Benjamin Franklin Houses And Selves Summary

The author starts his essay with his thesis statement stating that “the writings of Benjamin Franklin offer only meager representations of his inner life.” And then continues to list a few of his main arguments within the next few pages, claiming the “...the correlation between houses and selves is a matter of proximity and experience…”. In addition to this he argues that “... we can learn [a] good deal… by examining one of the most significant moments in his [Franklin’s] life: the building and furnishing of his house on Market Street in Philadelphia”. Then the author continues to give us an introduction his the supporting evidence that he gives in the rest of his essay. Cahill’s first main point of evidence is in a quote from Dell Upton where he argues ‘‘The navigation of everyday spaces, the ordinary, unexceptional sites of most of our sensory and intellectual experience, is the primary arena within which selfhood . . . and personhood . . . are forged.’’ In talking

This makes up the most significant part of Cahill’s article in which he calls “to seem at home”, when talking about the 24 years that Franklin attempted to be remotely apart of his house. Cahill summaries these by talking about how Franklin had sent home many luxuries, directly after the Stamp Act of 1765 was repealed, with detailed instructions on how he would like them to bet set up in his house. Following the instructions, Franklin had requested of his wife to give him a very detailed description of the house to make him feel at home. Cahill emphasizes the latter part by stating that Franklin had many feelings of “mild regrets at his absence and nonparticipation in the house’s affairs”. Using Franklin’s own words Cahill showed us how much Franklin had treasured his house, even while across the