I dressed plain and was seen at no places of idle diversion. I never went out a-fishing or shooting; a book indeed sometimes debauched me from my work, but that was seldom, was private, and gave no scandal; and to show that I was not above my business, I sometimes brought home the paper I purchased at the stores through the streets on a wheelbarrow (Franklin, 1914, p. 70).
Franklin was uncertain regarding his job, as he could not decide whether he was better at doing business or if he was better at writing and trying to influence the public. This is perfectly exemplified through the fact that he occasionally engaged in writing articles under various pseudonyms in the paper he bought in 1729, the Pennsylvania Gazette. The paper appealed to the public and this became obvious through the fact that it became one of the best selling papers in the colonies, significantly contributing to Franklin's rise in influence. From his behavior and from the articles published in his newspaper people observed how he was particularly interested in the well-being of the general public (Russell, 1926, p. 147).
The year 1733 marked Franklin's first major endeavor at dedicating his work to the public, as he issued Poor Richard's Almanac. This writing was also under a pseudonym, Richard Saunders -- an underprivileged individual who wanted to raise money for his sick wife. The Almanac distinguished itself from other almanacs contemporary to Franklin because of the character of its text.
"I considered it a proper vehicle," he says, "for conveying instruction among the common people, who bought scarcely any other books; I therefore filled all the little spaces that occurred between the remarkable days in the calendar with proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing virtue; it being more difficult for a man in want, to act always honestly,...
Ben Franklin is famous for being one of the Founding Fathers of the American Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and a great inventor. He conducted important experiments, fearlessly tracking a kite through a storm to better understand electricity. He even invented bifocals. Thus, every time you see an older (or maybe not so old person) peering through a pair of lenses with a line carefully spanning across the glass, you
Ben Franklin's writing expresses many ideas and techniques of the Enlightenment that can also be found in Pope's writings, yet is also uniquely American. And the second part analyzes Tintern Abbey by Wordsworth and This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison. Ben Franklin and Alexander Pope were two great literary writers whose technique comparatively reflected the themes and concepts popular during the age of Enlightenment including individuality and human freedom. Benjamin Franklin was
Franklin and the American Dream Ben Franklin exemplified the sense that if a man just worked hard enough, he could obtain prosperity in America. This abundant gaining of the fruit of one's labor is what became known as "The American Dream." Franklin was certainly a proponent of this dream, as is evident in his Autobiography. This paper will show how Franklin's Autobiography marks him as a man who had a large
Benjamin Franklin: an American life Walter Isaacson's book "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" was published by Simon and Schuster in 2003 and has 608 pages. The book is meant to discuss with regard to Benjamin Franklin's life from a whole different perspective when compared to traditional biographies concerning the Founding Father. The main topic addressed is Benjamin Franklin, as the book covers a series of aspects about his life, his effect
Native Americans portrayed works Ben Franklin John Smith? Do authors treat a favorable negative light? Be introduction a distinct thesis statement, a body specific supporting elements, a conclusion essay. Many influential people in the history of the U.S. have played an active role in either improving society's relationship with Native Americans or in damaging it by portraying them as individuals who were savages. Benjamin Franklin was among the people who
Benjamin Franklin -- Writer, Inventor, Founding Father, and First True American George Washington may be the father of his country, but Ben Franklin is the first true American. While George Washington was born a wealthy and propertied Virginia landowner in the European aristocratic tradition, and made his fame as a highborn and commanding military general for the crown during the French and Indian Wars, Benjamin Franklin was born to a poor
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now