Benjamin Franklin Rhetorical Analysis

Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the key Founding Fathers of the United States as a renowned diplomat that helped build our country’s allyship with France and a civic activist for public institutions. While seen as the original ‘self made man’ of America and the root of the concept know as the ‘American Dream’, others have become critical of Franklin over time. Some believe that while Franklin had good intentions in creating public institutions, that they were primarily made for his own personal gain. Yet when one looks at the moral values of the club Franklin lead and his meticulous tracking of his ideas for individual improvement, it is clear that while Franklin’s scope of betterment may have started with just himself in mind, it

A hero is someone who is courageous and willing to take great risks. Ultimately, the hero triumphs over danger and is successful in their quest. In literature, the hero is greater than ordinary people, which Franklin ultimately proves. Franklin Crabbe is the hero of William Bell's novel Crabbe and his life struggles motivate him to embark on a quest to discover who he truly is. Despite all the challenges he encounters along his journey, Franklin with the assistance of Mary Pallas, is able to overcome all the challenges he faces along the way. Lastly, Franklin matures in his ability to be independent and self-efficient while also securing a job. In William Bell’s novel, Crabbe, the hero myth is developed through the protagonist’s quest obstacles, and eventual maturity.

Through his efforts to influence and inspire the world, Benjamin Franklin led America to reach new heights that would eventually make it the strongest nation known to man. As one of the most involved men in the United States during his time, he managed to transform America and change it into the country its citizens love today. There are many ways that Franklin provoked the lives of the American people during his life. Even after his death, the whole nation carried on its motivation that was sparked by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s life was greatly influenced by Renaissance idealism. He was very inspired by the world around him and decided to pursue many aspects of the world which he found interesting. Most would say he was

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

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. As a result, Benjamin Franklin is a wise man, in order to create trusts from the members of the congress, he utilizes his ethos by accepting his fallibilities and willing to do good for the constitution to be

While back in America, Benjamin Franklin saves enough money to start his own printing press. At this point in his life, Franklin is continuing to write many of his books, exploring new ideas, and inventing. “It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined. While my care was employed in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason.” ( Benjamin Franklin) In this quotation, Franklin is speaking about how his next chapter in life is to continue to attempt to become a better person. After all of the trial and tribulations, and the many challenges that are thrown at Benjamin Franklin. After all of the struggles that Benjamin Franklin endured throughout his life, towards the end; he finally found the success in his

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.

In Benjamin Franklin’s speech, he uses some phrases that are able to support his opinion on the faults of the constitution. He is willing to change his opinions for the benefit of our people. Ben Franklin believes that opinions are changed over time because even his opinions were changed as he matured and took the opinions of others into consideration. He stated that “- to change opinions even on the important subjects, which I once thought were right, but found to be otherwise.” It is crucial that people not only consider their opinions when making a decision, but also the views of others. As found in the third paragraph of his appeal, “Much of the strength and efficiency of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people,

Benjamin Franklin was a great man that had influences in many areas and because of that he had many enemies but because he understood human behavior he enabled himself to turn enemies into allies. To understand the Benjamin Franklin effect you need to know that the things you do often create the things you believe. An example is when “Franklin ran for his second term as a clerk, one of his colleagues delivered a long speech to the legislature lambasting Franklin. Franklin still won his second term, but this guy truly pissed him off. So he set out to turn his hater into a fan, but he wanted to do it without paying any servile respect to him. 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

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,

Both men had some affiliation with Christianity: praise and thank God for their good fortune in life. Franklin wanted to attain Moral Perfection, given that he enumerated 13 virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chasity, Humility. Franklin even contends to follow the actions of Jesus, The Son of God. He believed that the only religion that matters to him is the religion of hard work and material success. He values rationality and reasonableness above all. He knows that he can achieve moral perfection without the help of religion, but notes that many of the things he identifies as virtues are the same things as religions would similarly identify. Although growing up in Boston, which was a Puritan hotbed, Franklin was not swayed by any one religion. Given, he subscribed to Deism; the idea that God created the world, set it in motion, but does not intervene. He still relied on hard work, material gains, and rationality to achieve moral perfection. Douglass believed in God and was proud of his faith. But he was critical when slave owners would use Religion to justify slavery and oppression. "I may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interposition of divine Providence in my favor. But I should be false to the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence. From my earliest recollection, I date the entertainment of a deep conviction that slavery would not always be able to hold me within its foul embrace; and in the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living word of faith and spirit of hope departed not from me, but remained like ministering angels to cheer me through the gloom." --

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

As a young man, staying in his family’s chandlery business was too boring for Franklin, so he left home to become an apprentice to his older brother, a printer in Philadelphia, and in 1729 he bought the bankrupt Pennsylvania Gazette, turning it into a publication that many people read and made a lot of profit. While most people in that era were content with carrying on the family business, Franklin looking for something more. Not only was Franklin a printer, but he was also a writer, as he continually published the Poor Richard’s Almanack from 1732-1757. Not only was he a significant figure in the writing world, but he also earned his place as a prominent scientist and inventor due to his work with electricity and many practical inventions. As the American revolution started in the late 1700’s, Franklin became an influential diplomat and politician as he helped the Americans fight for their independence by gaining support from foreign allies and helping develop a new form of government that would satisfy as many people as possible. In the end, it was Franklin’s motivation to do something interesting and influential and his opinions and discoveries that made him the epitome of an Enlightenment man, questioning the things he already knew and experimenting to try to find the

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.

Benjamin Franklin presents a truthful and unbiased version of himself. In an excerpt “from The Autobiography” Franklin shows a pieces of his personality in actions; Franklin also admits to making mistakes. Personality traits like kindness when young Franklin offers payment to several people for the help he receives. However, because these people refuse the shilling “on account of my [Franklin’s] rowing; but I [he] insisted on their taking it” (Franklin 90). This shows that Benjamin Franklin is kind because no matter how much money Franklin possesses, he offers a portion of his money to people in exchange for help. In a different act of Franklin 's, traits like kindness and helpfulness is shown. While Franklin is taking a journey from Boston