Essay on Benjamin Franklin - 577 Words

Benjamin Franklin Who was he? In reading the Benjamin Franklins Autobiography one can see the true character of a great man. But some may argue that this man, deep down inside, was not so great. Through out his book he touches on many aspects of his life. He lets the readers have a glimpse at what he was thinking and why he did things the way he did. Some critics do not agree that Franklin was such a noble man. They thought he might not have been telling his whole story, and that he was hiding a lot he had to offer. This paper will look at how one critic portrays Franklin--- Benjamin had no concern, really, for the immortal soul. He was too busy with the social man (292). This critic is D.H. Lawrence. In Lawrences piece he†¦show more content†¦At one point in his writings he says, â€Å"I admire him. I admire his sturdy courage first of all†¦I do not like him (293).† This is how a lot of critics and Americans have felt about Franklin. Yes, he might have helped us all out. Yes, he has made advancements for the good of the country. But was he out for making a buck? Lawrence then again in the next paragraph says, â€Å"Because, although I still believe that honesty is the best policy, I dislike policy†¦(293).† At this point in his piece, Lawrence is really reaching to disagree with everything Franklin says and stands for. The opinion of many might have been that Franklin as a harsh and cutthroat man, but isn’t that the way to get by in America? Is that why foreigners come to this great nation, the land of opportunity? In Franklin’s autobiography it says that he was a hard workingman. It said he would stay to all hours of the night to get things done. He would wake up in the morning and get to work early. This shows all his doubters that he really did care, and was really hard working. Who cares if he was selfish? Is that a crime? Well D.H. Lawrence, it’s not! Franklin carried himself with such dignity that he was proud of where he worked. Some nights he would cart a wheelbarrow full of papers home with him to work on deep into the night. Even if he might not have worked on those papers there, no one will ever know. Lawrence’s argument that Franklin was a greedyShow MoreRelatedThe Benjamin Franklin1357 Words   |  5 PagesBenjamin Franklin In our American history many figures have left their mark, and are remembered still today. Benjamin Franklin was as famous as any president, but yet never elected to public office. He was one of the nation’s revolutionary founding fathers of all time. Benjamin Franklin was a respected hero of America of many talents and accomplishments. First of all, Benjamin Franklin was born at Boston in 1706. He was the tenth sibling in the family. He was the son of a soap and candle maker.Read MoreThe Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin1367 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Matheny HIST 2020 A.P. 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