Benjamin Franklin “The Autobiography”
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790) was the most famous living scientist as well as the major political representative of America (EAR, 61). He embodied the Enlightenment ideal of human rationality. Practical, yet idealistic, hard-working and enormously successful, Franklin recorded his early life in his famous Autobiography. Writer, printer, publisher, scientist, philanthropist and diplomat, he was the most famous and respected private figure of his time. (Outline of American Literature, Revised Edition, 16)
The Autobiography
• Part One
Written in 1771, when Franklin was the agent for the colonies of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia, the first part of The Autobiography depicts the author`s early life, a short description of his ancestors, and his educational and professional path till the moment when he “set on foot (his) first project of a public nature, that of a Subscription Library”. (EAR, 100)
From the beginning, the author states his reasons for writing this work, as his life is intended to serve as an example for the readers: “Having emerg`d from the Poverty and Obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a State of Affluence and some Degree of Reputation in the world, and having gone so far tho` with Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, the Conducting means I made use of, which, with the Blessing of God, so well succeeded, my Posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations , and therefore fit to be imitated. ” (EAR, 62).
Although The Autobiography is dedicated to his son (“Dear Son”, “…to you to know the circumstances of my life…” (EAR, 62), Franklin succeeded to create a universally valuable work, which, as his friend Benjamin Vaughn predicted “has always been read as a parable of both the history of America and American values” (EAR, 61).
Before beginning his life story, Franklin expresses his gratitude towards Divinity, revealing his deism: “And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge, that I owe this mention`d Happiness of my past life to his kind Providence, which led me to the Means I use`d and gave them Success ” (EAR,62)
Benjamin Franklin follows the chronological order of events starting by outlining his family history, which is a sign of the great respect he pays to Ancestors and also a way of showing his humble background – the lack of fortune or influence – “this obscure family of ours” (EAR, 65).
Furthermore, the author provides an insight into his educational path, his academic experience only lasting about 2 years because of financial reasons, time in which he “had risen gradually from the Middle of the Class of that year to be the Head of it and farther was removed into the next Class above it… ” ; “acquired fair Writing” (EAR, 66). Therefore, even though Franklin`s early years had no trace of affluence or reputation, through hard-work, self-education, discipline and steady principles he surpassed himself. He acknowledged at a young age the importance of education in one`s life “from a Child I was fond of reading, and all the little Money that came into my Hands was ever laid out in Books. (…) Plutarch`s Lives there was, in which I read abundantly, and I still think that time spent to great Advantage. There was also a Book of Defoe`s called an Essay on Projects and another of Dr. Mather`s call`d Essays to do Good, which perhaps gave me a Turn of Thinking that had an Influence on some of the principal future Events of my life ” (EAR, 68).
Further on, Benjamin Franklin describes his experience as an apprentice at his brother`s Printing-House. An important advantage of his job was that he “now had access to better books”, which subsequently led to “I now took fancy to Poetry, and made some little pieces” (EAR, 69). It was during this period that the author started paying greater attention to his manner of writing prose. His father`s observations concerning some of his written arguments made him aware of the fact that “…tho` I had the Advantage of my Antagonist in correct Spelling and pointing (which I ow`d to the Printing House) I fell far short in elegance of Expression, in Method and in Perspicuity…I saw the Justice of his Remarks and thence grew more attentive to the Manner in Writing, and deretmin`d to endeavour at Improvement” (EAR, 69). The author emphasizes by this episode the prominent role of writing in his life “as Prose Writing has been of great Use to me in the Course of my Life, and was a principal Means of my Advancement” (EAR, 69). Moreover, as a self-educated man, in his process of writing improvement, Franklin also tried imitating a volume of Spectator in order to be taught the “Method in the Arrangement of Thoughts”. The progress “encourg`d me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English Writer, of which I was extremely ambitious” (EAR, 70).
