use of irony and humor. Franklin does this in hopes of effecting social change in the way Colonist view the Indians. Franklin wrote in such away as not to be offensive to his reader. Franklin’s use of humor and irony tends to draw the reader into the story and in the end makes the reader think about what Franklin is really trying to achieve. Franklin is saying this may be a funny story but one needs to look deeper at the underlying issues here. Throughout this story Franklin brings up many considerations in a satirical way regarding the cultural differences between Native Americans and the …show more content…

One of Franklin’s final anecdotes explains how the Indians treat a traveling Colonist. The Indians invite the traveler into their Cabin. They offer the traveler shelter from the cold, they feed him and offer him a warm place to sleep. They ask nothing in return for their kindness and hospitality (480). It is quite the opposite for the Indian traveler. If an Indian should ask for shelter in a white man’s house the colonists ask for money and if the Indian has no money they would say “Get out, you Indian dog” (480). Franklin’s use of irony in this anecdote shows just how much the Indians are discriminated against and how far the white man will go in his cruelty towards the Indian

Show More
Related

Rhetorical Analysis Of Remarks Concerning Savages Of North America

559 Words | 3 Pages

Right from the start, you can see the irony in his writing when Franklin states, “savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; which they think of theirs” (244). From this, we can draw that Franklin does not believe that natives are savages

Read More

Comparing Red Jacket And Benjamin Franklin

353 Words | 2 Pages

Red Jacket and Franklin have very similar arguments when it comes to defending the native Americans. Red Jacket claims that the “Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between his white and red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs” (Jacket,1809/2013, p.231) is making the inference that the Great Spirit created them differently for a reason, he also makes the inference that they worship the same Great Spirit, but in different ways. Just like Red Jacket, Benjamin Franklin Identifies that they are made differently. Benjamin Franklin states that “they have acquired great order and decency”

Read More

Dbq Essay Benjamin Franklin

298 Words | 2 Pages

1. “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” ― Benjamin Franklin 2. Benjamin Franklin remains one of the founding fathers of the United States of America because he drafted the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Franklin also was an author, politician, scientist, and inventor who were born in Boston in 1706.

Read More

Chuck Klosterman Belief Essay

1330 Words | 6 Pages

Franklin’s reputation as a book collector and library founder gave him a standing as a man of discerning literary tastes, so Franklin sent a letter to the hater asking if he could borrow a selection from his library. The rival, flattered sent it right away. A week later Franklin sent it back the collection with a thank you note” (McRaney par). Franklin later stated that the hater became a lifelong

Read More

Cynthia Van Zandt Analysis

682 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the seventeenth century, conflict between Europeans and Native Americans was rampant and constant. As more and more Europeans migrated to America, violence became increasingly consistent. This seemingly institutionalized pattern of conflict begs a question: Was conflict between Europeans and Native Americans inevitable? Kevin Kenny and Cynthia J. Van Zandt take opposing sides on the issue. Kevin Kenny asserts that William Penn’s vision for cordial relations with local Native Americans was destined for failure due to European colonists’ demands for privately owned land.

Read More

How Did Benjamin Franklin Contribute To The Enlightenment

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

Read More

The Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Franklin's Speech

787 Words | 4 Pages

“Words can inspire, and words can destroy. Choose yours well.” - Robin Sharma. In 1787, a convention was held to determine the efficiency of a debatable Constitution discussed by the delegates. Benjamin Franklin, having represented Pennsylvania, then presented a speech regarding his position on the topic, declaring his agreement to it in spite of his uncertainty on whether or not it will result in negative consequences in the future.

Read More

The Indian New World James Merrell Analysis

696 Words | 3 Pages

Merrell’s article proves the point that the lives of the Native Americans drastically changed just as the Europeans had. In order to survive, the Native Americans and Europeans had to work for the greater good. Throughout the article, these ideas are explained in more detail and uncover that the Indians were put into a new world just as the Europeans were, whether they wanted change or

Read More

Compare And Contrast Jonathan Edward And Ben Franklin

922 Words | 4 Pages

There were a lot of American men who had perfect influence on people’s mind of American society. Jonathan Edward and Benjamin Franklin were two of those writers, who were the most important and intellectual men, who left behind many admirable works for the future society. In spite of them being so intelligent, they have some different and similar views in terms of morality, personal responsibility, human nature, and limits of human knowledge and inform people how to live a better life. In addition, they were different in terms of religious inclinations. Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edward were both philosopher and had similar views in terms of informing people the right way to live in order to be successful and get salvation by reforming their mind in their life.

Read More

Benjamin Franklin: Tragic Hero Or An Archetypal American?

631 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Rip Van Winkle Compare And Contrast Essay

634 Words | 3 Pages

Irving chooses to show us through a negative lense of a man who pays the price and is disoriented with the change in life with little ability to merge into society. On the other side Ben Franklin explains the greatest that came from his personal pursuits, although it is riddle with faults and blatant lies it lifts this ideal of how Americans should be to be productive members of

Read More

Satire In Benjamin Franklin's Age Of Reason

801 Words | 4 Pages

Franklin’s second line of his opening is, “Perhaps, if we could examine the Manners of different Nations with Impartiality, we should find no People so rude, as to be without any Rules of Politeness; nor any so polite, as to not have some Remains of Rudeness” (927). Franklin continues this piece by providing examples where the Native-Americans conduct themselves more civilly than the English do. In the end, Franklin uses logic inversion, his satire style, to show what it would be like if the Native-Americans judged the English customs in the same harsh manner which the English judged theirs. As Franklin illustrates here, “You see they have not yet learned those little Good Things, that we need no Meetings to be instructed in, because or Mothers taught then to us when we were Children; and therefore it is impossible their Meetings should be, as they say. For any such purpose, or have any such Effect; they are only to contrive the Cheating of Indians in the Price of Beaver”

Read More

Miss Polly Baker Speech Analysis

508 Words | 3 Pages

Benjamin Franklin uses humor in his speech in order to criticize society at the time. Polly Baker has 5 children out of wedlock in this story. This is a completely ridiculous idea for the time as it was considered a crime and a sin. In addition she has received numerous punishments, corporal and monetary in nature. In the speech Miss Baker laments to the court about how heavily she has been punished while those that fathered the children were not.

Read More

What Is Benjamin Franklin's Thesis In Remarks Concerning The Savages

696 Words | 3 Pages

Franklins essay however, puts the Indian people under a different perspective. With this in mind, Franklin’s essay contains topics pertaining to the white and Indian’s people lives, such as their education and concept of prisons. To start with, Franklin’s essay had two different concepts about education between the whites and the Indians. The whites have a well-developed education, with

Read More

Benjamin Franklin's Ethos In Speech In The Convention

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.

Read More

More about How Does Benjamin Franklin Use Satire

Open Document