Benjamin Franklin is one of greatest Americans who played very significant role in making of modern United States of America. Benjamin was one of brightest brains of America and is known as first American. Benjamin Franklin was a successful politician, author, diplomat, civic activist, scientist and a statesman. This paper intends to discuss life of Benjamin Franklin and further delves into his autobiography in order to know several other related aspects of his life.
As per the information, provided in his biography, Benjamin was born in a very humble family on 17th January, 1706 in Boston. Benjamin was eighth son of his father, Josiah Franklin and mother Abiah Folger. Benjamin was sent to school but was compelled to discontinue study at the age of ten, due to weak economic condition (Baym). Benjamin started apprenticeship with his brother, James who was a printer and used to publish books and journals. Benjamin left working after a tiff with his brother and left for Philadelphia.
Benjamin, in his autobiography, provides details about his early life, professional life and everything else that he faced in his life. Benjamin’s autobiography is one of most read books across the United States of America. This autobiography has been printed and reprinted hundreds of times. A number of eminent Americans accept that they have read this book several times and that it has affected their lives in a substantial way.
There are some factual mistakes in this autobiography as it was written by Benjamin years after the events. This autobiography is based purely on recalling of events by Benjamin. This autobiography talks very little about the emotional aspects of Benjamin’s life as we’ll as his personal feelings. This aspect has been kept untouched deliberately by the author and some people say that indicates about his shy nature.
Failures as well as achievements have been portrayed very honestly in the Benjamin’s autobiography. There are a number of events in the book that are portrayed in a realistic manner. No any incident is in this book which is made up or mentioned to make Benjamin great. It clearly appears from the events of Benjamin’s life that things are presented in the book as they took place in real life. Benjamin’s autobiography is written in a simple as well as plainspoken manner.
Satire, irony and figurative language are used to express Benjamin’s story in a lively manner. The way of writing this autobiography is simple yet impressive and connects to readers in an easy manner. He appears very direct while describing about the events that he faced in his life. Benjamin is very clear in describing what took place in his life, how it impacted him and what he felt about it.
Symbols are used in order to express things in more impressive way. This symbolic approach helps readers in understanding things by imagining a given situation. In this autobiography, allegory is used which not make readers tire and makes them reads further. The autobiography is a valuable piece of literature for people and this book has helped million of people over a long period of time.
Work Cited
Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume A: Literature to 1820 . USA: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
