The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin is brought to life in his Autobiography as we see how innovative of a mind he truly has. In part three Franklin discusses many elements of his life such as when he was Postmaster general and when he invented the stove. Most striking and prevalent to me in this section however, was his political stance towards certain issues. He advocates these issues more and more as he publishes them in his Newspaper in which he prints. The issue that stood out the most to me was his view towards England at this point.
Franklin in this section focuses on the events of the French and Indian war. However his account does not thump the French, who at the time were the enemies, but degrade the British and make us believe that a revolt is possible as he makes the British soldiers seem incompetent. Franklin begins to show how well rounded he is during this chapter as well as he shows he has military strategies as well. In this section Franklin foreshadows many events to come as he in a sense glorifies the French and debases the British.
This chapter is significant as Franklin shows his military strategies and also unveils certain inventions and experiments he creates such as electricity and the stove.
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Benjamin Franklin is truly a great man. He is one of the best inventors and one of the most significant men in America, perhaps ever considering his role in the Declaration of Independence and the fight against England. However just how great is he? Is he as great as he makes himself seem in his own biography? It is interesting to consider plainly by the fact that his entire speech throughout the Autobiography was extremely well written and it ‘looks good’ on paper. Although is most of his stories factual? How much emphasis does he put into the correct way things occurred, or rather the way he records them to make himself seem better?
These are many questions raised about Benjamin Franklin by people who doubt most things when dealing with someone as successful and innovated as Franklin. This what Benjamin Franklin says about something to the effect of that close-minded way of thinking, “And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which lead me to the means I used and gave them success. My belief of this induces me to hope, though I must not presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may experience as others have done: the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to us even our afflictions.” This excerpt is not of a man so vain that he would truly value the fact that his portrait is on every hundred dollar bill in our currency today, as many actually believe. Rather in this piece from his autobiography the content of which he speaks and the truthfulness of the ground he covers in thanking God for instance, is representative of a man who truly is great. Yes many could say that he is faking it or just using impressive language to disguise his own cynicism, although when it comes down to God and his beliefs, his speech, as shown in this quote, Franklin gets serious and doesn’t react so cocky or assuming as he does at other points in the autobiography.
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