The Description of Franklin`s is appealing to the reader to the extent to which one is shown the efforts made by the Founding Father to become a person of value, to achieve his ambitions and overcome his faults. Alongside his concern for writing, the author pays attention to his physical health, going on a diet that allows him to save money for books and time for studying “…had the rest of the Time till their return, for Study, in which I made the greater Progress from that Greater Clearness of Head and quicker Apprehension which usually attend Temperance in Eating and Drinking.” (EAR, 70). This is the moment when the first virtue from Franklin`s famous list – Temperance – is revealed to the readers.
In the second part of Franklin`s work, in which he analyses his renowned moral virtues, we learn what he implies by Temperance and why the mentioned virtue is placed on top of his hierarchy: “1. Temperance. Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation. ” (EAR, 108), “Temperance first, as it tends to procure that Coolness and Clearness of Head, which is so necessary where constant Vigilance was to be kept up, and Guard maintained, against the unremitting Attraction of ancient Habits, and the force of perpetual Temptations.” (EAR, 109).
After leaving his brother`s business, Benjamin Franklin headed to New York seeking for a job, but he didn`t find anything, therefore he went on to Philadelphia. The author offers a thoroughly description of his voyage and arrival to the city in order to emphasize the difference between his humble beginnings and his future success:”I have been more particular in this Description, and shall be so of my first Entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginning with the Figure I have since made there. I was in my working Dress, my best Clothes being to come round by the sea. I was dirty from my Journey, my Pockets were stuff`d out with Shirts and Stockings; I knew no soul, nor where to look for Lodging. I was fatigue`d with Traveling, Rowing and Want of Rest. I was very hungry, and my whole stock of Cash consisted of a Dutch dollar and about a Shilling Cooper” (EAR, 75).
Further on, while describing his professional rise, Franklin provides other important details about his moderate lifestyle, adding another two virtues to his ongoing list: “…gaining Money by my Industry and Frugality” (EAR, 77). We learn more about these two in Part Two of The Autobiography: “5. Frugality. Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing. / 6. Industry. Lose no Time. Be always employ`d in something useful .Cut off all unnecessary Actions.” (EAR, 109) with further explanation “Frugality and Industry, by freeing me from my remaining Debt and producing Affluence and Independence… ” (EAR, 109)
Later on, the author shows in detail his time at Keimer`s Printing House, his connection with the Governor – William Keith, his short Courtship to Miss Read, his Acquaintances and his unfortunate London affair. Not only do these pages offer an authentic exposure of Franklin`s youth, but they also provide an insight into the 18th century American society. We are shown the condition of cities which later on gained importance: Boston, New York, Philadelphia; we find out details about a new, thriving business – printing- (“The Autobiography “is also uniquely useful as the story of a successful working printer in eighteenth-century North America, revealing much about the art and business of the printer's trade that is not documented with such coherence elsewhere”) (http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/franklin/autobiography.html)); we also become aware of America`s technological inferiority to England –“my Brother James return`d from England with a Press and Letters to set up his Business in Boston” (EAR, 68), “The Printers at Philadelphia were wretched ones…” (EAR, 77) -.
After depicting the 18 months spent in London, Franklin mentions an important accomplishment, which proved to have a ubiquitous influence on his life from then on “Perhaps the most important part of my Journal is the Plan to be found in it which I formed at the Sea for regulating my future Conduct in Life. It is the more remarkable, as being form`d when I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite thro` to old Age” (EAR, 89).
The author also gives us an account on his religious beliefs, which motivates to a point his “arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection” (EAR, 108): “it may be well to let you know the then State of my Mind, with regard to my Principles and Morals, that you may see how far those influenc`d the future Events of my Life. My Parents had early given me religious Impressions, and brought me through my Childhood piously in the Dissenting Way. But I was scarce 15 when, after doubting my turns of several Points as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt the Revelation itself. (…) In short I became a thorough Deist.” (EAR, 93).
