Benjamin Franklin

If ever a story embodied what has come to be known as the American Dream, it is the life story of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin could be considered a passionate and energetic man who motivated himself by self-determination and a strong work ethic to achieve self-improvement. Beyond his sometimes-lofty personal aspirations to attain self-improvement, Franklin’s deep conviction inspired him to help others live well. He demonstrated this conviction in his reasons for writing, his willingness to portray his mistakes as well as his successes as a means of instruction, his recounting of the assistance he gave to others, and his desire to create useful solutions. Franklin successfully used his story to depict this self-improvement.

Consequently, Franklin’s trek from a meager beginning and lack of education to a wealthy man of immense stature and influence punctuates his emphasis on hard work and determination. Franklin’s insatiable thirst for knowledge and his relentless pursuit of bettering himself were central to his character. Every success and achievement only emboldens him to accomplish more. He states in regards to his writing ability, “I had been lucky enough to improve the method or the language, and this encouraged me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English writer, of which I was extremely ambitious.” (Franklin, p.15) Indeed, later in his life, Franklin acknowledged many of the opportunities he had were afforded him because of his ability to write. (Franklin, p. 61)

Franklin's expressed intent at the onset of his book is to write his personal anecdotes for his son. He mentions that he began in poverty and obscurity and rose to a place of reputation. He hoped ...

... middle of paper ...

...on the assistance of God in his search for perfection. However, it should be noted that the nature of man prohibits perfection and any true happiness. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and a changed nature can one embark on a life of true contentment and happiness. Upon later reflection, Franklin realized that he never arrived at the perfection he was striving for, but he was better and happier than if he had not attempted it. (Franklin, p.84) Hence, the reason for publishing his scheme, so that others may derive the same benefit he had.

It can be concluded that Benjamin Franklin's life had a great affect not only on his generation, but on many generations that would follow. His intellectual curiosity, ingenuity, and desire to do good propelled him into a life long pursuit of improving himself and serving as a model for others to benefit from.