Franklin presents in the last pages of this part the establishing of his business, his marriage and his project for a Subscription Library. As in other occasions, he draws the reader`s attention to the practice of his virtues with emphasis on Industry “for the Industry of that Franklin, says he, is superior to anything I ever saw of the kind:”, “I mention this Industry the more particularly and the more freely, tho` it seems to be talking in my own Praise, that those of my Posterity who shall read it, may know the use of that Virtue, when they see its Effects in my Favor throughout this Relation” (EAR, 95), “In order to secure my Credit and Character as a Tradesman, I took care not only to be in Reality Industrious and frugal, but to avoid all Appearances of the Contrary ” (EAR, 99).
• Part Two
The second part of Benjamin Franklin`s Autobiography begins with two letters from acquaintances asking for a continuation of his work, which was eventually written in 1784 when “he was America`s minister plenipotentiary to France” (EAR, 61). Of paramount importance here, is Franklin`s list of virtues:
“1. TEMPERANCE
Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation
2. SILENCE.
Speak not but what may benefit to others or your self. Avoiding trifling Conversation.
3. ORDER.
Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
4. RESOLUTION.
Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY.
Make no Expense but to do good to yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY.
Lose no Time. Be always employ`d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
7. SINCERITY.
Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE.
Wrong none by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
9. MODERATION.
Avoid extremes; Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS.
Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes, or Habitation.
11. TRANQUILITY
Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY
Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring, Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.
13. HUMILITY
Imitate Jesus and Socrates. ” (EAR, 108-109)
All those virtues allowed Franklin to achieve his goals and ideals and to become a successful self-made man. It was through the practice of those that he achieved his affluence, independence and reputation. Furthermore, he made “a little Book in which I allotted a Page for each of the Virtues” (EAR, 109) and he put himself under close scrutiny in order to comply with the 13 virtues.
Ideology
Regarding the religious aspect, the present work reveals Franklin`s affiliation to deism as he places himself in the position of denying the existence of Revelation. He has strong beliefs and is not easily influenced by the books he reads against Deism, maintaining his conviction steady: “Some Books against Deism fell into my hands (…). It happened that they wrought an Effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them (…). In short, I soon became a thorough Deist. ” (EAR, 93)
More than anything, The Autobiography provides a insight into the author`s moral beliefs, ideals, virtues, as his main objective in life is to “arrive at moral Perfection” (EAR, 108). Part Two of his work thoroughly depicts his life ideology.
Style and Criticism
Throughout Franklin`s Autobiography the reader is made aware of the author`s writing skills. As the Founding Father has always been exceedingly engaged in the improvement of his writing, the present work is a proof of his endowment.
“Franklin saw early that writing could best advance his ideas, and he therefore deliberately perfected his supple prose style, not as an end in itself, but as a tool. A scientist, he followed the Royal (scientific) Society`s 1667 advice to use “a close, naked, natural way of speaking; positive expressions, clear senses, a native easiness, bringing all things as near the mathematical plainness as they can”.” (Outline of American Literature, Revised Edition, 18).
Although the value of his work is undeniable and his set of Virtues represents a great accomplishment, Franklin is being not once hypocrite as his lifestyle was not exactly a model of moral perfection. He stresses the importance of Temperance in terms of eating, but he was a stout person; he talks about Justice even though he is aware of some of his errata; he emphasizes Chastity, but he had an illegitimate son and more than one relationship outside his marriage. As might be expected, he deliberately places himself in a favorable light, being portrayed as a role model.
Conclusion
Benjamin Franklin`s Autobiography is a work of great value, which has been influential to many generations.
Judith Saunders writes in her article entitled Benjamin Franklin`s Autobiography: The Story of a Successful Social Animal that “Benjamin Franklin`s Autobiography illustrates critically important adaptive goals and strategies. It is the story of an individual, rooted in a specific time and place, wrestling with universal human problems. Though very much a man of his own time, Franklin convincingly presents himself as a man for all times. His extraordinary career depends on his ability to assess his eighteenth-century colonial environment perceptively, responding in a canny way to its expectations and opportunities. Beginning with the assumption that wealth and status are objectives motivating much human striving, he offers readers a step-by-step account of the methods he used to acquire affluence and reputation. Though focusing thus on his own individual interests, he demonstrates that his